When the world looks to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states for clean energy leadership, solar power often dominates the conversation. And rightly so – the region enjoys some of the highest solar irradiance levels on Earth and has already developed many of the world’s largest solar parks. But as the GCC accelerates its path toward net-zero goals and clean energy export ambitions, wind is also steadily gaining ground.

Wind power has historically played a minor role in the region’s energy mix due to assumptions about limited wind resources and lingering concerns about its cost-efficiency ratios compared to the increasingly widespread deployment of solar. However, recent advances in wind technology (AI turbines, underwater robotic inspections of offshore wind equipment, etc), along with enhanced regional mapping and cross-sectoral clean energy planning, are challenging that perception. While not expected to rival solar in scale, wind energy offers an invaluable chance to diversify the GCC’s power generation profiles, stabilising grids, and supporting broader hydrogen production ambitions into the bargain.

Thanks to growing political support, the rapidly improving technological element, and the acceleration of landmark projects underway, wind is quietly positioning itself as a critical component of the GCC’s clean energy future.

The GCC’s wind journey began modestly – with less than 2GW installed capacity compared to 27.26GW of solar – but has picked up momentum in recent years, thanks to more detailed assessments and a shift in strategic thinking.

Saudi Arabia – Dumat Al Jandal

Saudi Arabia is home to the GCC’s first utility-scale wind farm: the Dumat Al Jandal project in the Al-Jouf region. Developed by EDF Renewables and Masdar, this 400 MW wind farm became operational in 2022 and was a breakthrough moment for the region. It provides electricity for 70,000 homes and offsets nearly 1 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. Its success has proven the viability of wind in Saudi Arabia’s northern region and encouraged further exploration of wind corridors across the Kingdom.

Oman – Dhofar Wind Farm and Beyond

Oman, with its unique topography and coastal exposure, is increasingly recognised as one of the GCC’s most promising wind energy hubs. The Dhofar Wind Farm, a 50 MW project developed by Masdar and funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, was the first large-scale wind farm in the GCC. Operational since 2019, it laid the groundwork for expanded wind development across southern Oman.

The country’s new renewable energy strategy, revealed in January 2025, includes ambitious plans to increase wind capacity significantly, especially as Oman scales up green hydrogen production where wind, combined with solar is critical to ensuring round-the-clock renewable electricity for electrolysers.

UAE – Hybrid Clean Energy Vision

While the UAE’s renewables portfolio is dominated by solar, the country is actively investigating the potential of wind in specific microclimates — particularly in the mountainous northern emirates and offshore zones. Masdar, one of the region’s most prominent clean energy developers, has a key role in assessing wind's long-term contribution both domestically and internationally, including in green hydrogen projects where hybrid solar-wind inputs offer higher availability. Prominent among near-future plans is The UAE Wind Program, a landmark project to generate 100MW capacity, powering 23,000 homes while displacing 120,000 tonnes of CO² each year.

Kuwait and Bahrain – Wind Pilots and Feasibility Studies

Kuwait and Bahrain have both recently undertaken small-scale wind demonstration projects and feasibility studies to better understand their wind profiles. As part of broader diversification efforts and grid planning exercises, both countries are working to determine where wind fits into their future energy portfolios.

The growing traction of wind energy in the GCC is not solely technical. It is also backed by increasing political will and specific regulatory support tied into the long-term national strategies of respective GCC nations.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) target 50% of power generation from renewables by 2030. While solar is still expected to dominate, wind is explicitly part of the plan. Saudi Arabia has identified wind-rich zones and is planning additional auctions for wind projects as it seeks to diversify away from fossil fuels.

Oman’s 2040 Energy Vision sees renewables, including wind, as essential for energy security and hydrogen competitiveness. The country is one of the most active in the hydrogen space, with large-scale projects like HYPORT® Duqm and GREEN ENERGY Oman requiring gigawatt-scale renewable inputs — where wind plays a crucial role in balancing intermittent solar supply.

At a regional level, the GCC Interconnection Authority is also exploring how renewable energy, including wind, can be traded between member states more efficiently. This could open the door to cross-border collaboration where wind-rich regions (like southern Oman or northern Saudi Arabia) supply clean power or green hydrogen feedstock to the broader GCC.

Solar may reign supreme in terms of potential output, but it isn’t a 24/7 resource. Wind can often blow at night or during different seasons than solar, creating a more balanced and resilient energy mix. This ability to complement solar makes wind a valuable asset in achieving baseload renewables and stabilising national grids. This a prerequisite for the scale-up of clean energy exports like green hydrogen and ammonia – another area of growing interest to all GCC nations.

Furthermore, hybrid projects – those combining wind, solar, and viable (i.e.: large scale) storage – are increasingly seen as the gold standard for decarbonised energy zones and hydrogen valleys. By integrating wind into this equation, the GCC reduces the risk of over-reliance on a single renewable source while strengthening its overall energy security in the long term.

Wind energy is unlikely to eclipse solar in the GCC, but it doesn’t need to. Its role as a stabiliser, complement, and enabler of hybrid solutions will make it invaluable. In a region striving to lead the global clean energy transition and tap into new export markets both east and west, the flexibility and diversity that wind power provides are key advantages.

With flagship projects becoming operational, alongside growing political support, and a clear pathway to scaling up, wind is set to move from a niche player to a strong supportive element in the Gulf’s energy transition story.