Abstract
The global economy is facing a paradigm shift owing to the increasing issues of sustainability. The oil and gas sector is at the centre of this change as it produces a significant amount of carbon emissions through burning of fossil fuels. As a large producer of oil and gas, United Arab Emirates (UAE) must act accordingly, to ensure sustainability in its oil explorations activities. This will ensure the surface temperatures are kept below 2oC as championed by Paris Agreement, COP28, and national sustainability targets. This research aims to critically review the sustainable transformation of the UAE oil and gas sector by exploring the issues, strategies, challenges and barriers in the implementation of sustainability measures. This will also involve the appraisal of the status of nationally set targets to promote environmental, social and economic sustainability of the energy sector in the UAE.