# A Review on Solar Energy Utilization and Projects: Development in and around the UAE
## 1 Introduction  
In the UAE, demand on the energy sector has increased significantly because of the incredible evolution in the industry and population growth [1; 2]. Figure 1 depicts the progressive rise in the population of the UAE. As a result, energy consumption in the UAE is rapidly expanding to satisfy the needs of a growing population [3]. One of the most pressing concerns of the twenty-first century is averting an energy catastrophe. Consideration of energy sources is so vital because they play a crucial role in addressing the demands of the world and the people of the UAE [4]. The UAE is composed of seven emirates: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujirah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Sharjah. Each emirate has its own set of goals, plans, controls, and regulations in place to help develop itself in the UAE. Accessible energy is insufficient for people for a variety of reasons, including a country's developmental profile, people's economic position, and the nature of the country's technical developments. Renewable energy resources, which rely on natural resources to offer an unending supply of sustainable and non-polluting energy, are a feasible alternative to conventional energy resources, which have grown in prominence in recent centuries as a means of alleviating energy shortages [5; 6; 7; 8; 9]. Solar energy may be the greatest alternative for the future globe for several reasons. First, solar energy is the most abundant, inexhaustible, and ecologically beneficial renewable energy source accessible today. Second, the power intercepted by the earth from thesun is around 1.8 \(\times\) 10\({}^{11}\) MW, which is several orders of magnitude greater than the current rate of total energy use [10]. Third, it has received the most attention in a wide range of engineering and industrial applications, including electricity generation [11], solar refrigeration [12], water desalination [13], domestic space heating [14; 15; 16], and solar chimneys [17]. The dispersion and intensity of solar radiation are two critical elements in determining the efficiency of the solar PV sector. These two criteria vary greatly between countries. Furthermore, solar energy gadgets can help develop a country's economy and contribute to a sustainable environment. Based on solar photovoltaic technologies, PV technology is the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity with no intervening factors [19]. Photovoltaic devices are designed to be simple and need little maintenance. The main benefit of this system is that it is a stand-alone system with outputs ranging from microwatts to megawatts. As a result, they can be utilized in a wide range of practical applications, including home systems, power sources, distant buildings, water pumps, space vehicles, satellites, communications, reverse osmosis facilities, and even megawatt-scale solar power plants. As a result, with such a diverse range of applications, the demand for PVs grows year after year. Furthermore, solar energy may be turned into electrical energy using a variety of technologies such as PV panels, concentrating photovoltaics (CVT), and concentrating solar thermal power (CSP). Solar PV modules are semiconductor solid-state devices that convert sunlight into direct-current power [20]. Materials used on PV panels are amorphous silicon [21], crystalline silicon [22; 23; 24; 25; 26], organic and polymer cells, copper indium selenide (CuInSe), cadmium sulfide (CdS), and cadmium telluride (CdTe) [27; 28; 29]. PV systems are made up of numerous components, such as cells, modules, and arrays for generating electricity, and structures for regulating and controlling power, as well as electronic devices, mechanical devices, and electrical connections for improved operating efficiency. Peak kilowatts (kW) is the amount of electrical power supplied by a PV system when it is directly overheated by the sun.