UAE Charts Global Energy Future at Moscow Summit

Representing President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of State Saeed Al Hajeri articulated the Emirates' vision for balancing energy security with sustainable development at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum's eighth gathering.

The Gas Exporting Countries Forum gathered in Moscow this October, drawing together the world’s leading energy producing nations for its eighth summit. Hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the assembly marked a significant milestone: the organisation’s twenty-fifth anniversary. It was an occasion befitting the complexity of contemporary energy challenges, and the UAE’s participation carried particular weight.

Representing the nation’s leadership, Minister of State Saeed Al Hajeri brought a perspective shaped by the UAE’s distinctive position in global energy markets. His address articulated a philosophy that refuses false choices between energy security and environmental responsibility. The Emirates, he explained, has cultivated expertise across the full spectrum of energy sources: conventional resources, renewable capacity, peaceful nuclear energy, and the technological systems that support efficiency and emissions reduction.

Central to his remarks was natural gas itself. In an era when artificial intelligence, data centres and advanced manufacturing are reshaping global energy demand, the role of gas remains essential. It powers industrial processes, generates electricity and complements renewable systems. Yet its significance extends beyond power generation. Natural gas supports fertiliser production and desalination, anchoring the interconnected systems of food security and water management that underpin civilisation.

This holistic view reflects the UAE’s broader diplomatic engagement. As we reported in September, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi led the UAE delegation at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi to discuss finance, energy transition and cooperation, signalling the nation’s commitment to diverse international partnerships on energy matters.

Al Hajeri spoke also of the UAE’s energy philosophy in alignment with the UAE Consensus, adopted at COP28. This framework commits the global community to tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements by 2030. Investment, innovation and constructive dialogue between producers and consumers remain foundational to achieving these objectives.

The summit adopted the Moscow Declaration, which recognised the importance of market stability, technological advancement and international cooperation in the energy sector. Significantly, the Declaration acknowledged the forthcoming United Nations Water Conference, which Abu Dhabi will co-host with Senegal in December 2026. This recognition affirms the inextricable link between energy policy and water security, a nexus increasingly shaping global development.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The UAE’s active participation in this milestone summit underscores its role as a trusted partner in global energy systems. By articulating a vision that integrates conventional resources, renewable energy, nuclear technology and innovation, the nation positions itself as a bridge between the established energy order and its sustainable evolution. This engagement strengthens Abu Dhabi’s influence in shaping the frameworks that will govern global energy for decades ahead.

The inclusion of the Water Conference within the Moscow Declaration carries particular significance for Abu Dhabi, which faces water security challenges familiar to much of the Arabian Peninsula. The December gathering represents an opportunity to mobilise international investment and expertise toward solutions that the Emirates has already begun implementing through advanced desalination and resource management. Through forums such as the GECF, Abu Dhabi articulates solutions rooted in its own experience, enhancing its authority as a voice for sustainable development across arid and semi-arid regions.

Source: WAM