Source: West Asia and Africa, No.4, 2026

Abstract: From the perspective of structural power theory, the third global energy transformation is a revolution of safety, production, finance and knowledge structure, and the transformation of UAE from a single oil economy to diversified economy is a self-revolution in order to adapt to the structural power change in essence. From the perspective of security structure, the UAE aims to address the vulnerability of the national economy's dependence on oil, deal with various security threats, enhance political legitimacy at home and enforce national competitiveness externally. From the perspective of production structure, the UAE has made its best to readjust to the global innovation in energy production value chains by developing renewable energy capacity, thereby acquiring new forms of green production power while maintaining traditional oil revenues. From the perspective of finance structure, the UAE seeks to establish a global green financial hub and capital nexus, thereby securing influence and agency within the emerging global financial power structure. From the perspective of knowledge structure, the UAE aims to construct a comprehensive energy knowledge system by developing green energy technologies and innovation capabilities, thereby positioning itself to lead in global energy and climate governance. The UAE's energy transition has made significant strides toward achieving the goal of transitioning from a “traditional oil and gas supplier” to a “global clean energy hub”, partially realizing its structural power reconstruction at national, regional, and global levels. However, the UAE's energy transition faces many arduous tasks. The successor failure of its energy transition directly impacts not only the UAE but also the broader transformation and development prospects of the Gulf states.

Keywords:energy transition; the United Arab Emirates; structural power; safety structure; production structure; finance structure; knowledge structure