A formal agreement was signed by Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports and Dr Waleed Alnuaimi, CEO of Etihad ESCO, during the World Green Economy Summit organised by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, and the World Green Economy Organization.
Griffiths said of the initiative: “Airports are significant energy consumers, but with that comes tremendous opportunity and responsibility to drive real change. For us, this is not just about installing solar panels; it’s about embedding sustainability into the core of everything we do. Every kilowatt we generate from renewable sources brings us closer to shrinking our carbon footprint and future-proofing our operations. This is about setting the standard and leading the way for what a truly sustainable airport can achieve.”
This phased project of total 39MWp of clean energy, which will be fully operational by 2026, involves the installation of 62,904 solar panels across Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International (DWC) airports, set to generate 60,346MWh annually. It marks a significant stride toward decarbonising airport operations, the airport operator said.
The solar panels, which will span passenger terminals and concourses across both airports, are expected to offset 23,000 tonnes of CO2. The energy generated will meet 6.5% of DXB’s power needs and 20% of DWC’s, reinforcing Dubai Airports' long-term vision for cleaner, smarter, and more .
The project builds on the successful installation of solar panels at DXB’s Terminal 2 and Concourse D, where solar power is already playing a vital role in reducing energy consumption and lowering emissions. While ambition and innovation drive progress, the key to achieving sustainable transformation lies in collaboration, foresight, and consistent action.
