Why oil-rich Gulf Arab countries turn to renewables

Dubai

SOLAR power is getting so cheap that even Gulf Arab states awash in crude oil are embracing the renewable resource. Their motive is as much to keep selling fossil fuels as it is to rein in their carbon emissions.

With almost 30 per cent of the world's oil reserves and some of the lowest costs of production, Arab countries in the Persian Gulf will probably rely for years to come on crude exports as a pillar of their prosperity.

But improvements in solar technology mean it will be cost effective to exploit the region's abundant sunshine instead of burning their oil and natural gas to run power plants. That could allow them to export more and boost their haul of petrodollars.

Why would oil-rich countries shif…