Sami Khoreibi: UAE's net zero vision is an economic opportunity, not a burden
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Sami Khoreibi, former CEO of Enviromena Power Systems, is now a visionary investor in sustainability and a strategic adviser to government.Speaking to Aletihad, he reflected on the UAE's remarkable clean energy journey from his time spent at clean energy company, Masdar.'The reason I moved to the UAE from Canada in 2007 was because of the potential of renewable energy and sustainability,' he said.'What we have seen in the past 18 years is nothing short of incredible. Even the most optimistic predictions have been surpassed.'Khoreibi attributes this success to two main factors - 'very strong leadership and amazing advancements in technology and cost', adding that the UAE has become not only a domestic champion of clean energy but also a global investor in the space.His first company, Enviromena, played a key role in this transition before being acquired in 2018.Since then, he has witnessed even greater momentum, citing major solar projects like the Al Dhafra Solar PV project and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park as proof of the country's scale and ambition.This growth is enabled by regulations and programmes that promote utility-scale and commercial solar, he said.Khoreibi also sees room for more inclusive energy solutions.'Most roofs cannot generate enough to cover household energy needs, especially with air conditioning loads. That is why I believe offsite net metering would be a game-changer,' he said.Khoreibi believes the UAE offers an ideal environment for launching green startups.'Now, whether you are in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or Sharjah, there are fantastic public-private initiatives that support entrepreneurs.'Since leaving Enviromena, he has invested in nearly 20 early-stage sustainability startups, among them The Waste Lab (food waste management), Amp (energy optimisation), and Planno (AI-driven platform that maps solar potential on rooftops globally).'We are in a region full of talent, innovation and large markets,' he said, stressing the value of regional collaboration.His latest venture, Wisewell, focuses on high-tech, data-driven drinking water purification, reducing plastic waste and rethinking how water is delivered across the region.Khoreibi sees youth as essential to the sustainability movement.'There is nothing more valuable than youth engagement. They have grown up with sustainability embedded in their thinking; it is natural for them to expect industries and governments to protect the environment.'He pointed out that many green technologies, like electric vehicles and renewable energy, are not just environmentally beneficial but 'cheaper and better.'Reflecting on his journey, he recalled: 'In 2009, we built the first solar power plant in the Middle East for Masdar. That plant had 88,000 panels. Fast forward to today, and the Al Dhafra plant has nearly 70 million. That is just one project. We need to install 100,000 panels a day to meet regional targets, about one per second.'And he believes the opportunities for local entrepreneurs are immense.As a judge for the business reality TV show "The Final Pitch", he said the platform is more than a competition; it is a chance to mentor the next generation in many sectors like sustainability and renewable energy.The Final Pitch is a programme where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to top investors and experts, in the hope of gaining support, funding and building partnerships.'It is not just about pitching. We get to mentor, guide and truly connect with the entrepreneurs. And I learn a lot from them too.'Meanwhile, Khoreibi expressed optimism about the UAE's 2050 net zero target.
'Net zero will not be a burden. It will be one of our biggest economic drivers. We have reached the point where green solutions are better and cheaper. The UAE is wise to treat sustainability not as a cost, but as an investment. And that is exactly what will make it a global leader,' he concluded.
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