Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, the 12th World Green Economy Summit (WGES) is set to take place on October 21-22, 2026, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event is organised by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and the World Green Economy Organisation (WGEO).
WGES 2026 will concentrate on four primary thematic pillars: Energy Technology & Infrastructure, Business Strategy & Transition, Water & Food Security, and Finance. Additionally, the summit will explore three cross-cutting themes—artificial intelligence, governance, and system enablers. The finance pillar, in particular, aims to address the facilitation of climate investments as drivers of economic growth and sustainability.
According to the Climate Policy Initiative, global climate-related investments must reach at least $6.3 trillion annually by 2030 to mitigate the most severe impacts of climate change, compared to the current investment level of approximately $2.3 trillion. The summit will bring together key figures including policymakers, financiers, business leaders, and investors to discuss strategies for improving the bankability and execution of climate projects.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Chairman of WGEO, highlighted the UAE’s commitment to sustainable finance, noting initiatives such as the ALTÁ RRA catalytic climate fund and the country’s $100 million contribution to the Loss and Damage Fund established at COP28. The UAE has also pledged $200 million in Special Drawing Rights to support the International Monetary Fund’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust, alongside the establishment of the Dubai Green Fund. The nation continues to play a leading role regionally in issuing green sukuk and bonds to promote green financing solutions.
Speakers at WGES 2026 underscored the need for aligning financial mechanisms with business strategies and fostering cross-sector cooperation to accelerate the transition to a resilient green economy. Suzanna ElMassah, Professor of Economics at Zayed University, stressed that companies that integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into their core operations are better positioned to manage risks and capitalize on emerging market opportunities, as green revenues increasingly outpace traditional business lines.
Industry leaders also emphasized the necessity of scalable solutions that combine environmental benefits with economic viability. Saeed Al Abbar, CEO of AESG, asserted that sustainability commitments alone are insufficient without actionable strategies linking technology and investment. Alexander Lempka, CEO of Connect Earth, highlighted the financial sector’s critical role in providing products such as sustainability-linked loans and green bonds that incentivize sustainable behavior among corporations and consumers.
From the banking perspective, Naveen Raza, Head of Net Zero Transition at HSBC MENAT, pointed to blended finance as a vital tool to mitigate risk and attract private capital at the scale required for the transition. Joan Larrea, CEO of Convergence Blended Finance, noted that WGES offers a platform to enhance partnerships that finance green growth, particularly in emerging markets, and emphasized the Gulf region’s potential through its investment expertise, capital resources, and growing sustainability commitments.
As WGES 2026 approaches, the summit is expected to reaffirm the UAE’s strategic focus on sustainable development while facilitating global dialogue on financing and implementing green economy initiatives.