DUBAI – The Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2026) is set to shine a spotlight on the future of sustainable mobility. From 20th to 22nd October 2026, the Dubai World Trade Centre will host this pivotal event which will display groundbreaking innovations in vehicles, clean energy, charging infrastructure, and fleet management.
Organized by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), this year’s exhibition will feature a Green Mobility Zone that unites electric and hydrogen vehicles, cutting-edge charging technologies, and advanced fleet management solutions. The gathering aims to connect transport operators, utilities, investors, and technology providers in an integrated ecosystem designed to accelerate the transition to a low-emission green economy.
Reflecting on the growing momentum for electric vehicles (EVs), the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global EV Outlook 2026 noted a substantial increase in sales by 20 percent, surpassing 20 million units in 2025, representing a quarter of all new cars sold globally. The forecast for 2026 suggests a continuation of this trend, with sales anticipated to reach 23 million units, translating to 28 percent of total car sales.
In the words of Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA and Founder and Chairman of WETEX, “**The future of sustainable mobility requires building an integrated ecosystem that combines clean energy, advanced infrastructure, innovative digital technologies, and business and investment models capable of accelerating the transition to a low-emission green economy.**” He emphasized the critical role of reliable charging and power supply solutions and the importance of collaborative efforts among governments, companies, research institutions, and investors.
Charging infrastructure is crucial for sustaining EV growth, shifting priorities from mere charger proliferation to charging speed, station distribution, load management, and fleet-specific requirements. As reported by the IEA, global public charging points surpassed seven million by the end of 2025, growing by over 33 percent annually.
In Dubai, the number of EV charging points reached 2,223 in the first quarter of 2026. By the end of 2025, the emirate witnessed a nearly 28 percent increase in its EV fleet, totaling 47,944 vehicles.
Another innovative leap is the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which allows compatible EVs to return stored electricity to the grid, facilitating load management and enhancing renewable energy integration. Broader adoption of V2G depends on vehicle compatibility, established standards, regulatory support, and effective business models.
Public and commercial fleets are proactively driving the electric mobility wave. These entities, with consistent routes and high operational use, provide valuable insights into assessing costs and infrastructure efficiency.
In collaboration, DEWA and Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) have launched the first phase of an ultra-fast charging hub, featuring 24 charging points each with a 360 kilowatt (kW) capacity. This initiative arises from an agreement formed at WETEX 2025 to roll out over 200 ultra-fast charging points for DTC’s fleet. Meanwhile, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is pushing to power its entire public bus fleet with electric and hydrogen energy by 2050.
Hydrogen emerges as a viable complementary option, particularly for heavy-duty, long-haul, and high-utilisation transport sectors where refuelling speed and powertrain weight present challenges. The IEA points out that heavy-duty road transport is emerging as one of the fastest-growing sectors for fuel cell vehicles.
DEWA’s Green Hydrogen project at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park stands as the first in the Middle East and North Africa to produce hydrogen using solar energy. The project is pioneering future applications, including transport and has supplied some of its hydrogen production to refuel vehicles at an ENOC station in Expo City Dubai.
WETEX 2026 is a showcase for how these transformative technologies coalesce to reduce emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and enable sustainable urban transport solutions.
Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
