Antalya, Türkiye – His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, led the UAE delegation at the COP31 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya, representing UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. COP31 is hosted by Türkiye from 9 to 20 November 2026, with the Leaders’ Summit held on 11–12 November.
The UAE delegation
The delegation includes Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture; Khalifa Al Marar, Minister of State; and Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, along with senior officials.
The UAE’s message
The UAE reaffirmed its commitment to global climate action, highlighting investment in clean energy, technology and innovation as a way to balance economic development with environmental protection. Sheikh Saud described the UAE’s approach as a model in which economic growth and climate action complement each other.
Building on COP28
The UAE hosted COP28 in Dubai in 2023, which produced the UAE Consensus calling for a just, orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels, with targets to triple global renewable energy capacity and double the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. COP28 also launched the Fund for Loss and Damage and adopted the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience.
On the table at COP31
Australia is presiding over negotiations, and Australia and Türkiye have proposed a “35 by 35” target for electricity to provide 35% of total energy consumption by 2035. The World Meteorological Organization reported that carbon dioxide averaged 426.8 ppm in 2025, 53% above pre-industrial levels.
Source: The National.
