Saudi Arabia's Renewable Capacity Surges 87% to 12.3 GW in 2025, Leading Gulf

Context The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) compiles annual capacity figures from national energy ministries, utility reports, and project databases. Its methodology aggregates verified megawatt‑scale installations and adjusts for decommissioning. IRENA’s 2026 Renewable Capacity Statistics release underpins the 2025 numbers cited here.

Key Facts Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy capacity reached 12,332 MW at the end of 2025, an 87% increase over 2024. Renewables accounted for 12% of total electricity generation in the same year. The kingdom surpassed all other Gulf states to become the region’s largest renewable producer in 2025.

What It Means Solar projects drove nearly all of the new capacity, reflecting the kingdom’s focus on photovoltaic farms in the desert interior. Despite the jump, renewables remain far from the 2030 goal of supplying half of Saudi electricity; at 12% share, the gap is 38 percentage points. Neighboring Oman, Qatar, and the UAE still hold higher renewable shares because their overall power demand is smaller. Watching next: whether upcoming wind and green‑hydrogen projects can accelerate the share toward the 2030 target and how regional competition shapes Gulf clean‑energy investment.