The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a $4.5 billion commitment to finance more than 60 clean energy projects across Africa.
The disclosure was made by Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, during the 39th African Union (AU) Summit held February 14–15, 2026, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The funding will be deployed under the Africa Green Investment Initiative, which targets solar, wind, geothermal, battery storage, and green hydrogen projects across multiple African countries.
According to the minister, the programme is designed to accelerate the rollout of power projects and expand electricity generation capacity on the continent.
What the UAE is saying
Sheikh Shakhboot said the initiative shows the UAE’s growing engagement in Africa’s energy sector and builds earlier commitments.
He referenced a separate $10 billion clean energy programme led by Masdar, the Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy company and also cited the UAE’s “Etihad 7” initiative, which seeks to provide electricity access to up to 100 million people by 2035.
The minister added that cumulative UAE investments in Africa exceeded $110 billion between 2019 and 2023, with more than $70 billion directed toward the energy sector, particularly renewable energy.
The 60 projects under the new commitment are expected to span different technologies, including grid-scale renewables and battery storage systems.
Africa’s electricity gap remains wide
The announcement comes amid ongoing challenges with electricity access across the continent.
According to the World Bank Energy Access Report 2025, published in June, nearly 600 million Africans still lacked access to electricity. The gap is largest in sub-Saharan Africa, where electrification investment has not kept pace with growing demand
Moreover, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that less than $2.5 billion was mobilised for new electricity connections in sub-Saharan Africa in 2023.
The agency stated that this funding level is not sufficient to achieve universal electricity access in the region.
The same study estimates that nearly $150 billion in cumulative investment will be required by 2035 to achieve universal electricity access in Africa, equivalent to about $15 billion per year.
The UAE’s $4.5 billion commitment forms part of ongoing efforts to address Africa’s electricity financing needs, which reports indicate require substantially higher annual investment.
Clean energy investment still trails behind fossil fuels
While renewable energy installations are growing, the majority of Africa’s energy investment continues to go toward fossil fuels.
Nearly $70 billion of Africa’s total approximately $110 billion energy spend that year went to fossil fuel supply and power, with the remainder directed to clean energy technologies.
The latest commitment adds to a series of energy investments by the UAE across Africa in recent years. Masdar has been active in several countries, financing renewable projects and entering into partnership agreements with governments and local developers.
The UAE has also expanded its footprint in infrastructure and logistics, positioning itself as a long-term investor in strategic sectors.
At the AU Summit, the clean energy pledge was framed as part of a wider cooperation agenda between the UAE and African states. Sheikh Shakhboot said the initiative is intended to support economic growth and improve access to reliable electricity.
The announcement covers 60 planned projects, with next steps including project development, regulatory processes, and integration into national electricity systems.
