Adnoc Distribution, the UAE’s largest fuel and convenience retailer, and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, better known as Taqa, are teaming up to create a joint venture that will build and operate electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in Abu Dhabi.
The new company, E2GO, aims to become the principal provider of EV charging points and associated infrastructure across the UAE capital, Adnoc Distribution said in a statement on Thursday to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded.
The partnership will include a network of fast chargers at key locations, with associated solutions such as parking and tolling services, in addition to related digital platforms to boost EV charging.
It will also unlock new revenue streams for the two companies as the UAE focuses on becoming net zero by 2050.
From left: Omar Al Hashmi, executive director of transmission and distribution at Taqa, Bader Al Lamki, Adnoc Distribution chief executive, Mohamed Al Suwaidi, chairman of Taqa, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc, Jasim Thabet, group chief executive of Taqa and Khaled Salmeen, executive director of downstream industry and member of Adnoc Distribution at the launch of E2GO. Photo: Adnoc Distribution
“As electric vehicle adoption grows in the UAE, Adnoc Distribution and Taqa are well placed to meet the evolving needs of EV customers through the creation of the E2GO venture,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, chairman of Adnoc Distribution and Cop28 President-designate.
“Adnoc Distribution will continue to capitalise on energy transition opportunities that make commercial sense, while remaining a reliable supplier of our customers’ energy needs.”
Demand for EVs in the UAE continues to rise and is projected to record a compound annual growth rate of 30 per cent between 2022 and 2028, according to the global electric mobility readiness index published in 2022.
An expected 70,000 charging points are required in Abu Dhabi by 2030 to meet growing EV demand with an investment of up to $200 million, the statement said.
“Decarbonising transport is an essential part of the UAE’s drive towards achieving its net zero ambitions,” said Mohamed Al Suwaidi, chairman of Taqa.
“The development of EV infrastructure facilitated by the E2GO joint venture will help bridge the gap in delivering clean energy to the wider public.”
It includes the principles governing ownership, installation and management of electric vehicle supply equipment, power supply to the charging installations and the pricing mechanism for end customers.
“The partnership between Adnoc Distribution and Taqa envisages both parties entering into detailed joint venture arrangements as well as the completion of necessary transaction requirements, including obtaining any relevant third-party and regulatory approvals,” the companies said.
Adnoc Distribution, which reported a 45 per cent surge in its third quarter profit, operates 481 retail fuel stations and 366 convenience stores in UAE as of September 30.
Taqa is one of the largest integrated utilities companies in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region with operations across 11 countries.
It has significant investments in power and water generation, transmission and distribution assets, as well as upstream and midstream oil and gas operations.
In the UAE, it supplies more than 90 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s power and water needs.
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Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
MATCH INFO
Day 2 at Mount Maunganui
England 353
Stokes 91, Denly 74, Southee 4-88
New Zealand 144-4
Williamson 51, S Curran 2-28
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024. It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine. Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages]. The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts. With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians. Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved. Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world. The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
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Profile
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
