The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC) during the 2025 World Utilities Congress.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Department of Energy (DoE), and His Excellency Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability.
The MoU was signed by His Excellency Engineer Ahmed Al Falasi, Energy Efficiency Sector Executive Director at Abu Dhabi DoE, and Mercedes Vela Monserrate, CEO of GCFC. Several directors and senior officials from both sides also attended.
Mercedes Vela Monserrate, CEO of GCFC, stated that, “This agreement reflects the work already underway between GCFC and the Department of Energy to develop financing mechanisms for energy and water efficiency. It also formalizes our collaboration as we lead the Finance Track for the 2026 UN Water Conference. Our focus is on mobilizing capital, supporting regulatory frameworks, and delivering practical solutions through a strong pipeline of investable projects.”
H.E Engineer Ahmed Al Falasi Energy Efficiency Sector Executive Director – Abu Dhabi DoE
“This agreement represents a strategic milestone in our ongoing efforts to drive the transition toward a sustainable economic model that helps address climate change challenges. We recognize the importance of activating partnerships with leading institutions such as the Global Climate Finance Centre, given their pivotal role in enhancing our capacity to develop pioneering projects and enabling innovative and flexible financing solutions that benefit both the economy and society. We look forward to implementing high-impact initiatives through this collaboration, starting with supporting projects such as ‘Cooling as a Service’, and moving toward building an effective ecosystem that includes government entities, the private sector, and the community at large. As we look ahead to the 2026 UN Water Conference, which the UAE will co-host, we are committed to deepening partnerships that deliver measurable progress and scalable innovation in energy and water efficiency, in line with our national priorities.”
The agreement aims to enhance bilateral partnership by supporting the implementation of Abu Dhabi’s Finance Strategy and strengthening the Emirate’s position as a leading hub for climate finance and innovation.
The collaboration also seeks to build institutional capacities, exchange knowledge and information, and scale financing for energy and water efficiency projects, including behavioral change and environmental conservation initiatives.
Key areas of cooperation outlined in the MoU:
Development of financing instruments for energy and water efficiency infrastructure.
Capital structuring tools such as guarantees, linked loans, and bond frameworks.
Technical support and capacity-building for regulators, project developers, and financial institutions.
Policy and regulatory alignment to support investment-readiness.
High-level convenings to support pipeline development and institutional coordination.
Furthermore, both parties will work together to align financing solutions with Abu Dhabi’s strategic priorities and help cementing the Emirate’s position as a regional leader in climate finance.
