Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
The UAE has been a proactive partner within the BRICS framework, advancing ambitious environmental and sustainable development goals alongside its deepening economic ties.
During the BRICS Business Forum held on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Minister of Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi highlighted the UAE's deep economic and environmental cooperation with the bloc, naming renewable energy, agriculture, and logistics among priority sectors.
The UAE, through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, committed approximately $400 million in 2021 to the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF) platform, which mobilises funding to accelerate clean energy transitions in emerging economies.
That same year, the UAE had joined the BRICS-backed New Development Bank, formally enabling it to co-finance sustainable infrastructure projects alongside member nations.
The country's environmental engagement continued to deepen in September 2024, when UAE's Minister of Climate Change and the Environment Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi attended a high-level BRICS climate dialogue in Moscow.
There, she announced the UAE's pledge to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030, invest $50 billion in global clean energy projects, and lead emerging carbon market initiatives within the bloc.
In March 2025, at the Second Meeting of the BRICS Committee of Senior Energy Officials in Brasília, the UAE reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the global energy transition and strengthening international cooperation to ensure energy security.
Delegates highlighted the country's leadership in energy transition with investment in hydrogen, renewables, and efficiency – anchored by the historic "UAE Consensus" from COP28, which calls for tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030.
Complementing multilateral engagement, in May 2025, the UAE struck a cross governmental roadmap with Russia, focused on biodiversity, waste management, forestry, and hydrometeorology.
The agreement also prioritises joint initiatives to restore endangered species and foster cooperation on environmental declarations adopted at the 2024 BRICS summit.
Through these measures, the UAE continues to position itself as a key driver of sustainable development within the BRICS ecosystem.
