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UAE has committed to a 7% renewable energy target by 2020 and is planning to be less dependent on oil. The Abu Dhabi future energy (Masdar) is in process of finding low cost renewable energy technologies that can be rolled out on a large scale, giving safe and clean power to many. Masdar has already sent out tenders for international companies and has awarded several contracts for the construction of concentrated solar power plants and are in the process of reviewing technologies for using wind turbines to generate electricity.

Specific labelling requirements in the UAE apply to toys, tobacco products, food, chemical products, industrial products, drinking water, textiles, and cosmetics. In addition, labels indicating energy efficiency are required for household electrical products. All labels must be in Arabic or in Arabic and English. Tobacco packages require a special health warning in Arabic.

Each emirate is responsible for building codes. The Abu Dhabi Building Codes were launched by the Department of Municipal Affairs in 2013 and applied to all projects in 2014. According to the authorities, the Building Codes are based on the International Building Code of the International Code Council which has been adapted to meet the specific requirements of Abu Dhabi. The adaptations were proposed by several committees consisting of representatives of the public and privates sectors and academia. In Dubai, the Code of Construction and Safety Practice was published in 2008 and followed by other codes, including the Seismic Design Code for Dubai and the Dubai Wind Code. More recently the increased emphasis on environmental sustainability has resulted in the Green Building Regulations and Specifications and the Practice Code for Green Building in 2014.

As part of its Vision 2021 strategy, the UAE is striving for sustainable development by moving towards economic diversification away from oil, with a focus on a number of strategic sectors, including biotechnology

(...) Furthermore, as envisaged by the Government, transitioning towards a knowledge driven economy through better quality of education, promotion of innovation and use of new technologies, would contribute to raising productivity and diversifying the economy; thus sustaining growth. In this respect, the Government has started to implement initiatives in alternative energy, Islamic economy, and space and aerospace.

The MOEW (Ministry of Environment and Water) encourages the use of modern technology in agriculture, including modern irrigation and hydroponics in order to conserve water while it also provides extension services to farmers in order to increase productivity. Organic farming is encouraged to improve environmental and economic sustainability and reduce the use of chemical inputs.

In general, it is prohibited to import living insects, bacteria, virus, parasites, and agricultural materials infected by any pests without previous authorization from the relevant authority and the Minister in charge, may at any point prohibit or restrict the importation, sale, cultivation, propagation or movement of any plant, soil or any item that can spread a pest to protect plant and animal health and the environment, including endangered species of wild fauna and flora

On services, the GSFTA (GCC-Singapore Free Trade Agreement) builds on the commitments made by Singapore and the GCC countries at the multilateral level, in particular, the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Specifically, Singapore and the GCC have committed to liberalize various services sectors beyond its WTO commitments. Broadly, the schedule of specific commitments include the following sectors: (...) environmental services; (...)

The MOEW (Ministry of Environment and Water) has issued several resolutions restricting fishing over the past few years, including:
• Cabinet Resolution No. 18 of 2012 which covers the administrative sanctions, penalties and fines that regulate activities related to the fishing industry;
• Ministerial Decree No. 372 of 2013 on a temporary ban on registration of new fishing boats;
• Ministerial Decree No. 706 of 2013 on new regulations on manufacturing, importing, and the use of traps (gargoor);
• Ministerial Decree No. 500 of 2014 which is intended to bring fishing and trading of sharks into line with CITES (according to the FAO, the UAE had been the eighth largest exporter of shark fins );
• Ministerial Resolution No. 501 of 2015 setting out effort restrictions for lethrinus nebulosus (spangled emperor) and siganus canaliculatus (white spotted spinefoot);
• Ministerial Resolution No. 656 of 2014 and Ministerial Decree No. 574 of 2015 restricting the use of fishing nets; and
• Ministerial Decree No. 580 of 2015, on the prevention of fishing, selling, and marketing of fish below the specified minimum lengths.

In order to preserve stocks of fish that are sustainable, the Ministry of Environment and Water has issued several regulations concerning fishing gear, areas and seasons, and the structure of the workforce