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BIPV in the Gulf has a problem most rankings ignore: very few of the companies on Middle East project lists actually make the modules. The region’s best-known BIPV buildings use glass made in Spain, Germany or Canada, which is then fabricated, installed or distributed by regional firms. Local manufacturing only became real in the last few years. So this list separates the three roles (manufacturer, international supplier with Gulf references, regional integrator) and shows the project that earns each company its place.

Short answer: the BIPV suppliers with the strongest Middle East track record in 2026 are Onyx Solar (Dubai Frame, NESR Dhahran), ZAKH (UAE-made BIPV, Ras Al Khaimah), Emirates Glass (solar glass with ClearVue), Sunovation with PCT (Makkah North Bridges, 1.3 MWp), Mitrex (Jeddah Oceanarium), AGC Obeikan (Saudi glass, BIPV to be confirmed), Empereal (Masdar MC2), Vista Eco Solutions (KAPSARC Riyadh), powergreen (Falcon Tower, Qatar) and Triad Aluminium Fabrication (Saudi curtain walls).

Last updated: October 2026. We relied on project pages, free-zone announcements and regional trade press. Two entries carry a “to be confirmed” note because the public evidence is incomplete, and we say exactly what is missing.

Role and reference at a glance

CompanyRoleGulf referenceEvidence
Onyx SolarInternational manufacturerDubai Frame; NESR Dhahran 110.7 kWpProject pages
ZAKHUAE manufacturerRAKEZ factory, up to 500,000 m² BIPV a yearFree-zone announcement
Emirates GlassUAE glass maker and distributorClearVue solar glass deal, 2025Press
Sunovation and PCTManufacturer and Dubai installerMakkah North Bridges, 1.3 MWpInstaller project page
MitrexInternational manufacturerJeddah Oceanarium; SEE Institute DubaiProject list
AGC ObeikanSaudi glass makerCoated glass, YanbuBIPV to be confirmed
EmperealBIPV integratorMasdar MC2, 1,610 kWpCompletion to be confirmed
Vista Eco SolutionsBIPV integratorKAPSARC Riyadh, 275 kWpProject page
powergreenQatari integratorFalcon Tower, 49.2 kWpProject page
Triad Aluminium FabricationSaudi facade fabricatorBIPV curtain wall systemsNo named project found

International makers with Gulf landmarks

1. Onyx Solar

The Spanish PV glass maker has the deepest Gulf portfolio. Its amorphous silicon glass clads the Dubai Frame (about 1,200 m², 38 kWp), and it supplied 1,000 m² for the DEWA R&D centre. At NESR’s oilfield research centre in Dhahran it installed 110.7 kWp across a skylight (72.3 kWp) and a carport (38.5 kWp), estimated at about 205 MWh a year, and it has delivered for the Royal Commission for Yanbu. Gulf Construction counted ten Onyx projects in the region in 2023: five in the UAE, four in Saudi Arabia and one in Kuwait.

2. Sunovation with PCT

The largest BIPV project on this list is the shading canopies on the North Bridges of the Holy Mosque in Makkah: 1.3 MWp across 8,981 m². The custom glass-glass modules were made by Sunovation in Germany and installed by PCT of Dubai. It shows the typical Gulf model: specialist European glass, regional installation and project management.

3. Mitrex

Canada’s Mitrex makes solar cladding that replaces conventional rainscreen panels. Its project list includes the Jeddah Oceanarium and the SEE Institute in Dubai’s Sustainable City. Cladding suits the region’s many new-build mixed-use projects, where the facade is being specified anyway.

Made in the Gulf

4. ZAKH

ZAKH Renewable Energy and Engineering (FAERS) opened what RAKEZ described as the UAE’s first full-cycle solar panel and BIPV factory in Al Ghail, Ras Al Khaimah, with capacity for 600 MW of modules and up to 500,000 m² of BIPV a year. It reports DEWA approval and a TÜV SÜD CB certificate. For projects that score local content, it is the obvious starting point; ask for BIPV-specific certificates rather than module certificates alone.

5. Emirates Glass

In August 2025 Emirates Glass signed a five-year agreement with Australia’s ClearVue to produce solar-integrated glass in the UAE, with non-exclusive distribution rights across the GCC. ClearVue’s glass places cells around the edge of the unit, keeping the vision area clear. Expect early-stage availability and confirm production status before specifying.

6. AGC Obeikan

AGC Obeikan Glass, a joint venture in Yanbu, makes coated architectural glass in Saudi Arabia, and its company profile lists “Active BIPV glass”. Globally, AGC sells BIPV glass under the SunEwat name. We could not find a named Saudi BIPV project or a product sheet for locally made BIPV glass, so treat it as to be confirmed. It remains relevant because local glass supply matters for large Saudi facades.

Regional integrators

7. Empereal

Empereal lists Masdar City’s MC2 building as a 1,610 kWp BIPV project, scheduled for completion in October 2025. That would make it one of the largest BIPV installations in the UAE. We could not confirm handover from public sources, so check the current status before using it as a reference.

8. Vista Eco Solutions

Vista Eco Solutions delivered the photovoltaic facade at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) in Riyadh in February 2014: 1,217 modules totalling 275 kWp. It is one of the earliest large BIPV facades in Saudi Arabia, and its age makes it a useful long-term performance reference for the climate.

9. powergreen

Qatar’s powergreen installed 49.2 kWp of vertical BIPV on Falcon Tower, which it describes as the first vertical BIPV installation in Qatar. It is a small project, but Qatar has few BIPV references, so local experience counts.

10. Triad Aluminium Fabrication

Triad is a Saudi facade fabricator that offers BIPV curtain wall systems alongside conventional aluminium glazing. We found no named BIPV project, so its place here reflects capability rather than track record. Fabricators matter because most BIPV glass must be integrated into a certified curtain wall system on site.

Designing BIPV for Gulf conditions

  • Heat: facade modules run hot with little rear ventilation. Ask for temperature coefficients and model yield at realistic cell temperatures, not standard test conditions.
  • Dust: vertical facades soil less than roofs, but canopies and skylights need a cleaning plan and safe access.
  • Glare and solar gain: semi-transparent glass changes both daylight and cooling load. Model them together.
  • Codes and ratings: UAE projects may need DEWA-approved equipment; Saudi projects follow the Saudi Building Code, and the Mostadam rating system rewards on-site renewables.
  • DC routing: plan cable paths, connectors and isolators inside the facade before glazing is fixed.

ShineTong supplies the DC side for facade and canopy arrays: PV cables and connectors, DC isolators, combiner boxes and DC surge protection. Compare with global BIPV manufacturers and China BIPV suppliers, or contact us about a Gulf project.

Frequently asked questions

Is BIPV made in the UAE?

Yes. ZAKH’s factory in Al Ghail, Ras Al Khaimah, was announced as the UAE’s first full-cycle solar panel and BIPV plant, with capacity for up to 500,000 m² of BIPV a year. Emirates Glass also plans to produce ClearVue solar glass in the UAE.

What is the largest BIPV project in the Middle East?

Among the projects we could verify, the Makkah North Bridges canopies at 1.3 MWp are the largest. Masdar MC2, listed at 1,610 kWp, would be larger once completion is confirmed.

Which BIPV buildings exist in Dubai?

Well-known examples include the Dubai Frame and the DEWA R&D centre, both with Onyx Solar glass, and the SEE Institute in the Sustainable City with Mitrex cladding.

Does BIPV work in Gulf heat?

Yes, but output falls as cell temperature rises, and facade modules have limited cooling. Use the module’s temperature coefficient and site data to estimate yield, and expect vertical facades to generate less per square metre than tilted roofs.

Do Saudi building rules encourage BIPV?

Indirectly. The Saudi Building Code sets energy requirements, and the Mostadam green building rating system credits on-site renewable generation, which BIPV can contribute to.

Sources