Abstract

The increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting in climate change is a global challenge. It is even harsher on water-scarce arid regions with expectations for a decrease in precipitation rates. As oil-producing countries, GCC countries are highly dependent on fossil fuels for energy production and for transportation. Consequently, GHG emissions per capita in the GCC countries are rated among the highest in the world. However, in the GCC countries have massive renewable energy potentials as they are endowed with abundance of solar resources due to their geographical location. These countries are currently investing in renewable energy resources to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change on them, diversify their economy and to meet the increasing demand on energy resulting from population growth. This paper presents an overview of the existing solar energy activities in the GCC countries, current share of solar energy production and consumption, and the promising future of solar power in the region.