February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

Masdar City is a planned sustainable urban development located approximately 17 kilometers from downtown Abu Dhabi, adjacent to Abu Dhabi International Airport. Conceived in 2006 and developed by Masdar, a subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, the city was designed to be one of the world’s most sustainable urban communities, incorporating renewable energy, passive cooling architecture, water recycling, and reduced automobile dependency. It serves as both a living urban district and a global hub for clean energy research, development, and commercialization.

UAE Context

Masdar City represents one of the UAE’s earliest and most visible commitments to sustainability and the energy transition. The development hosts the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), making the UAE the permanent home of the global body coordinating renewable energy adoption. The city also houses the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Masdar Institute research facilities, and a growing cluster of clean-tech startups and multinational companies focused on sustainability. While the original vision of a fully carbon-neutral city has evolved, Masdar City remains a functional laboratory for sustainable urban design in an arid climate.

Key Data

  • Founded: 2006 (first phase completed 2010)
  • Developer: Masdar, a subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company
  • Area: 6 square kilometers at full buildout
  • Key tenant: IRENA global headquarters
  • Power: Solar-powered with one of the region’s largest photovoltaic installations
  • Design features: Passive cooling streets, autonomous transit pods, water recycling systems

Significance for Vision 2031

Masdar City exemplifies the UAE’s commitment to leading in clean energy and sustainability, a core theme within Vision 2031. The development demonstrates that an oil-producing nation can simultaneously invest in renewable energy innovation and sustainable urban living. As a testbed for technologies applicable across arid regions, Masdar City positions the UAE as a credible leader in climate solutions and supports the national target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.