Abu dhabi: Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State, addressed the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Ministerial Meeting, reinforcing the United Arab Emirates’ role as a leading partner for the sustainable development and climate resilience of island nations.
According to Emirates News Agency, Al Kaabi’s roundtable remarks emphasized the importance of tangible actions over theoretical commitments, highlighting the UAE’s strategic alignment with the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS). She described this agenda as a crucial blueprint for the survival and prosperity of island nations.
The UAE has demonstrated its commitment by investing over US$100 million in renewable energy projects across 26 island nations through initiatives like the UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund and the UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund. Key projects include the Noor Solar Project in the Comoros and large-scale wind and solar parks in the Seychelles and the Maldives. These efforts aim to reduce reliance on costly imported fossil fuels, thereby allowing SIDS to allocate more resources to healthcare and education.
Al Kaabi emphasized the UAE’s belief that true partnership is evidenced by concrete developments such as ‘steel in the ground’ and ‘power in the grid.’ The country is moving beyond theoretical discussions to ensure that renewable energy becomes central to island economies.
A significant aspect of the UAE’s approach is the evolution of its partnership model. Instead of focusing solely on isolated aid projects, the UAE is promoting pooled procurement and investment strategies to lower costs and attract private sector capital. Through the SIDS Lighthouses Initiative in partnership with IRENA, the UAE is assisting island nations in building the institutional capacity needed to manage fully renewable energy grids.
In her concluding remarks, Al Kaabi reiterated the UAE’s vision for the next decade, which envisions equipping every island nation with the tools required for resilient prosperity. She emphasized that the UAE is not just a supporter of this agenda but a dedicated partner in its implementation, inviting collaboration towards a secure and sustainable future.
