By Abbas Nazil
Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and investment in electricity and renewable energy as Cairo accelerates its energy transition and seeks to expand clean power generation and battery storage capacity.
Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Esmat, discussed the proposed cooperation during a meeting with UAE Ambassador to Cairo Hamad Al Zaabi, with both sides highlighting opportunities to deepen partnerships between government institutions and private companies.
Esmat praised the longstanding relationship between Egypt and the UAE, describing the ties between the two countries and their peoples as a strong example of constructive cooperation among Arab nations.
He highlighted the growing involvement of UAE companies in Egypt’s electricity sector, particularly in renewable energy projects and efforts aimed at diversifying the country’s energy sources.
According to Esmat, Egypt has established several successful partnerships with UAE companies as part of its National Energy Strategy and broader plans to accelerate the transition towards cleaner energy.
He said the country was working to increase its reliance on renewable energy while expanding battery energy storage systems to improve the reliability and flexibility of the electricity network.
The minister also outlined measures being implemented by the Egyptian government to encourage greater private-sector participation in solar and wind power projects as well as battery storage initiatives.
He said Egypt was also pursuing projects to develop and modernise the national electricity grid and increase its capacity to accommodate additional electricity generation from new power projects.
Esmat described UAE companies as important partners in several electricity-sector initiatives, particularly renewable energy projects, noting that private investors were playing an increasingly significant role in the development of Egypt’s energy infrastructure.
He stressed that the private sector was a major partner in implementing the country’s electricity strategy and that the government was committed to creating an environment that would encourage private investment.
The minister added that private-sector companies were already taking the lead in developing solar and wind energy projects in Egypt, strengthening the role of non-government actors in the country’s clean energy expansion.
The discussions come as Egypt seeks to diversify its electricity generation mix and increase renewable energy capacity as part of its longer-term energy transition strategy.
Greater investment in solar and wind projects, alongside battery storage and grid modernisation, could help the country accommodate increasing renewable generation while strengthening the stability of its electricity system.
For his part, UAE Ambassador Hamad Al Zaabi reaffirmed the strength of relations between Egypt and the UAE, describing the partnership between the two countries as a model of Arab cooperation.
Al Zaabi said Egypt and the UAE shared deep historical and cultural connections as well as broad common interests, which have supported partnerships across areas including trade and investment.
He expressed support for continued cooperation between the two countries and highlighted the importance of strengthening economic partnerships that can create new investment opportunities.
The meeting underscored the growing importance of renewable energy cooperation between Egypt and the UAE, particularly as both countries seek to attract investment and expand cleaner energy infrastructure.
The partnership could provide opportunities for UAE companies to participate in additional Egyptian solar, wind, energy storage and electricity-grid projects while supporting Egypt’s efforts to increase renewable energy use.
The discussions also reinforce the role of private-sector investment in Egypt’s energy transition, with government authorities seeking to work more closely with domestic and international companies to deliver new generation capacity and modernise critical electricity infrastructure.
