Middle East and Africa Solar Tracker Market Outlook, 2030

The solar tracker industry in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) is rapidly gaining momentum, emerging as a key pillar in the region’s strategy to expand renewable energy capacity and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Solar trackers mechanical systems that orient photovoltaic (PV) panels toward the sun throughout the day are revolutionizing the efficiency and viability of solar power in this sun-rich but infrastructure-challenged region. The growing adoption of single-axis and dual-axis trackers is helping countries harness their abundant solar irradiance, increase energy yields from solar farms, and meet ambitious climate goals while improving energy security.

One of the primary reasons for the rapid growth of the solar tracker industry in MEA is the region’s exceptional solar potential. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa enjoy some of the world’s highest solar irradiation levels, making them ideal for solar power generation. In these high-insolation environments, solar trackers can significantly enhance electricity production by as much as 25% to 35% compared to fixed-tilt systems by maintaining optimal panel alignment with the sun.

This increased efficiency makes solar trackers an increasingly attractive choice for large-scale utility developers aiming to maximize output while maintaining cost-effectiveness over the lifespan of solar projects. The Middle East, led by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, is undergoing a significant shift toward sustainable energy diversification, with solar energy at the core of national development strategies. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Energy Strategy 2050 are prominent examples of government-driven frameworks prioritizing solar infrastructure.

According to the research report “Middle East & Africa Solar Tracker Market Outlook, 2030” the market is projected to reach USD 1.84 Billion by 2030.Massive solar parks, such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai and the Sudair Solar Plant in Saudi Arabia, are incorporating solar tracker systems to optimize their performance and support national energy transition efforts. These projects have set a precedent for other countries in the region, demonstrating the cost and efficiency benefits of tracker technology. In Africa, solar trackers are increasingly seen as a means to leapfrog traditional energy infrastructure and address chronic electricity access issues.

Countries like Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, and Morocco are leading the way in integrating solar trackers into utility-scale and hybrid solar projects. Egypt’s Benban Solar Park, one of the largest in the world, includes multiple tracker-equipped installations that have proven vital in maximizing land use and energy output in the arid environment. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the rising deployment of off-grid and mini-grid solar solutions is also opening doors for smaller-scale tracking systems that can improve energy access in rural and underserved communities. Another major factor driving tracker adoption in MEA is the growing involvement of international renewable energy developers and equipment manufacturers.

Companies such as Nextracker, Array Technologies, and Soltec are actively establishing partnerships, supply chains, and even local manufacturing bases in countries like Egypt, the UAE, and South Africa. These collaborations are not only reducing the cost and lead time of tracker systems but also boosting technology transfer and local capacity building. In parallel, advances in smart tracking systems integrated with artificial intelligence, weather forecasting, and IoT sensors are enhancing tracker performance and reliability even in harsh desert climates with high dust and wind loads.

Market Drivers

• Abundant Solar Resources Coupled with Increasing Energy Demand: The MEA region, particularly in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and North Africa, possesses some of the highest solar irradiance levels in the world. With rapidly growing populations and rising energy consumption, especially in urbanizing African nations, there is a pressing need for efficient solar technologies like trackers that maximize output per square meter, especially in arid and high-temperature zones.
• Government-Led Clean Energy Initiatives and Mega Projects: Regional governments are aggressively pursuing clean energy transitions to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet climate commitments. Landmark projects like the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park (UAE) and Benban Solar Park (Egypt) often incorporate solar tracker systems to increase project efficiency. Strong state backing and policy frameworks such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 have made trackers an attractive and viable option in large-scale deployments.

Market Challenges

• Infrastructure and Grid Integration Limitations in Sub-Saharan Africa: Many African nations face persistent issues with underdeveloped power infrastructure, limited transmission capacity, and grid instability. Even where tracker-based projects are feasible, integration into unreliable or non-existent grids can severely hamper their potential and financial viability.
• High Capital Costs and Limited Local Manufacturing: While solar tracker technology boosts efficiency, it also comes with higher upfront costs compared to fixed-tilt systems. The lack of domestic manufacturing capacity in much of MEA results in dependency on imports, increasing exposure to currency fluctuations and import tariffs. This deters small-scale developers and makes financing more difficult in low-income regions.

Market Trends

• Hybrid Solar Plants and Energy Storage Integration: With a push for round-the-clock power availability, especially in desert and remote areas, there’s a trend toward hybrid solar plants (solar + battery storage or diesel) and off-grid tracker-based microgrids. These are being adopted in sectors like mining, defense, and agriculture, where maximizing solar yield through tracking significantly reduces long-term operational costs.
• Increased Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Multilateral Funding: Global climate funds, development banks and sovereign wealth initiatives are increasingly collaborating with local governments to finance solar tracker-equipped utility-scale projects. This trend is accelerating technology transfer, training programs, and large-scale deployment across both Middle Eastern oil economies and emerging African markets.

Single-axis trackers are leading in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) solar tracker market because they offer an ideal balance between performance and cost-efficiency in the region's vast, sun-rich landscapes.

The dominance of single-axis trackers in the Middle East & Africa solar tracker market is largely driven by the region’s abundant solar resources and the need for scalable, cost-effective solutions to harness solar energy at a utility level. MEA countries, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), North Africa, and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, receive some of the highest solar irradiance levels in the world, creating optimal conditions for solar energy generation. Single-axis trackers, which rotate panels on a horizontal axis to follow the sun from east to west, significantly increase energy output by around 20-25% over fixed-tilt systems without the higher complexity and costs associated with dual-axis designs.

Their simpler mechanics, lower maintenance requirements, and suitability for flat, open desert terrains make them the preferred choice for large-scale solar farms, which are the dominant application type in MEA’s solar expansion. Moreover, governments in countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Morocco are actively pursuing ambitious solar capacity targets through national energy programs and public-private partnerships, which further accelerates the deployment of single-axis trackers.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) is leading in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) solar tracker market due to its cost-effectiveness, technological maturity, and compatibility with the region’s abundant solar irradiance and utility-scale deployment needs.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) technology has taken the lead in the Middle East & Africa solar tracker market because it aligns perfectly with the region's environmental, economic, and energy objectives. MEA countries, particularly those within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) belt, benefit from exceptionally high levels of solar irradiance among the best globally making PV systems highly productive and reliable in these areas. Compared to alternative technologies like concentrated solar power (CSP), PV systems are more cost-effective, require less water (a critical factor in arid climates), and are quicker to deploy, especially when integrated with solar tracking systems.

PV modules paired with single-axis or active trackers allow for increased daily energy generation, which is crucial for the large-scale solar farms that dominate the energy transition strategies in countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, and South Africa. These nations are investing heavily in solar infrastructure to diversify energy sources, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and meet carbon neutrality goals. The declining cost of PV modules, coupled with advancements in efficiency and the growing availability of local assembly and installation expertise, further supports PV's leadership.

Active solar trackers are leading in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) solar tracker market because they maximize energy output in high-irradiance environments, making them ideal for large-scale solar projects that dominate the region.

Active solar trackers have gained a leading position in the Middle East & Africa solar tracker market due to their superior ability to optimize solar panel alignment and energy generation, especially in regions with consistent, high solar irradiance. These systems use motors and sensor-based mechanisms to follow the sun’s movement throughout the day, ensuring optimal panel orientation and increasing energy output by up to 25-30% compared to fixed systems. This performance edge is particularly valuable in MEA, where many countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and South Africa are investing heavily in utility-scale solar farms as part of national clean energy strategies.

The vast open lands and desert landscapes of these regions are well-suited to active tracking systems, which thrive in unobstructed, flat terrains. Moreover, the falling cost of active tracking technology, combined with advancements in durability and remote monitoring capabilities, has made it a commercially viable option even in harsh climates. Active trackers also align with the financial goals of public-private solar investments, where maximizing return on investment is essential. As MEA continues to pursue ambitious solar capacity expansion and energy diversification, the enhanced efficiency, scalability, and energy yield offered by active solar trackers secure their leadership role in the regional solar tracker market.

The UAE is leading the Middle East & Africa solar tracker market due to its strong governmental commitment to renewable energy, world-class solar infrastructure, and large-scale solar projects that extensively utilize advanced tracking technologies.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a frontrunner in the Middle East & Africa solar tracker market owing to its strategic vision for sustainable energy and its aggressive investment in large-scale solar power generation. Central to this leadership is the UAE's commitment to diversifying its energy mix and reducing carbon emissions, as outlined in initiatives like the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to generate 50% of the country’s energy from clean sources. This policy direction has translated into massive solar developments such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, one of the largest single-site solar parks in the world, which integrates solar trackers to enhance performance and efficiency.

The UAE’s vast desert terrain, high solar irradiance, and access to cutting-edge technology make it an ideal environment for deploying solar tracker systems, particularly single-axis and active trackers. Moreover, strong regulatory frameworks, attractive financing models, and partnerships with international renewable energy developers have accelerated the adoption of tracking systems in utility-scale installations.

The UAE is leading the Middle East & Africa solar tracker market due to its strong governmental commitment to renewable energy, world-class solar infrastructure, and large-scale solar projects that extensively utilize advanced tracking technologies.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a frontrunner in the Middle East & Africa solar tracker market owing to its strategic vision for sustainable energy and its aggressive investment in large-scale solar power generation. Central to this leadership is the UAE's commitment to diversifying its energy mix and reducing carbon emissions, as outlined in initiatives like the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to generate 50% of the country’s energy from clean sources. This policy direction has translated into massive solar developments such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, one of the largest single-site solar parks in the world, which integrates solar trackers to enhance performance and efficiency.

The UAE’s vast desert terrain, high solar irradiance, and access to cutting-edge technology make it an ideal environment for deploying solar tracker systems, particularly single-axis and active trackers. Moreover, strong regulatory frameworks, attractive financing models, and partnerships with international renewable energy developers have accelerated the adoption of tracking systems in utility-scale installations.

Considered in this report

• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report

• Solar Tracker Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Technology

• Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
• Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
• Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV)

By Installation Type

• Ground-Mounted
• Rooftop-Mounted

The approach of the report:

This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases.

After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to this industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.