The UAE has long positioned itself as a global leader in the energy transition, and a new report from Frontier25 suggests that the nation is now setting its sights on a critical, often overlooked climate lever: methane mitigation. The recently published UAE Methane Policy Review 2026: Accelerating Collective Action on Methane and Air Quality provides a comprehensive roadmap for how the country can capitalize on its existing policy foundation to further reduce emissions, improve public health, and bolster regional environmental cooperation.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, responsible for approximately 30 percent of global warming since the Industrial Revolution. Beyond its atmospheric impact, it acts as a precursor to ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant linked to severe respiratory issues, including asthma. According to the Frontier25 report, rapid global reductions in methane could prevent roughly 775,000 asthma-related hospital visits and save millions of tonnes in crop losses annually.
The UAE enters this conversation from a position of relative strength. In 2024, the nation’s methane emissions were estimated at 1.3 million tonnes, placing it among the lowest emitters of the 11 major energy-producing countries analyzed. Furthermore, the country’s oil and gas sector is on a trajectory to reduce methane emissions by nearly 30 percent by 2035 compared to 2025 levels. However, as the global community strives to meet the collective goal of the Global Methane Pledge—a 30 percent reduction in emissions by 2030—the report emphasizes that internal success is only one piece of a much larger puzzle.
While the energy sector has been the primary focus of historical mitigation efforts, the Frontier25 review identifies shifting priorities. The fastest growth in methane emissions is now occurring in the waste and agricultural sectors. Specifically, emissions from the wastewater sector are rising by approximately five percent annually, while solid waste and agricultural emissions are increasing by three percent each year. Addressing these “emerging priorities” is essential if the UAE is to maintain its leadership status.
To address these challenges, the review outlines six core policy recommendations: strengthening public health and air quality standards, improving measurement and reporting, advancing methane detection and mitigation technologies, creating market incentives, establishing clear national and sectoral targets, and fostering regional cooperation.
Dr. Nicholas Howarth, Director of Strategy & Programmes at Frontier25, underscored the importance of a collaborative approach that transcends national boundaries. “Methane and its impacts do not stop at national borders,” Dr. Howarth noted. “Countries across the region share challenges around measurement, technology, and investment, creating an opportunity to build on the UAE’s experience and strengthen practical cooperation across the Gulf and wider region.”
The findings highlight that while the UAE currently accounts for less than one percent of global anthropogenic methane emissions, its strategic role is significant. By refining its domestic policies to target waste management and agricultural outputs, the UAE can serve as a blueprint for other energy-producing nations. The transition from high-level commitments to granular, sector-specific action is identified as the necessary next step for the region.
As the UAE works to implement the recommendations of the 2026 review, the focus will likely remain on integrating advanced detection technology with robust regulatory frameworks. With methane’s relatively short atmospheric lifespan compared to carbon dioxide, the potential for near-term climate impact is substantial. By systematically addressing these sources, the UAE aims not only to contribute to the global climate agenda but also to secure tangible improvements in domestic public health and economic efficiency. The full policy review, which details these strategies, is currently available for download through the Frontier25 website.
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