AGP Executive Report

Nuclear Safety: The UAE’s nuclear regulator FANR reviewed progress on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant after an IAEA chief visit, with praise for safety, security, transparency and emergency preparedness. Circular Economy & Waste: The UAE’s Naseej initiative is pushing a circular textile economy, aiming to recycle 220,000 tonnes of textile waste annually. Industrial Data for Planning: Abu Dhabi’s SCAD and KEZAD agreed to strengthen statistical cooperation, improving how industrial and economic data are exchanged across manufacturing and logistics. Sustainable Transport Tech: Ajman’s Transport Authority signed an MoU with e& to use AI for bus route planning and scheduling, supporting more efficient and sustainable public transport. SME Growth in Abu Dhabi: KEZAD announced an AED 112 million SME Hub with micro industrial units and office suites, designed to help SMEs scale with direct links to Khalifa Port and Etihad Rail. Community & Volunteering: Ma’an highlighted volunteering as a practical way to build social cohesion in the UAE, turning shared action into stronger community ties. Pharma Localisation: ADCAN Pharma partnered with Menarini to locally manufacture and release selected products in the UAE, aiming to improve medicine availability and reduce supply risks.

Nuclear Oversight: FANR reviewed UAE nuclear and radiation regulation priorities after an IAEA visit to Barakah, with the watchdog praising safety, security, transparency and emergency preparedness, and stressing the need to protect nuclear facilities from attacks. Trade & Clean Tech: DMCC’s Future of Trade 2026 report says global trade stays resilient but is being reshaped by AI, tariff volatility and the race for critical minerals powering clean energy. UAE–World Bank: UAE officials met the World Bank Group in Dubai to expand cooperation on development, financial and innovation initiatives, aiming to boost sustainable outcomes. Agentic AI Push: Sheikh Hamdan chaired plans to accelerate agentic AI adoption across Dubai’s private sector, alongside approving Dubai to host ICPC World Finals. Mobility for Gaza: UAE-backed “Step of Hope” prosthetics programme will fit limbs in Egypt, use 3D scanning for Gaza delivery, and then localise manufacturing for long-term sustainability. Humanitarian Relief: UAE announced emergency aid to communities hit by Euphrates flooding in Syria. Transport AI in Ajman: Ajman Transport Authority signed an MoU with e& to explore agentic AI for back-office automation like HR, finance and payroll. Desert Living Forum: Dubai hosts the Desert Architecture MENA Forum (June 18–19) focused on climate-responsive, low-carbon design for arid regions.

Dubai Longevity: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has launched the Dubai Authority for Healthy Longevity, chaired by Sheikh Hamdan, aiming to make Dubai a global hub for regulated longevity, wellness and advanced healthcare. Sharjah Environment & Industry: Sharjah Airport secured Level 4 carbon accreditation, while Emirates Jewelers unveiled its first local gemstone “Spirit of the Emirates,” spotlighting Emirati designers and natural local materials. Public Health in the UAE: Doctors say flu jabs for children as young as two can protect at-risk groups by reducing transmission, and dermatologists warn many people under-apply sunscreen in the UAE’s intense UV climate. Ebola Response: The DRC Ebola outbreak is nearing 600 confirmed cases, with authorities reporting gaps in contact tracing and stressing community trust and field security. Regional Pressure on Shipping & Food: Attacks near Oman and Strait of Hormuz disruption are driving up shipping costs and worsening food insecurity, with WFP warning tens of millions face critical hunger levels. Cyber Resilience: Mastercard’s Cyber Pulse report highlights rising cyber risk across EEMEA and the need for sustained, board-level resilience.

UAE–Sweden Security Talks: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed met Sweden’s FM Maria Malmer Stenergard in Abu Dhabi, discussing the repercussions of Iranian missile/drone attacks on UAE civilian sites and the knock-on risks for maritime navigation, energy supplies and regional peace. UAE–Egypt Diplomacy: Abdullah bin Zayed also spoke with Egypt’s FM Dr Badr Abdelatty, reviewing regional developments after the attacks and stressing coordination for sustainable solutions. Nuclear Oversight: The FANR board reviewed progress on the UAE’s Barakah nuclear safety and security framework after an IAEA chief visit, including the regulator’s response to an incident and continued international confidence. Food Packaging Expansion: DP World’s National Industries Park backed Al Bayader’s AED 180m hub in Dubai to boost sustainable food packaging output and logistics capacity. Heat & Health: Doctors warn UAE’s extreme heat-to-air-conditioning swings can trigger migraines, especially during rapid thermal stress. Agentic AI Push: The UAE held a workshop with 50 federal entities to roll out agentic AI across government services and operations. Dubai Longevity Authority: Dubai issued a law creating the Dubai Longevity Authority to regulate and accelerate advanced healthcare, wellness and longevity investment. Maritime Incident: A tanker fire off Oman near the Strait of Hormuz reported no environment impact, with crew casualties/missing reported. Trade Finance Link: Etihad Credit Insurance and Export Finance Australia signed an MoU to expand UAE–Australia financing for sustainable, innovation-driven projects.

Climate Accountability: A new UAE climate law makes emissions reporting and reduction plans mandatory for all businesses, with fines up to Dh2m (Dh4m for repeat offences) and possible license suspensions. Clean Energy & Nature: Abu Dhabi is pushing climate adaptation and nature conservation through new frameworks and partnerships, while World Environment Day coverage highlights the UAE’s push for climate neutrality by 2050. Green Infrastructure & Industry Skills: Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) is rolling out STEM labs across UAE schools and universities to build future industrial talent. Power for the AI era: Vertiv and GCC partners sign a framework to deliver AI-ready power and thermal infrastructure across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Sustainable Materials: World of Coffee Dubai spotlights biodegradable coffee packaging, with Tonchant pitching compostable laminates that it says can match conventional barrier performance. Circular Economy in Action: Dubai’s Emirates Recycling Awards and textile-waste recycling efforts keep the focus on cutting waste and improving reuse. Transport Links: Sharjah updates bus schedules to Oman, improving regional connectivity for travellers. Local Environment Watch: A US lawsuit targets an aluminum smelter project tied to Emirates Global Aluminium, raising air and water pollution concerns.

Circular Food Tech in Dubai: Dubai’s new GigaFarm is under construction in Food Tech Valley, with 200 vertical farming towers in a closed-loop system. The first 20 towers are due by summer 2026, targeting about 3 million kilos of produce yearly and diverting 50,000 tonnes of food waste from landfill. Green Agriculture & Water Tech: UAE Municipality Minister Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah joined the “GreenTech Amsterdam 2026” Expo, spotlighting smart agriculture, greenhouses, water-resource management and AI tools to boost productivity while protecting natural resources. Urban Sustainability Data: Researchers unveiled an “urban pulse” approach using high-frequency satellite imagery to track how cities grow over time—helping planners spot problems earlier and better manage environmental impacts. Clean Energy & Net-Zero Push: DEWA and Abu Dhabi initiatives continue to expand clean power and cut emissions intensity, reinforcing the UAE’s climate and sustainability agenda. Humanitarian Aid with Global Reach: Dubai Humanitarian ran a second Ebola-response airlift to DR Congo with ~60 tonnes of medical aid, showing UAE-led logistics support alongside wider sustainability goals.

Renewables Deal: UAE-headquartered Alcazar Energy Partners signed agreements for Egypt’s 580MW Gabal El-Zeit wind farm, including a Power Purchase Agreement and investment/operations pacts—an estimated $420m project aimed at long-term clean power. Marine Conservation: Abu Dhabi’s DoE launched its “Your Safety is Our Priority” summer campaign, pairing electricity and water safety messaging with efficiency and conservation to cut waste during peak heat. Public Transport + Climate: Dubai RTA rolled out AI-powered smart dashboards at the Bus Operations Control Centre, cutting early bus departures by over 68% and improving disruption response—plus sustainability-focused monitoring. Circular Materials: Bangalore Watch Company launched “Peninsula Carbon,” a limited-edition watch using dials made from captured carbon and industrial waste streams, turning air-pollution recovery into a consumer product. Earth Observation: Space42 said its Foresight-3, -4 and -5 satellites are now fully operational, expanding UAE sovereign all-weather geospatial intelligence. Regional Food Security: BRICS Agriculture Working Group began a five-day meeting in Indore on climate-smart farming, farmer welfare and food security, with a joint declaration planned. UAE Tech Ecosystem: Hub71 reported startups surpassed $2.7bn in cumulative funding and generated $1.5bn revenue by end-2025, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s push beyond hydrocarbons.

Climate Heat Stress: MoHRE reinstates the Occupational Heat Stress Prevention Policy from June 15 to Sept 15, banning outdoor work in direct sunlight from 12:30pm to 3pm, with reported 99%+ compliance rates. Renewables Push: Arab renewable capacity rose about 36% in 2025 to 39.2 GW, led by solar (72.3%), with the UAE adding 1.3 GW. Water & Energy Resilience: Abu Dhabi plans to generate 60% of electricity from clean, renewable sources by 2035, as climate and grid upgrades accelerate. Circular Textiles: The UAE’s Naseej initiative targets recycling 220,000 tonnes of textile waste annually, aiming to cut throwaway culture’s environmental cost. World Environment Day Momentum: UAE renews its climate neutrality push for 2050 and highlights sustainability efforts across communities and institutions. Ecosystem & Health: PureHealth breaks ground on SEHA New Corniche Hospital for women and newborns in Abu Dhabi, expanding specialised care. Regional Environment Risk: Strait of Hormuz disruption continues to threaten energy flows and raises pressure on Gulf climate and resilience planning.

Circular Textiles Push: UAE’s “Naseej” initiative aims to recycle 220,000 tonnes of textile waste annually, turning discarded clothes into new industrial inputs and boosting a circular economy. World Environment Day Spotlight: Zayed National Museum marked World Environment Day with hands-on workshops and heritage-linked sustainability activities, including biodiversity and repair/reuse learning. Food Safety Focus: UAE experts say food safety is treated as a public health priority, with tighter regulation, tech traceability and closer regulator-industry coordination. Trade & Logistics Growth: Dubai’s DIEZ logged a record 2025 trade performance of about Dhs491b (+46%), reinforcing the emirate’s non-oil momentum. Fujairah-China Ties: Fujairah Free Zone discussed deeper cooperation with China, highlighting investment advantages and logistics links. Infrastructure Update: RTA is 90% done on a 1,500-metre bridge connecting Sheikh Zayed Road to Dubai Harbour, with traffic openings planned this June. Environment Diplomacy: UAE environment officials met Qatar’s ambassador to discuss climate and environmental cooperation. Coastal Risk Abroad: Nigeria’s Lagos-Calabar coastal highway faces sustainability concerns as sea levels erode the Gulf of Guinea coastline.

Textile Circularity Push: Abu Dhabi’s Naseej initiative is urging residents to cut textile waste and recycle/repurpose the UAE’s estimated 220,000 tonnes of textile waste each year, with a community drop-off network and “Bag of Possibility” activation at Yas Mall. Food Waste Cuts: UAE Food Bank and DP World Foundation launched “Sustainable Goodness” to recover abandoned food shipments at Jebel Ali Port and redistribute eligible items to beneficiaries, with health-and-safety checks and streamlined customs release. Clean Energy & Climate Finance: IRENA signed a partnership with Etihad Credit Insurance to expand access to financing and de-risk renewable energy projects via the ETAF platform, backed by $4.15bn in pledges. Local Infrastructure for Cleaner Mobility: RTA’s new bridge linking Sheikh Zayed Road to Dubai Harbour is 90% complete and set to cut travel time from 12 minutes to 3, easing congestion around a major waterfront and tourism hub. UAE Jobs & Skills: MoHESR held an industry-immersion workshop to better align higher education with labour-market needs, while Dubai’s Digital School expanded teacher training in Seychelles to strengthen digital classroom skills.

Clean Energy Push (UAE): Abu Dhabi says it will generate 60% of electricity from clean, renewable sources by 2035, as part of wider climate and resource-efficiency planning. Nature & Water Security: Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) signed a framework partnership with IUCN, aiming to strengthen conservation and sustainability work. World Environment Day (UAE): Abu Dhabi and UAE partners marked World Environment Day with renewed climate pledges and sustainability initiatives, including community-focused actions. Circular Waste (UAE): UAE textile waste and circular fashion efforts are getting fresh attention, with calls to move from good intentions to real local action. Nuclear Safety (UAE): Qatar renewed condemnation of an attack on the UAE’s Barakah nuclear plant, warning that targeting peaceful nuclear facilities endangers civilians and the environment. Regional Climate Resilience: BRICS disaster-risk meetings in Odisha praised disaster management progress and near-zero casualty outcomes, highlighting lessons for natural-disaster preparedness. Governance & Sustainability (UAE): UAE participated in the EBRD Board of Governors meeting, stressing economic stability and sustainable development amid regional conflict pressures.

Biodiversity Partnership: Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) signed a four-year Framework Partnership Agreement with IUCN, aiming to boost biodiversity conservation, species recovery and nature-positive development across West Asia. Clean Energy Push: Abu Dhabi marked World Environment Day with renewed focus on building more resilient energy and water systems, stressing resource efficiency and sustainable governance. Water & Mobility Outlook: A new forecast says the global water taxi market could climb from $23.41bn (2026) to $33.18bn by 2035, with electric fleets and tourism demand as key drivers. Smart Transport Future: Abu Dhabi unveiled plans for flying taxis, autonomous transport testing, “AD Maps” real-time geospatial navigation and smart signals for emergency response. World Environment Day Action: A UAE construction project ran site-wide environmental awareness and pledges, turning “pledge to cleanup” style messaging into on-the-ground staff participation. Renewables Finance: IRENA partnered with Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) to help unlock renewable energy investment by reducing perceived risks through credit insurance and risk mitigation.

World Environment Day (UAE): Zayed National Museum is running hands-on weekend activities that spotlight how Emiratis lived sustainably long before today’s climate movement, linking heritage crafts and everyday resource use to the theme “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.” Climate adaptation (Abu Dhabi): Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi says World Environment Day is a chance to renew protection of natural resources and biodiversity, pointing to its Abu Dhabi Climate Change Adaptation Plan (2025–2050) with 142 actions to safeguard groundwater, soil and ecosystems. Biodiversity (UAE): Emirates Nature–WWF reports Arabian wildcats photographed in Wadi Wurayah National Park for the first time in at least a decade, using camera monitoring supported by Mashreq and the Fujairah Environment Authority. Circular textiles (UAE): The national Naseej initiative is pushing textile circularity to tackle an estimated 220,000 tonnes of textile waste a year, with public events and a focus on making donation, reuse and recycling easier. Energy & security (Gulf): The Arab League urged UN action over attacks on oil tankers and vessels in the Arabian Gulf, as tensions around Hormuz continue to disrupt maritime activity. Renewables push (UAE-linked): Gulf states are accelerating overseas wind and solar investment, with UAE firms like Masdar expanding abroad as energy security concerns grow. Wildlife & tourism (UAE partnership): Construction of Uganda’s Kidepo International Airport has begun, with Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry backing the project to improve access to Kidepo Valley National Park.

World Environment Day & Climate Pledge: The UAE marked World Environment Day with renewed climate commitments, pointing to national frameworks like Net Zero 2050, the National Climate Change Plan, and the circular economy push. Biodiversity & Protected Areas: A new UAE biodiversity report approved by Cabinet in March 2026 says protected areas now cover 55 terrestrial and marine reserves (19.04% of the country), with new reserves such as Wadi Al Qurha in Sharjah. Clean Energy Push (DEWA): DEWA highlighted progress toward Dubai’s clean energy and net-zero goals, including the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and rising clean power share. Renewables Finance: IRENA partnered with Etihad Credit Insurance to back renewable energy project financing via the ETAF platform, aiming to reduce investment risk. Urban Liveability: Abu Dhabi announced LIVEX 2026, a liveability and investment exhibition focused on people-first urban development and sustainability. Nature in Action (Parks & Recycling): Umm Al Emarat Park welcomed 410,000+ visitors in 2025–2026, while Emirates recycling efforts marked World Environment Day with the Emirates Recycling Awards.

Urban Greening: Abu Dhabi plans to boost urban comfort with 5,000 new shade trees in 2026, including 1,800 on Abu Dhabi Island and 3,200 on the mainland, aiming to cut temperatures, dust and noise while improving air quality and biodiversity. Clean Energy Push: DEWA says Dubai’s clean energy output now reaches 21.5% of total capacity, as the emirate targets 100% clean power by 2050. World Environment Day: The UAE marks June 5 with renewed focus on climate neutrality by 2050, highlighting biodiversity protection, plastic reduction and climate-smart agriculture under national net-zero and circular economy plans. Air Travel Emissions & Fuel Costs: Global airline leaders meet at IATA in Rio as Iran-war fuel shocks threaten net-zero progress, with sustainable aviation fuel supply and higher costs in the spotlight. Circular Economy in Aviation: Emirates reports repurposing 88 tonnes of inflight plastic into new onboard serviceware, cutting landfill waste through a closed-loop recycling model. Nature & Community: Dubai RTA readies 40 air-conditioned rest areas for delivery riders ahead of summer, supporting safer, healthier urban life.

Clean Energy & Water Resilience: Abu Dhabi Department of Energy hosted the 3rd Water and Energy Majlis and unveiled an Abu Dhabi Water and Energy Resilience Framework, built around infrastructure, human capital and governance, plus technology and innovation. Climate & Heat Preparedness: A fresh push on meteorology leadership comes as forecasters warn of extreme summer temperatures and the UAE’s growing need for smarter climate planning. Water Access Finance: First Abu Dhabi Bank partnered with Water.org and WaterEquity ahead of World Environment Day, backing a fund focused on safe water and sanitation in emerging markets. Sustainable Transport & Safety: Dubai’s RTA says air-conditioned rest areas for delivery riders are fully ready for summer, with about 40 facilities across high-demand zones to improve safety and rider wellbeing. Circular Economy Push: The UAE’s “Naseej” initiative to shift textiles toward circularity and cut waste continues to gain momentum. Green Tech Events: DEWA opened registration for WETEX 2026 (20–22 Oct), spotlighting energy, water, environment, sustainability, decarbonisation and green mobility. UAE Climate Diplomacy: A UAE-Qatar meeting focused on boosting international cooperation and sustainable development. Sustainable Shipping Deal: Dubai-based JIH Global Investment is set to bring dozens of Navier’s zero-emissions hydrofoil vessels to the Maldives, starting with five in 2026.