Dubai Hosts COP28 Amid Controversy Over Oil Production and Labor Practices

The city-state, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050, faces criticism for its plans to ramp up oil production and its reliance on low-paid foreign workers.

Dubai, known for its excesses, is hosting the United Nations COP28 climate talks, seen as an opportunity for the city to continue its history of economic success amid regional crises.
The city-state has pledged billions of dollars to reach its goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050, with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park as a key part of this effort.
There is a risk of reputational damage to the UAE if they fail to make any traction in the talks, particularly as they are a major oil producer.
While the UAE pledges to zero out its own emissions, it’s also planning to ramp up oil production, a move that has sparked criticism by activists ahead of COP28.
Dubai's $7-billion Expo City, built for the 2020 world fair, will host the upcoming climate talks, but its selection also raises questions about Dubai's reliance on low-paid foreign workers in its construction boom.