UAE chairs Global Energy Efficiency Alliance
The UAE announced its intention to establish GEEA during the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, in support of the UAE Consensus and the global goal of doubling the energy efficiency improvement rate, from the historical average of 2 percent to over 4 percent annually by 2030.
GEEA reaffirms the UAE's commitment to placing energy efficiency at the forefront of the international energy and climate agenda. This effort comes at a critical moment, as the world is currently off track, the global energy efficiency improvement rate remains below 1.5 percent annually, and at this pace, the world will fall short of achieving its decarbonisation and net-zero targets.
GEEA complements other high-level initiatives such as the Mission Efficiency partnership, the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group, and regional clean energy platforms. Together, these combined efforts must be mutually reinforcing, not fragmented—ensuring that knowledge, finance, and best practices flow across borders and sectors.
Through chairing this ambitious alliance, the UAE underscores its commitment to spearheading international efforts to enhance energy efficiency across various sectors. The UAE aims to strengthen collaboration among governments, the private sector, financial institutions, and research and innovation centers, thereby accelerating the transition toward more efficient and sustainable energy systems.
In this context, Sharif Al Olama, Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, emphasised that the UAE's chairing of GEEA reflects the international community's confidence in the country's ability to lead and coordinate effectively. He noted that GEEA will play a pivotal role in policy development, knowledge and expertise exchange, enhancing access to finance and innovation, and enabling member states to achieve their national and international energy efficiency goals.
Al Olama said, 'This alliance serves as a practical and inclusive platform to accelerate the achievement of the global target to double the rate of energy efficiency by 2030, in line with the historic UAE Consensus. We welcome all partners from around the world to join and collaborate for a more efficient and sustainable future. GEEA aims to drive transformative improvements in energy consumption efficiency across key sectors, including buildings, transportation, and industry.'
Last February, the UAE hosted a high-level roundtable during the World Government Summit in Dubai, where the general framework of the alliance was discussed with several countries, international organisations, private sector entities, and financial institutions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
22 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE condemns Israeli storming of Al-Aqsa mosque as 'extremist act'
UAE strongly condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and settlers under Israeli police protection, describing it as a provocative escalation and an unacceptable extremist act. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the Israeli government to assume its responsibilities, condemn these provocative practices, and hold all those involved accountable, particularly Israeli ministers and officials. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The UAE affirmed that these repeated attacks, along with the accompanying incitement to hatred and violence, constitute a systematic extremist campaign that not only targets the Palestinian people but also threatens social peace, leading to an escalation of tensions. The ministry stressed the need to respect the historical and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque, ensure the protection of all religious sanctities, and respect the role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in overseeing the endowments and managing the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on Sunday and said he prayed there, challenging rules under a delicate decades-old "status quo" arrangement with Muslim authorities.
Zawya
38 minutes ago
- Zawya
Flat6Labs Grows Bigger: Introducing F6 Group to launch F6 Ventures, the new venture capital arm
F6 Group, a newly formed entity integrating venture capital and entrepreneurial support, announces its official launch, anchored by two powerful arms: F6 Ventures, a newly launched seed-stage investment firm, and Flat6Labs ( the region's most recognized startup accelerator platform. Together, they represent a bold evolution of the company's 14-year journey, bringing sharper focus, expanded reach, and deeper capabilities to support founders and ecosystems across the Middle East and Africa. At the core of this transformation is F6 Ventures, the Group's dedicated venture capital arm to be managing six funds with over $90 million in assets under management (AUM) and a track record of 300+ companies invested into by the Partners. Focused on seed and early-stage investments across the Middle East and Africa, F6 Ventures is positioned to become a market leader in seed-stage investing across emerging ecosystems, as it addresses a pressing funding gap at the most critical phase of startup development: the pre-seed and seed stages. Co-Founded by Dina el-Shenoufy and Ramez El-Serafy, the firm leverages F6 Group's extensive regional presence and legacy of empowering entrepreneurial talent, through the long-standing work of Flat6Labs, previously under the leadership of el-Shenoufy and El-Serafy, to back visionary founders, scale tech-driven innovation, and create lasting value for stakeholders. 'F6 Ventures marks a new era in our journey, bringing focused capital and sharper execution to support the region's boldest founders.' said Dina el-Shenoufy, Co-Founder and General Partner at F6 Ventures. 'We are extending our commitment to early-stage startups to help them scale from idea to impact.' Backed by the extensive regional footprint and entrepreneurial legacy of F6 Group and headquartered in Cairo, with offices in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Amman Tunis, and Nairobi, F6 Ventures is also led by the regional partners, namely Eyad Albayouk, Ryaan Sharif, Rasha Manna, Walid Triki, and Christine Namara. Together, this seasoned leadership team brings decades of experience in venture capital, entrepreneurship, and market development across the Middle East and Africa. 'Over more than a decade, we've empowered thousands of founders and helped bold ideas grow into market-leading startups. I'm excited to begin this new chapter with F6 Ventures helping founders scale faster and drive the next wave of innovation,' said Ramez El-Serafy, Co-Founder and General Partner at F6 Ventures. Meanwhile, maintaining the regionally renowned brand name, and with the leadership of newly appointed CEO, Yehia Houry, Flat6Labs sharpens its focus on founder support, innovation, and ecosystem growth across emerging markets. Building on more than 14 years of proven impact, it remains the region's leading platform for world-class startup programs and ecosystem-building initiatives, deepening its mission to empower entrepreneurs and drive regional innovation . Both entities operate under the unified structure of F6 Group led by Dina el-Shenoufy as CEO and Hany Al Sonbaty, Founder and Chairman, ensuring a unified strategy that combines venture capital and entrepreneurial support programs to advance innovation across emerging markets. Looking ahead, F6 Ventures plans to launch multiple new regional funds across Africa, the GCC, and Levant, with a goal of expanding its AUMs to $200 million and investing in over 200 companies within the next five years. F6 Group brings together venture capital and founder support under one platform, purpose-built to serve startups across emerging markets. By aligning investment and programmatic expertise, F6 Group delivers unmatched access to capital, programs, and expertise - turning visionary founders into market leaders. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Flat6Labs. For press inquiries, contact info@
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Sir Richard Branson joins jury for Zayed Sustainability Prize
is among the high-profile names confirmed as members of the jury for the Zayed Sustainability Prize on Tuesday. Other names include Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development, Mariam Al Mehairi, Head of the Office of International Affairs, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State, Dr Nawal Al Hosany, UAE's Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, former President of Iceland, Dr Andreas Jacobs, Chairman of INSEAD, Wang Chuan-fu, chairman and CEO of BYD, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, President, Indigenous Women & Peoples Association of Chad Cochair, and Dr Ing Christian Bruch, President and CEO of Siemens Energy. The Zayed Sustainability Prize, now in its 17th year, received 7,761 entries from 173 countries for its 2026 awards event, vying for recognition in its six categories of Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action and Global High Schools. Delivering sustainable solutions The surge in applications marked a 30 per cent increase on the previous awards cycle, with a notable increase in technology-focused projects such as AI and FinTech tools. 'The record number of submissions to this year's prize cycle reflects a growing global commitment to practical, scalable solutions that deliver long-term impact," said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and director general of the Zayed Sustainability Prize. "Across all categories, the increased use of AI and other advanced technologies highlights how innovation is being harnessed to drive inclusive, community-led progress." The prize, which honours the legacy of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, empowers small to medium-sized enterprises, non-profit organisations and high schools to deliver high-impact, sustainable solutions. Analysis of the 2026 cycle has shown 85 per cent of submissions came from developing or emerging economies, with India, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, Brazil and Indonesia among the top contributing nations. Winners will be announced at the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony on January 13, 2026, during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Each of the five category winners will receive $1 million, while high schools – representing the world's regions – will be awarded $150,000 each to implement or expand their sustainability projects.
