Utilities

With strong private sector and foreign investor engagement, the utilities sector in Abu Dhabi is one of the most enduringly attractive to a wide range of businesses. Despite the economic slowdown of recent years, vital big-ticket projects in areas including nuclear energy, solar energy and desalination are continuing to progress at pace. The power and water sector is overseen by several bodies, reflecting the UAE’s federal nature and the relevance of these industries to the public interest. As home to the capital and the vast majority of the UAE’s hydrocarbons resources, Abu Dhabi is central to federal decision-making. Power and water are closely related in the UAE, since most desalination units from which potable water is derived are linked to power plants. This chapter contains an interview with Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, Masdar.