Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity was 6.82 gigawatts in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in United Arab Emirates, 2009–2025
Source: IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in gigawatts.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 6.82 gigawatts for solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in 2025. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.
The figure is up 20.1% on the previous year and up 24,082.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in United Arab Emirates peaked at 6.82 gigawatts in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.01 gigawatts, in 2009.
That places United Arab Emirates 29th out of 199 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.
Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | gigawatts | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 0.01 gigawatts | — |
| 2010 | 0.0108 gigawatts | +7.5% |
| 2011 | 0.0126 gigawatts | +16.9% |
| 2012 | 0.013 gigawatts | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 0.0256 gigawatts | +96.8% |
| 2014 | 0.0273 gigawatts | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 0.0282 gigawatts | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 0.0321 gigawatts | +13.8% |
| 2017 | 0.2501 gigawatts | +679.4% |
| 2018 | 0.4964 gigawatts | +98.5% |
| 2019 | 1.83 gigawatts | +268.8% |
| 2020 | 2.23 gigawatts | +21.7% |
| 2021 | 2.9 gigawatts | +30.1% |
| 2022 | 3.29 gigawatts | +13.6% |
| 2023 | 5.34 gigawatts | +62.2% |
| 2024 | 5.68 gigawatts | +6.5% |
| 2025 | 6.82 gigawatts | +20.1% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 6.82 gigawatts is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.17 gigawatts, 5.8× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 6.82 gigawatts is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.19 gigawatts, 5.7× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +679.4% | 0.0321 gigawatts | 0.2501 gigawatts |
| 2019 | +268.8% | 0.4964 gigawatts | 1.83 gigawatts |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.01 gigawatts | 0.01 gigawatts | 0.01 gigawatts | 1 |
| 2010s | 0.2727 gigawatts | 0.0108 gigawatts | 1.83 gigawatts | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.38 gigawatts | 2.23 gigawatts | 6.82 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 solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in United Arab Emirates?
- Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in United Arab Emirates was 6.82 gigawatts in 2025, according to IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 6.82 gigawatts in 2025.
- What is the lowest solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.01 gigawatts in 2009.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 29th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24,082.1%. 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 Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative 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
Solar photovoltaic (on-grid) electricity installed capacity, measured in gigawatts.