Energy development and management in the Middle East: A holistic analysis

The Middle East (ME) has undergone substantial changes in the energy landscape in recent years due to considerable variations in energy demand trends, economic/political upheaval, and climate change. The ME energy heavily relies on limited fossil fuel resources, which cause adverse climate change. Considering its geographical location, this region has huge potential for developing clean and sustainable energy resources, which will simultaneously satisfy its increasing energy demand and address climate change concerns. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of non-renewable and renewable energy resources and their current status and future prospects in the ME. Moreover, it discusses in detail the energy utilization, management, and challenges associated with their development in the ME. Further, it examines the adverse effects of energy development on environment and health. The cost of energy development and current market status in the ME are also precisely analyzed. In particular, this review paper systematically assesses the energy policies and frameworks in the ME with consideration of political relations and governmental regulations. The outcomes of this study confirm that energy transition to renewable resources in the ME requires investment, research, and precise frameworks and policies. Therefore, the ME still has to go a long way to reliably count on renewable energy as the main energy source.