Masdar to add 1.2GW to Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in sixth phase

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in the UAE. Credit: DEWA

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has selected UAE state-owned renewable power company Masdar as its “preferred bidder” to build and operate the sixth phase of the mammoth Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

The project is already the largest single-site solar farm in the world by capacity. The fifth phase of the project came online earlier this year, bringing its total capacity up to 2.4GW, and the authority plans to add a further 1.2GW of capacity in the upcoming sixth phase of construction.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

Not ready to commit yet?
  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

“DEWA is committed to completing the phases of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park according to the highest international standards using the latest solar power technologies to enhance the shift towards a green sustainable economy by increasing the share of clean and renewable energy,” said Saeed Mohammed Ahmad Al Tayer, vice chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy.

“The share of clean energy in Dubai’s energy mix is about 16.3% of its total installed capacity,” added Al Tayer. “This percentage will reach 24% in 2026 with the completion of the sixth phase and the remaining phases under construction of the solar park.”

While continued work at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will help the UAE shift its energy mix towards renewables, it remains a country heavily reliant on fossil fuels. According to the Energy Institute’s Statistical Review of World Energy, the UAE consumed 698.48TWh of energy from natural gas and 607.25TWh of energy from oil in 2022, with renewables accounting for less than 19TWh.

The majority of the renewable mix is derived from solar, however, with 18.13TWh coming from solar, compared to less than 0.01TWh from wind, and the state’s commitment to solar power has encouraged continued investment in its flagship solar project.

DEWA noted that 23 “international applicants” had applied for permission to develop the project, and expects the Masdar bid to deliver the lowest levelised cost of energy among DEWA’s solar portfolio, of US$0.016/kWh. Keeping costs down at the project will be critical considering the expenses associated with building a solar project of this scale, with DEWA expecting Masdar to invest around US$1.5 billion (AED5.51 billion) into the project.

However, questions remain as to whether the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park’s generation capacity can meet the lofty targets that have been set for it. In June this year, the commissioning of the fifth phase of the project was reported to have increased its total capacity to 2.8GW, but this week, Al Tayer noted that the project’s total capacity is 2.4GW.

Similarly, when DEWA first began accepting bids for the sixth round of development in November 2022, it expected the sixth phase to add 1.8GW of capacity. However, the Masdar bid will see just 1.2GW of capacity added to the project; these are still considerable figures, but remain a shade smaller than the initial plans for the project.

Read Next

August 27, 2025
Solargis' Marcel Suri reports on the mixing of datasets in solar project planning to artificially enhance financial attractiveness.
August 22, 2025
Polish independent power producer (IPP) R.Power plans to sell a 440MW ready-to-build PV portfolio in its home country.
August 21, 2025
Canadian Solar shipped 7.9GW of modules in the second quarter of this year, a 14% quarter-on-quarter increase.
August 21, 2025
Qair has secured a US$5.7 million senior debt facility to finance the development of a 5.8MW floating solar (FPV) project in Seychelles.
August 20, 2025
The consortium building the Al Sadawi PV power plant in Saudi Arabia has reached financial close on the 2GW project.
August 20, 2025
Israel-headquartered independent power producer (IPP) Econergy has started commercial operations at its 87MW Oradea solar project in Romania.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines