As part of its strategy to increase reliance on clean energy, the Emirate of Dubai plans to build a concentrated solar power plant with a capacity of up to 1,000 megawatts by 2030, making it the largest in the world, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, CEO of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), explained that the project—to be built within the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park—includes a first phase with a capacity of 200 megawatts, expected to be completed by April 2021, with capacity set to increase to 1,000 megawatts by 2030. The emirate has invited leading global consulting firms in the field of solar power generation to submit bids for the consulting services contract for the first phase.

Al Tayer stated that the Authority has asked leading international consulting firms to submit bids for a consulting services contract for the first phase of the 200-megawatt concentrated solar power plant, which is scheduled to become operational by April 2021, with the goal of reaching 1,000 megawatts by 2030.

Al Tayer noted that the project will be "the world’s largest concentrated solar power project,“ surpassing the Ouarzazate project in Morocco.

Al Tayer did not disclose the estimated cost of the concentrated solar power project, saying "We’re not asking about the cost; we’re asking about the best tariff,“ explaining that the contract with the winning bidders will be ”a 25-year power purchase agreement covering construction and operation, and after 25 years we’ll negotiate“ new terms.

He added that Dubai is seeking "a rate of less than eight cents” per kilowatt-hour of production, given that production costs ”are falling,“ Concentrated solar power (CSP) relies on thousands of reflective mirrors arranged in a circular pattern around a central tower that receives the reflected radiation, which in turn focuses it toward a special receiver unit that heats a thermal fluid, which transfers the heat to a steam generator to produce electricity.