Accelerating Solar Power Deployment in the Arab Gulf States

The Arab Gulf states are uniquely positioned to become global leaders in solar power. Blessed with one of the world’s highest levels of solar irradiance, the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have the potential to revolutionize their energy matrix, reduce their carbon footprint, and diversify their hydrocarbon-dependent economies. Despite these favorable conditions, the deployment of solar power across the GCC has been uneven and faces several challenges, with renewable power accounting for only 2% of generation capacity in 2022.¹ This policy brief provides an overview of the current solar power landscape in the Gulf, zooms in on regulatory barriers as an underdiscussed challenge to wider deployment, and recommends policies to enhance the region’s solar power capabilities.