The United Arab Emirates is intensifying its commitment to sustainable transportation by planning to install 500 electric vehicle charging stations nationwide by the end of 2025. This initiative aims to support the growing adoption of EVs and reduce carbon emissions, aligning with the country's broader environmental objectives.

Sharif Al Olama, Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, announced that over 100 EV chargers were established across the UAE in 2024. The ministry's strategy involves a collaborative approach with private sector entities and local authorities to develop a robust infrastructure that encourages widespread EV usage, thereby contributing to national sustainability goals.

In Dubai, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority is spearheading efforts to expand the city's EV charging network. DEWA plans to increase the number of public charging stations by 170%, aiming to grow from the current 370 stations to 1,000 by 2025. This expansion includes the deployment of fast and ultra-fast chargers, significantly reducing charging times and enhancing convenience for EV users.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, emphasized the emirate's dedication to green mobility, stating that Dubai recognizes green mobility as the future of transportation. He highlighted DEWA's strategic blueprint to reimagine urban transportation, focusing on creating an accessible world-class infrastructure to advance eco-friendly transportation. By encouraging electric vehicle usage, DEWA's EV Green Charger Initiative contributes not only to carbon emissions reduction but also fosters sustainable practices throughout Dubai.

The UAE's commitment to clean energy extends beyond transportation. The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure aims to increase renewable energy capacity to over 14 gigawatts by 2030, reinforcing the nation's dedication to sustainable development. This objective aligns with the UAE's broader strategies to reduce carbon emissions, starting from the deployment of electric buses and taxis, and extending to improvements in public services.

The burgeoning sales of electric vehicles also support the UAE's green mobility vision. Demand for EVs in the UAE is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 30% between 2022 and 2028, according to the Global Electric Mobility Readiness Index. The report ranked the country eighth globally in terms of electric mobility readiness. Meanwhile, worldwide sales of electric cars are expected to surge by 35% in 2023 to reach 14 million, with the share of the overall car market set to increase to 18% this year, according to the International Energy Agency.

To cater to the growing demand for EV charging infrastructure, DEWA has currently deployed over 370 charging stations across Dubai. These stations offer a range of charging options, including ultra-fast chargers, fast chargers, direct current chargers, public parking chargers, and wall chargers. The stations are available round the clock at key locations such as fuel stations and public parks, in addition to those located at DEWA's customer happiness centres and shopping centres, which operate during their respective opening hours.

DEWA's EV Green Chargers have provided 13,264 MWh of electricity from 2015 to the end of 2022, powering a cumulative electric vehicle distance of over 66.3 million kilometres. By the end of 2022, the stations recorded over 720,000 charging sessions conducted by 9,653 registered electric vehicles.

The UAE's efforts to boost public charging infrastructure have also resulted in the reduction of 236,700 tonnes of carbon emissions as of April 2023, a testament to the growing success of its clean energy strategy.