By Abbas Nazil
Saudi Arabia is expected to increase its renewable electricity capacity expansion fivefold between 2026 and 2031, positioning the Kingdom as a major driver of clean energy growth in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The projection, contained in the agency’s latest annual Renewables 2026 report, indicates that Saudi Arabia could reach 60 gigawatts (GW) of renewable electricity capacity by 2031, following the addition of a record 9GW in 2025.
The anticipated growth would account for approximately half of the renewable capacity expansion projected for the entire Middle East and North Africa region over the period.
The IEA forecasts that renewable energy capacity across the region will triple by 2031, reflecting growing investments in clean electricity generation and efforts by governments to diversify their energy systems.
The agency described the expected expansion as a structural shift in the region’s energy market, with solar power projected to play the leading role.
Solar energy is expected to account for almost 80 per cent of the 122GW in additional renewable electricity capacity forecast for the region by 2031.
The report also identifies the United Arab Emirates as another major contributor to renewable energy development, with its solar electricity generation per capita expected to make it the world’s highest by 2031.
Oman and Qatar are also projected to rank among the world’s top 10 countries for solar electricity generation per capita within the same period.
Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy ambitions form part of its wider Vision 2030 economic transformation programme, which seeks to diversify the Kingdom’s economy and reduce its dependence on conventional energy sources.
Under the programme, the country aims to generate 50 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources, with solar and wind power expected to contribute significantly towards achieving the target.
The IEA’s projections come amid increasing global interest in renewable energy as governments seek to strengthen energy security, reduce exposure to imported fuels and address the effects of volatile international energy markets.
In its wider assessment, the agency projects that global renewable power capacity will increase by almost 4,800GW between 2026 and 2031, representing an expansion of nearly 60 per cent compared with the previous six-year period.
Solar photovoltaic technology is expected to account for more than three-quarters of the anticipated global increase, followed by onshore wind power.
The agency also noted that emerging and developing economies outside China are expected to add renewable electricity capacity at a level comparable to advanced economies for the first time during the forecast period.
However, the report highlights the importance of expanding electricity grid infrastructure, improving energy storage and addressing delays in connecting renewable projects to power networks to ensure that increased generation capacity translates into reliable electricity supplies.
For Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region, the projected expansion represents an opportunity to accelerate the transition towards cleaner energy while strengthening electricity supply and supporting long-term economic development.
