The MENA region’s first Global Solar Leaders Summit will kick start GulfSol 2015 on Monday September 14 in Dubai, UAE, said Zawya.

GulfSol is a three-day event focused on solar technology and clean energy, with several prominent government ministers from across the region as keynote speakers.

This includes Dr. Mater Al Neyadi, Undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Energy, talking about his country’s renewable energy plans, Jordan’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Dr. Ibrahim Saif who’s keynote address will cover the reform of the energy sector in Jordan, followed by a keynote from H.E. AbidSher Ali, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Water and Power.

According to Trade Arabia, MENA is expected to attract more than $50b investment in solar power over the next five years.

Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) is the main sponsor of the event.

“Renewable energy is a key strategic objective for Dewa, which is working to expand the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to generate 2,600MW from renewable energy by 2030,” said DEWA’s managing director and chief operating officer Saeed Mohammed Al-Tayer.

One of the panel sessions, entitled ‘Harnessing the potential of rooftop solutions’, will follow on from Dewa’s first rooftop solar scheme and then discuss how to measure the influx of investments into solar power.