Story thread · 2 reports / 1 sources

Abu Dhabi's 2050 energy target is a case study for a changing Gulf

thenationalnews.com · 1hShare

For decades, the Arabian Gulf was synonymous with oil and gas. Certainly, by fuelling the GCC countries’ rapid development, the significance attached to these resources is understandable. However, the assumption that hydrocarbons are the be-all and end-all of the Gulf economy is one that is looking increasingly outdated. In an interview with The National this week, Abdulaziz Alobaidli, director general for regulatory affairs at the Department of Energy, said Abu Dhabi’s power demand is expected to double by 2050 , driven by the rapid expansion of its economy, growing population and increasing digital infrastructure. At first glance, a doubling of the emirate’s electricity demand sounds like an infrastructure headache. It is better read as a measure of how quickly the emirate’s economy is changing. In fact, Abu Dhabi’s experience is something of a test case that illustrates the profound economic and energy changes that are defining the 21st-century Gulf. Hydrocarbons will remain vital,

First report: Abu Dhabi’s power demand to double by 2050 amid rapid economic expansion — thenationalnews.com, 1d