Installed solar energy capacity in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Installed solar energy capacity was 7.64 gigawatts in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Installed solar energy capacity in United Arab Emirates, 2009–2025
Source: IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in gigawatts.
Analysis
The most recent figure for installed solar energy capacity in United Arab Emirates is 7.64 gigawatts, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.
That represents a change of up 17.5% on the previous year and up 5,706.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, installed solar energy capacity in United Arab Emirates peaked at 7.64 gigawatts in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0101 gigawatts, in 2009.
That places United Arab Emirates 27th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Installed solar energy capacity in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | gigawatts | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 0.0101 gigawatts | — |
| 2010 | 0.0108 gigawatts | +7.4% |
| 2011 | 0.0128 gigawatts | +17.8% |
| 2012 | 0.0132 gigawatts | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 0.1258 gigawatts | +852.6% |
| 2014 | 0.1305 gigawatts | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 0.1315 gigawatts | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 0.1354 gigawatts | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 0.3535 gigawatts | +161.0% |
| 2018 | 0.5999 gigawatts | +69.7% |
| 2019 | 1.94 gigawatts | +222.6% |
| 2020 | 2.33 gigawatts | +20.5% |
| 2021 | 3 gigawatts | +28.7% |
| 2022 | 3.6 gigawatts | +19.8% |
| 2023 | 5.94 gigawatts | +65.2% |
| 2024 | 6.5 gigawatts | +9.3% |
| 2025 | 7.64 gigawatts | +17.5% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 7.64 gigawatts is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.01 gigawatts, 7.6× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 7.64 gigawatts is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.09 gigawatts, 7.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Installed solar energy capacity in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +852.6% | 0.0132 gigawatts | 0.1258 gigawatts |
| 2019 | +222.6% | 0.5999 gigawatts | 1.94 gigawatts |
| 2017 | +161.0% | 0.1354 gigawatts | 0.3535 gigawatts |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.0101 gigawatts | 0.0101 gigawatts | 0.0101 gigawatts | 1 |
| 2010s | 0.3449 gigawatts | 0.0108 gigawatts | 1.94 gigawatts | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.83 gigawatts | 2.33 gigawatts | 7.64 gigawatts | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More energy & mining data for United Arab Emirates
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 3.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 4.5% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is installed solar energy capacity in United Arab Emirates?
- Installed solar energy capacity in United Arab Emirates was 7.64 gigawatts in 2025, according to IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest installed solar energy capacity recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 7.64 gigawatts in 2025.
- What is the lowest installed solar energy capacity recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0101 gigawatts in 2009.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for installed solar energy capacity?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 27th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is installed solar energy capacity rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5,706.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Installed solar energy capacity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total solar (on- and off-grid) electricity installed capacity, measured in gigawatts. This includes solar photovoltaic and concentrated solar power.