The Masdar Initiative

In April 2006, Abu Dhabi took a bold and historic decision to embrace renewable and sustainable energy technologies.

As the first major hydrocarbon-producing nation to take such a step, it has established its leadership position by launching the Masdar Initiative, a global cooperative platform for open engagement in the search for solutions to some of mankind's most pressing issues: energy security, climate change and truly sustainable human development.

Abu Dhabi is leveraging its substantial resources and expertise in global energy markets into the technologies of the future. One key objective of Masdar is to position Abu Dhabi as a world-class research and development hub for new energy technologies, while ensuring that Abu Dhabi maintains a strong position in world energy markets.

A related objective is to drive the commercialization and adoption of these and other technologies in sustainable energy, carbon management and water utilization. In doing so, Masdar will play a decisive role in Abu Dhabi's transition from technology consumer to technology producer. The goal is the establishment of an entirely-new economic sector in Abu Dhabi around these new industries, which will assist economic diversification and the development of knowledge-based industries.

The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC) is the government-owned organization mandated to develop and execute Masdar. ADFEC will also ensure that Masdar further enhances Abu Dhabi's existing record of environmental stewardship and its contribution to the global community.

The following pages highlight the key components of this exciting new initiative and describe how they integrate into a powerful and comprehensive platform for global collaboration.