As policymakers, developers and technology leaders convene this week at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi for the World Future Energy Summit 2026, the Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA) has launched its Solar Outlook Report 2026, setting out a clear message - the region’s solar journey has entered a more mature, intelligent phase defined by resilience, flexibility and system-wide optimisation.
Released during the Summit, the report, now in its 11th year, delivers valuable insights and the latest market updates across more than 14 countries in the region. Developed by industry experts, the 2026 edition covers key developments in technology, policy and financing, while highlighting the major drivers shaping solar growth in West Asia and North Africa (WANA). It paints a nuanced, yet confident, picture of a market navigating global headwinds while accelerating regional execution.
While global solar additions are expected to plateau for the first time in two decades due to policy and supply-chain recalibration, MESIA’s analysis shows WANA moving in the opposite direction, transitioning from ambition-led growth to enforceable delivery at scale.
“The story of solar in MENA is no longer about catching up,” explained Hinde Liepmannsohn, Executive Director, MESSIA. “It is about setting the terms of what a renewable-dominant energy system looks like in some of the world’s most demanding operating conditions.”
According to the report, 2025 marked another landmark year for solar investment across the GCC, with more than USD19 billion in new solar contract awards, driven by utility-scale projects in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt. But the Solar Outlook Report 2026 makes it clear that the next growth chapter will be determined by grid readiness, storage deployment, and digital intelligence, rather than generation capacity alone.
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