Guide · UAE · Emissions reporting

Emissions Reporting Under the UAE Climate Law: Turning Sensor Data Into Audit-Ready Reports

Under the UAE Climate Law, every company whose operations release greenhouse gases must measure those emissions, report them to the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), and keep records that can be checked.

Written for sustainability and HSE reporting leads at UAE oil, gas and heavy-industry operators.

Book an ICX scoping call → Read the quick answer
  • In force since 30 May 2025Federal Decree-Law No. 11 of 2024
  • No minimum sizeMainland and free zones
  • Fines up to AED 2MDoubling for repeat violations
  • Verification from 2027Abu Dhabi, ISO 14065 verifiers
On this page
  1. Quick answer
  2. Key terms
  3. Why it's hard
  4. How ICX solves it
  5. In practice
  6. Deployment pattern
  7. Your first 90 days
  8. FAQ
  9. Sources

For an oil and gas operator, the data behind the report comes from flow meters, flare systems and fuel records. Emissions reporting in the UAE becomes far easier when you capture that data at the source, keep a clear trail from each reading to each reported number, and let a named person sign off before anything is submitted.

Quick answer

What do UAE companies need to report? Their greenhouse gas emissions, backed by records a verifier can check. Large emitters already report Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions under the GHG Protocol, and Abu Dhabi facilities above 25,000 tonnes of Scope 1 emissions file every year.

How can emissions reporting in the UAE be automated? Connect meters, flare systems and the ERP to one data model, run the same calculations every time, and keep a human review before submission.

Key facts

Law
Federal Decree-Law No. 11 of 2024 on the Reduction of Climate Change Effects, in force since 30 May 2025
Who
Public and private entities that emit greenhouse gases, on the mainland and in free zones; the law sets no minimum size threshold
Large emitters
Under Cabinet Resolution No. 67 of 2024, entities emitting 0.5 million tonnes CO₂e or more (Scope 1 + 2) register with the National Register for Carbon Credits and report annually
Abu Dhabi
Facilities with 25,000 tonnes CO₂e or more of Scope 1 emissions report to the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) by 31 March each year, with third-party verification from 2027
Records
Advisers recommend keeping supporting data for at least five years
Penalties
AED 50,000 to AED 2,000,000, doubling for repeat violations within two years
Status · checked 20 October 2026 The first federal deadline (30 May 2026) was expected to be extended, and detailed MOCCAE guidance is still pending. Confirm the current deadline with MOCCAE or your legal adviser.
01 · Key terms

The terms you will see in every report

Scope 1
Direct emissions from sources you own, such as flaring, boilers and turbines
Scope 2
Emissions from the electricity, heat or cooling you buy
Scope 3
Other emissions in your value chain, such as transport by suppliers
MRV
Measurement, Reporting and Verification: measuring emissions, reporting them and having them checked
Emission factor
The number that converts an activity, such as cubic metres of gas flared, into tonnes of CO₂e
Data lineage
A record of where each number came from and every step it went through
02 · Why it's hard

Why emissions reporting in the UAE is still so hard

Most operators already collect the raw data. The problem is getting from that data to a report someone can defend. Three gaps cause most of the pain.

  1. No contextReadings sit in separate places: flow meters in the plant historian, flare data in the control system, fuel in the ERP. Nothing records which meter belongs to which unit, or which emission factor applies. When an auditor asks where a number came from, the team has to piece the answer together by hand.
  2. Split processesCalculations often live in spreadsheets passed between engineers and the sustainability team. Each copy can use a slightly different formula or data cut-off, so the same month can give two different totals.
  3. No governanceThere is no single record of who changed a number, who reviewed it, and who approved the final report. With fines up to AED 2,000,000 and independent verification starting in Abu Dhabi from 2027, that gap is a real risk.
03 · The solution

How Siemens Intelligence Center X solves it

Siemens Intelligence Center X (ICX), launched by Siemens in 2026, combines Mendix, Graph Studio and AI Studio on one governed platform. MXTechies builds the emissions reporting application on it and connects it to your existing systems.

01Graph Studio keeps the lineage

Closes the gap
No context
How
A knowledge graph links every meter, flare system and fuel record to the unit, site and emission source it belongs to, so each reported figure traces back to its readings.

02Workflow orchestration runs the calculations the same way every time

Closes the gap
Split processes
How
The approved method and emission factors are applied consistently, then results move through review and sign-off workflows to an engineer and a named manager.

03The enterprise trust layer makes every number traceable

Closes the gap
No governance
How
Each change, review and approval is logged with who did it and when, following our Mendix governance approach, so the trail is ready for MOCCAE, EAD or an accredited verifier.
04 · In practice

What it looks like at month end

At month end, flare flow readings, fuel use from the ERP and meter data arrive in one place automatically. The application can flag gaps, such as a meter that stopped sending data, so the engineer fixes them before totals are calculated. The sustainability lead reviews the draft report, sees exactly where each figure came from, and approves it.

The last mile

The report publishes only after a named person signs off, and the auditor can follow every figure back to its source.

05 · Deployment pattern

Which deployment pattern fits: Standalone

Many UAE oil, gas and heavy-industry sites run control systems and historians from a mix of vendors, not only Siemens. The standalone pattern fits this: ICX sits on top of the systems you already own, reads from them and writes results back, without replacing anything.

It can run on-site, in a private cloud or hybrid, so data stays where your policy requires. See the Intelligence Center X deployment patterns and how we apply AI for oil and gas.

06 · Your first 90 days

From one source to a governed pilot

  1. Days 1–15 · Readiness and use caseList your emission sources, meters and data systems. Pick one site or one source type, such as flaring, to start with.
  2. Days 16–45 · Graph-grounded proof of concept on your dataLoad that site's meters, flare data and fuel records into Graph Studio. Recalculate a past reporting period and compare it with the figures you reported.
  3. Days 46–90 · Governed pilotRun the live monthly cycle with review and sign-off in the workflow. Measure time to close, data gaps found, and how quickly you can answer an auditor's question.
07 · FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the UAE Climate Law?

Federal Decree-Law No. 11 of 2024 on the Reduction of Climate Change Effects. It has applied since 30 May 2025 and requires emitting entities to measure, report and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Which UAE companies must report emissions?

Public and private entities whose activities produce greenhouse gases, on the mainland and in free zones. There is no minimum size threshold.

What emissions data do UAE companies need for emissions reporting?

The federal law requires emitters to measure and report greenhouse gases but does not yet list the scopes. Large emitters already report Scope 1 and Scope 2 under the GHG Protocol. In practice, operators need meter readings, flare data, fuel records and utility bills, each linked to its source.

Do Abu Dhabi facilities report separately?

Yes. Facilities with 25,000 tonnes CO₂e or more of Scope 1 emissions file an annual report per facility to the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi by 31 March, using EAD's template.

What are the penalties for non-compliance?

AED 50,000 to AED 2,000,000 for a first offence, with higher fines for repeat violations within two years.

How is flaring included in emissions reporting?

Flare gas burned at a site is a direct emission source, so flare flow data needs to be measured, linked to the right unit and included in the totals.

Will emissions reports be independently verified?

In Abu Dhabi, third-party verification by ISO 14065-accredited verifiers starts in 2027 for reporting year 2026. A clear data trail makes that verification faster and cheaper.

Can emissions reporting be automated?

Yes. Data can flow automatically from meters, flare systems and the ERP, and calculations can run the same way every time. A named person should still review and sign off before submission.

Make your next emissions report audit-ready.

Capture data at the source, keep the trail from every reading to every reported number, and sign off before you submit.

Book an ICX scoping call → Take the AI readiness assessment
Learn more about Siemens Intelligence Center X →
About this guide

Sources and review

Last reviewed 20 October 2026. This guide is general information based on the sources below, not legal advice; confirm your obligations with MOCCAE, EAD or your legal adviser. MXTechies is a Mendix Certified Partner and Siemens Xcelerator partner with a Dubai office at Sheikh Rashid Tower, Dubai World Trade Centre, delivering on Mendix since 2017.

Sources