Dubai Launches Major Bid for Landmark Solar-Plus-Storage Project
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has now called on qualified companies and consortia from around the world to submit their proposals for the seventh phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
Importantly, DEWA is continuing to develop this phase using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. This latest project will incorporate a substantial 2,000 megawatts of new photovoltaic generation capacity.
Furthermore, it will pair this with a very large battery energy storage system rated at 1,400 megawatts; this system can discharge continuously for six hours, achieving a total storage capacity of 8,400 megawatt-hours.
Consequently, once finished, the facility is poised to rank among the world’s largest integrated solar and energy storage power stations.
DEWA’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, highlighted the project’s strategic goals. He emphasized that this pioneering initiative aims to position Dubai firmly as a global hub for clean energy and the green economy.
Moreover, the project is dedicated to establishing the city as an international model for sustainable innovation.
In his view, Phase 7 represents a critical step in the ongoing efforts to diversify Dubai’s energy mix and significantly increase its share of renewable power. Ultimately, this move will strengthen Dubai’s leading role in deploying advanced energy storage and clean generation technologies.
Accelerated Timeline and Revised Targets Underpin Dubai’s Green Push
In a related development, Mr. Al Tayer also announced that Dubai has decided to raise its 2030 renewable energy target substantially, moving it from the original 25% to a more ambitious 36%.
The completion of Phase 7 is central to this revised goal. Specifically, once this phase becomes fully operational, the total installed capacity of the entire solar park will reach 8,060 MW by 2030.
Examining the current progress, we can see that DEWA has already brought 3,860 MW of the solar park’s capacity online, with another 800 MW currently under construction.
The bidding process for Phase 7 itself is advancing swiftly. After issuing the pre-qualification documents back on 16 May 2025—a step that drew strong interest with 49 Letters of Intent received—DEWA formally released the Invitation to Tender to the pre-qualified bidders on 20 October. The authority now plans to announce the winning bidder early in 2026.
Finally, the entire project is targeting connection to the grid before the end of 2029.
