Sheikha Shamma Rebrands UICCA To Frontier25 For Climate Action

The UAE has taken another major step in advancing climate action with the rebranding of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) to Frontier25, a new climate action advisory led by H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. The announcement was made during the “Ideas to Impact” forum in Abu Dhabi, which brought together over 250 leaders, experts, and officials to discuss urgent sustainability challenges.

Frontier25 represents a renewed commitment to transforming ideas into measurable climate impact. The name symbolizes a crossing point — the line between crisis and course correction. This evolution reflects Sheikha Shamma’s belief that climate action must now move from conversation to concrete results. She emphasized that with record-breaking global temperatures, the time for accelerated action has arrived.

Since its establishment in 2022, the UICCA has built a strong foundation in the UAE’s sustainability movement. Over three years, it has published more than 20 market insights and policy reports, hosted 20 dialogues and “Policy Hacks,” and supported over 80 climate startups. It also helped expand the UAE Carbon Alliance to over 65 members, contributing to the country’s long-term Net Zero 2050 Strategy. Frontier25 will continue this momentum with a sharper focus on collaboration, evidence-based policies, and green innovation.

In her address, H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan reaffirmed that the organisation’s mission remains the same but now carries a stronger sense of urgency. She stated that with the Middle East warming twice as fast as the global average, the UAE must fast-track alliances and initiatives to meet the scale of the environmental challenge. Frontier25’s approach will therefore focus on uniting diverse sectors under one shared goal — measurable climate progress.

Frontier25 will operate through three main pillars — evidence-based advisory services, market acceleration, and strategic alliances.

• Its advisory arm will use data-driven research and policy guidance to develop actionable climate strategies.

• Its Launchpads and Investor Roadshows will help climate startups secure funding and scale up.

• Through collaborative alliances, it will connect governments, corporations, investors, and innovators to tackle major environmental challenges.

The Abu Dhabi forum also presented findings from the ‘25 to 2050’ report, outlining 25 key actions to advance UAE’s net-zero goals. Roundtable discussions among experts and officials explored five main themes, including climate finance, education, infrastructure, maritime, and aviation. The detailed outcomes of these discussions will be released in an upcoming report.

The Middle East and North Africa region faces a significant climate finance gap, attracting only 6.6 percent of global green investment despite a need for nearly US$500 billion. Frontier25 aims to address this challenge by promoting stronger financial tools such as blended finance, green bonds, and carbon markets. UAE banks have already pledged AED 1 trillion in sustainable finance by 2030, creating an opportunity for the organization to accelerate funding accessibility.

Sheikha Shamma also highlighted the importance of climate literacy as a foundation for achieving sustainable goals. Although the UAE boasts a literacy rate of over 90 percent, awareness about environmental issues remains inconsistent across the region. Frontier25 will use storytelling, communication, and technology to raise awareness and make sustainability a practical part of daily life.

With the built environment responsible for 37 percent of global carbon emissions, Frontier25 will focus on helping the UAE achieve its goal of reducing building-related emissions by 85 percent by 2030. This will involve cross-sector collaboration and the adoption of new technologies to make construction and urban development more sustainable.

Frontier25 is collaborating with national and international partners to decarbonize maritime and aviation industries. The maritime sector will benefit from unified policies and shared frameworks for reducing emissions. Meanwhile, since aviation contributes about 18 percent to the UAE’s GDP, modernizing and decarbonizing this sector is vital. Frontier25 will encourage investment and innovation in cleaner aviation technologies and sustainable fuels.

As Frontier25 steps into its new identity, it continues the UAE’s mission of becoming a global climate leader. With clear goals, strong partnerships, and an evidence-based approach, the organization aims to transform commitments into results. Its work will not only strengthen the UAE’s net-zero journey but also inspire collective regional action towards a greener, more sustainable world.