Prime Highlight:
- The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) saw renewable energy grow 44% in 2025, reaching 43.7 GW.
- Saudi Arabia led the surge, nearly tripling its capacity to 11.7 GW in just one year.
Key Facts:
- Solar projects dominate the region with 34.5 GW, while wind power reached 7.4 GW.
- Energy storage is expanding rapidly, with 25 GWh operational in 2025 and Saudi Arabia leading with four battery projects totaling 10,400 MWh.
Background:
In 2025, renewable energy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) grew strongly, reaching 43.7 gigawatts (GW), a 44% increase from the previous year. Most of this growth came from solar photovoltaic projects, which now make up 34.5 GW of the total, according to Dubai-based Dii Desert Energy.
Wind power also grew, reaching 7.4 GW, and concentrated solar power (CSP) added 1.8 GW. This increase shows that renewable energy is becoming more competitive across the region.
Saudi Arabia led the expansion, nearly tripling its capacity to 11.7 GW in just one year. This pushed it ahead of earlier leaders like the UAE, Jordan, and Morocco. Major projects like Al Shuaibah 2, Ar Rass 2, and Al Kahfah are driving this growth. The UAE has 7.5 GW, and Egypt has 5.6 GW.
The region’s renewable energy projects reached 202 GW by the end of 2025. With 38 GW of projects under construction, MENA is moving closer to its 2030 target of 235 GW, showing a more mature and active renewable sector.
Falling project costs have supported this rapid growth. Saudi Arabia set new global benchmarks with solar power at USD 10.96 per MWh and wind power at USD 13.38 per MWh. The UAE is building a 5.2-GW solar park with 19 GWh of battery storage to provide steady, reliable renewable power.
Dii Desert Energy’s revised outlook indicates MENA’s renewable capacity could reach 165 GW by 2030 under conservative projections, 235 GW if current national targets are met, and up to 290 GW under more ambitious scenarios.
