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UAE’s Masdar Signs Strategic Agreement with Iraq to Develop PV Projects

Officials at the virtual signing ceremony. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Officials at the virtual signing ceremony. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UAE’s Masdar Signs Strategic Agreement with Iraq to Develop PV Projects

Officials at the virtual signing ceremony. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Officials at the virtual signing ceremony. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Masdar, a subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company and one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, announced that it signed a strategic agreement with Iraq to develop solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in the country with a minimum total capacity of two gigawatts.

Heads of Agreement were signed at a virtual ceremony by Iraq’s Minister of Electricity Majid Hantosh, President of Iraq’s National Investment Commission Suha al-Najar and Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel al-Ramahi.

The ceremony took place in the presence of Iraqi Minister of Oil Ihsan Abdul Jabbar Ismail, UAE Minister of Energy Suhail al-Mazroui and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani al-Zeyoudi.

“The government seeks to increase and enhance the national production of clean energy,” said Ismail.

Iraq targets 20 to 25 percent of energy coming from renewable sources, rather than fossil fuels, equivalent to 10 to 12 GW, he explained.

“This agreement with Masdar, a global leader in renewable energy, is a major step in the development of the clean energy investment sector and the exploitation of solar energy in Iraq.”

Mazroui stressed the UAE’s commitment to working with Iraq to develop sustainable energy resources.

“This initiative also highlights the importance of public and private sector partnerships in finding affordable solutions.”

“Masdar has been a pioneer in developing clean energy projects, and it is now active in more than 30 countries around the world, with a total value of more than $20 billion and a production capacity exceeding 11 gigawatts.”

Masdar will certainly leverage the expertise it has built up through these projects to support Iraq on its clean energy journey, he added.

Zeyoudi pointed out that the cooperation between Masdar and Iraq’ government will add significant value to the Emirati and Iraqi partnerships in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and keeping pace with the growing demand for energy.

It will also contribute to supporting Iraqi efforts aimed at implementing quality projects to produce 10 gigawatts of solar energy by 2025.

Commenting on the agreement, Najar said it is one of the largest renewable photovoltaic solar projects in the Middle East and falls within Iraq’ vision and its sustainable transition plan 2021-2030.

“This agreement will define the path for the development of clean energy solutions that will drive growth in Iraq and help the government meet its climate goals,” said Ramahi.

The UAE shares Iraq’s commitment to diversify energy sources and accelerate the transition to clean energy sources, he added.

Iraq, the second-largest oil producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is looking to increase the rate of renewables in its total power production capacity by the end of this decade.

It aims to address supply issues and meet climate objectives. Iraq, which this year ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change, enjoys some of the region’s most attractive solar irradiation levels.

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Saudi Arabia's Digital Advertising Boom: Addressing Economic Leakage, Boosting Local Content

A digital advertising event recently held in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A digital advertising event recently held in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia's Digital Advertising Boom: Addressing Economic Leakage, Boosting Local Content

A digital advertising event recently held in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A digital advertising event recently held in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s digital advertising sector is experiencing rapid growth, but a significant portion of its revenues is leaking to foreign platforms. To maximize the impact on the national economy, experts are calling for strategies to curb this outflow and redirect it to local channels.

The importance of retaining digital ad revenues lies in the substantial size of this market. It is estimated that approximately $1 billion in ad spent is lost annually to foreign platforms, representing a considerable loss to Saudi Arabia’s economy.

Dr. Ebada Al-Abbad, CEO of Marketing and Communications at Tadafuq, a Saudi digital advertising network, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the problem stems from the fact that although advertisers, products, and audiences are often local, the largest share of financial gains goes to foreign platforms. He estimated that 70-80% of the $1.5 billion spent on digital advertising in Saudi Arabia in 2022 went to global platforms such as Google and Facebook. This results in the national economy losing nearly $1 billion annually from this sector alone.

Al-Abbad noted that government agencies in Saudi Arabia also contribute to the outflow. He explained that public sector spending on digital advertising, intended to raise awareness among citizens and residents, frequently ends up on foreign platforms. Government spending makes up about 20-25% of the total digital ad market in the Kingdom, meaning hundreds of millions of riyals leave the country annually, weakening the local digital economy.

Al-Abbad argues that Saudi Arabia needs strong local digital ad networks to keep this revenue within the national economy. These networks would help create jobs, drive innovation, and promote cultural diversity in digital content. Developing local platforms would also enhance Saudi Arabia’s digital sovereignty by ensuring that data remains within the country and is not controlled by foreign entities.

Moreover, local networks would reduce dependence on international platforms, ensuring that the economic benefits of digital advertising remain in the Kingdom, he said, stressing that this would align with Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 goals, which emphasize building a robust, diversified economy driven by local industries and digital transformation.

Globally, the digital advertising sector is growing rapidly. In 2022, worldwide spending on digital ads reached $602 billion, and it is projected to hit $876 billion by 2026. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the digital ad market grew to $5.9 billion in 2022, with Saudi Arabia’s market accounting for over $1.5 billion.

In other countries, the digital ad sector plays a crucial role in boosting national economies. For example, in the United States, the digital advertising industry contributed $460 billion to the GDP in 2021, about 2.1% of the total. In the UK, the sector accounted for 1.8% of GDP in 2022. This shows how important digital advertising can be in driving economic growth.

One of the key challenges facing Saudi Arabia’s digital ad sector is the dominance of global platforms like Google and Facebook, which control 60% of the global digital ad market, Al-Abbad told Asharq Al-Awsat. This dominance results in a significant outflow of revenue and allows these platforms to control digital data and content. He warned that this could undermine Saudi Arabia’s national sovereignty over its digital economy.

To counter this, he emphasized that Saudi Arabia needs to build competitive local networks that can retain a larger share of the market. This will not only keep more revenue in the country but also strengthen the Kingdom’s control over its digital data and content.