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Pact formalises Irena HQ in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI - The UAE and the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) on Monday signed a Permanent Headquarters Agreement, which recognises the legal status and capacity of the agency to perform its mandate as an international organisation.

Dr Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of State, and Adnan Amin, Director-General of the Irena, formalised the agreement during a signing ceremony, one day before the start of the third Irena Council meeting to be held in Abu Dhabi.

“Formalising the Irena’s permanent presence in Abu Dhabi is an important milestone for our country, and marks the first time an international agency is hosted in our region. The UAE is committed to being an international leader in renewable energy,” said Dr Gargash.

“Today’s agreement is historic. It formalises the Permanent Headquarters of the Irena and its relationship with the UAE, hosting the first international organisation in the region. It provides the firm basis for the mission of the Irena to support the rapid deployment of renewable energy as a central element for international efforts to protect the global environment, improve standards of living and strengthen global economies,” said Amin.

The Permanent Headquarters Agreement is the first of its kind signed in the Middle East, and is a continuation of an agreement signed in October 2010 that granted the Irena interim legal authority to ensure its proper administration functions.

“The UAE has emerged as a powerful advocate for renewable energy, applying our expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to implement innovative solutions that diversify and scale energy solutions across the globe. Our unwavering support to the Irena is demonstrated through our role as its host, as well as through the very active role we are playing in providing input to theIrena’s work programme,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Special Envoy and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Climate Change. “Our successful collaboration with the Irena shows that our country has the proper legal and institutional infrastructure in place to host world-renowned, multi-lateral groups,” said Dr Abdul Raheem Al Awadhi, UAE Assistant Minister for Legal Affairs.

More than 1,500 delegates representing 160 countries, 30 international organisations, as well as representatives from academia and the private sector convene in Abu Dhabi each year for the Irena General Assembly and Council meetings, during which delegates discuss programmes, policies and strategies to increase the successful implementation of renewable energy sources around world.

The establishment of the Irena’s permanent headquarters in the UAE will foster further cooperation and dialogue among the 158 member states with ready access to the organisation’s resources and information to ensure widespread adoption and use of renewable energy to safeguard a sustainable future.