At Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, EU and regional leaders unveiled concrete plans to accelerate hydrogen trade, infrastructure development, and regulatory harmonisation, moving beyond talk to real projects in the race for a low-carbon energy future.
The European Union took Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week as a chance to shift hydrogen cooperation from just talk into real action. They gathered policymakers, investors, and industry leaders from the EU, the Gulf, and the broader MENA region, all aiming to speed up trade in hydrogen and other advanced fuels.
This event was organized under a Team Europe strategy by the EU–GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project, working closely with the EU Delegation to the UAE, the German Embassy in the UAE, and the MED‑GEM Network. The EU–GCC–MENA Hydrogen & Advanced Fuels Summit focused on practical steps to turn political goals into projects that can attract investments. It brought together EU institutions, member states, and regional partners from both government and industry, emphasizing market readiness, regulatory harmonization, and building cross-region infrastructure.
“Hydrogen and its byproducts will be key players in Europe’s move toward cleaner energy, especially in sectors where straight electrification just doesn’t cut it,” HE Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Director‑General for Energy at the European Commission, mentioned at the Summit. “Really making the jump from talking about ambitions to actually implementing them needs tough international partnerships to push regulatory and tech cooperation forward. Building strong ties with partners across the Gulf and the wider MENA area is therefore critical.”
Speakers highlighted how hydrogen and advanced fuels are vital for reducing emissions in “hard to decarbonize” sectors like aviation, maritime shipping, and heavy industry. Industry folks stressed the importance of scaling up and bringing down costs. Meanwhile, governments argued that stability in regulations and unified certification standards are necessary to encourage trustworthy international trade and attract the private capital needed to grow these markets at scale.
According to the EU Delegation in the UAE, a recurrent theme during the discussions was finance, considered the biggest challenge. Participants focused on the importance of activating public-private partnerships, introducing risk-sharing mechanisms, and developing project pipelines that can secure long-term investments. The EU-supported project has been active in this area, hosting panels on regulation and standards at regional events and promoting policy alignment between the EU and GCC.
The EU–GCC Cooperation on Green Transition was also a key partner at the World Hydrogen MENA Conference in Dubai. There, it organized a session on “Regulation and Standards for International Trade of Renewable Hydrogen.” This session featured voices from the European Commission, Oman’s energy ministry, ACWA Power, the Hydrogen Council, ports, and laboratories involved in certification processes. They highlighted that developing technical standards, port infrastructure, and logistics should go hand in hand with increasing production capacity.
The Summit also showcased a broader EU effort to embed hydrogen within a regional green economy. H.E. Lucie Berger, the EU Ambassador to the UAE, spoke at a related Green Hydrogen Workshop organized with the International Renewable Energy Agency. She emphasized, “Today’s discussions reaffirm how green hydrogen can really transform our future to be more sustainable and prosperous. The EU and GCC share a strong commitment to strengthen our partnership on renewable energy, hydrogen, and clean technologies, as we also reaffirmed during the EU–GCC Summit last October. The EU is ready to team up and unlock new trade, innovation, and investment opportunities for a cleaner energy future.”
MED‑GEM analysts pointed out that the Southern Mediterranean is starting to emerge as a strategic hub for future hydrogen markets, hinting that supply chains could expand beyond the Gulf. This idea aligns with recent EU–GCC moves to formalize their cooperation. For example, the upcoming First Annual EU–GCC Green Transition Forum scheduled for October 9, 2024, in Abu Dhabi, and the inaugural EU–GCC Investment & Finance Green Transition Forum are designed to turn high-level talks into actual investment pipelines and regulatory roadmaps.
But challenges are still very much present. Market players warned that existing certification systems aren’t yet compatible across regions, and significant investment is needed to upgrade maritime and port logistics to handle new hydrogen derivatives safely. Industry voices from the World Hydrogen MENA Conference stressed that regulatory clarity, such as guarantees of origin, measurement standards, and cross-border trade rules, will ultimately decide if projects can move from small pilot phases to large-scale operations.
Participants called for concrete steps: fast-track pilot corridors for ammonia and synthetic fuels, standardize certification across trading partners, and use blended finance to reduce risks for initial projects. They also argued that governments must support these efforts with long-term purchase commitments and industrial policies that keep markets competitive.
From Abu Dhabi’s perspective, the message is clear: the EU and its regional partners are moving beyond just talking into actual delivery. They’re prioritizing interoperable standards and investable project pipelines. But everyone, from industry to policymakers, agrees that real progress hinges on a coordinated approach encompassing regulation, ports, logistics, finance, and industrial strategy. When all these pieces fit together, the Gulf and neighboring MENA countries could become major exporters of low-carbon hydrogen derivatives, helping to cut emissions not just in Europe but globally as well.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/events-and-conferences/hydrogen-and-advanced-fuels-summit-brings-eu-gcc-and-mena-leaders-together-in-abu-dhabi-k12w2uzq – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/united-arab-emirates/hydrogen-advanced-fuels-summit-brings-eu-gcc-and-mena-leaders-together-abu-dhabi_en – The European Union hosted a high-level summit in Abu Dhabi, uniting policymakers, investors, and industry leaders from the EU, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The event aimed to bolster cooperation on clean energy and expedite the development of hydrogen and advanced fuels markets. Organised under a Team Europe approach by the EU–GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project, in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to the UAE, the Embassy of Germany in the UAE, and the MED-GEM Network, the summit focused on translating political ambition into tangible projects by enhancing market readiness, investment conditions, and cross-regional collaboration. Discussions centred on how hydrogen and advanced fuels can aid in reducing emissions in sectors challenging to decarbonise, such as aviation, shipping, and heavy industry. Participants emphasised the necessity of a robust regulatory framework and certification standards to facilitate trusted international trade and attract private investment. The summit also highlighted the importance of mobilising finance through public-private partnerships and risk-sharing mechanisms, as well as developing infrastructure to support future clean energy trade, including transport, storage, ports, and logistics. Keynote speakers included HE Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Director-General for Energy at the European Commission, and Mohammad Abdelqader El-Ramahi, Chief Hydrogen Officer at Masdar. HE Ditte Juul Jørgensen stated, ‘Hydrogen and its derivatives will play an important role in Europe’s energy transition, particularly in sectors where direct electrification is not feasible. Moving from ambition to implementation requires strong international partnerships to advance regulatory and technological cooperation. Engagement with partners across the Gulf and the wider MENA region is therefore essential.’
- https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/united-arab-emirates/first-annual-eu-gcc-green-transition-forum_en – The European Union Delegations to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman announced the First Annual EU-GCC Green Transition Forum, scheduled for October 9, 2024, at the Conrad Hotel in Abu Dhabi. This inaugural forum marks a significant milestone in EU-GCC cooperation, bringing together leaders and stakeholders from across the region to advance climate action and sustainable energy solutions. Organised as part of the EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition project, the forum aims to explore pivotal topics, including achieving net-zero transitions, developing renewable hydrogen markets, and implementing climate adaptation strategies. The event will serve as a platform for the EU and GCC to reinforce their commitment to addressing global climate challenges through international collaboration and innovative solutions. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with industry experts and thought leaders, who will present cutting-edge insights on how the EU and GCC can work together to implement forward-thinking environmental strategies.
- https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/united-arab-emirates/pioneering-green-transition-eu-and-gcc-experts-conclude-green-hydrogen-workshop-abu-dhabi_en – The Delegation of the European Union to the United Arab Emirates, in partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), hosted a ‘Green Hydrogen Workshop’ during the World Future Energy Summit and IRENA General Assembly. The event brought together policymakers, business leaders, and industry experts from the EU, GCC, and beyond to advance sustainable energy solutions and green hydrogen development. Organised by the EU-Funded EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition project, the workshop explored regulatory frameworks, market opportunities, and investment strategies to unlock the potential of green hydrogen. It highlighted the role of hydrogen in decarbonising industries such as heavy industry, shipping, and aviation, demonstrating the shared commitment of both regions to achieving a sustainable energy future. H.E. Lucie Berger, EU Ambassador to the UAE, stated, ‘Today’s discussions reaffirm the transformative potential of green hydrogen in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future. The EU and GCC share a joint commitment to enhance our partnership on renewable energy, hydrogen and clean tech, as reaffirmed by our leaders at the milestone EU-GCC Summit last October. The EU stands ready to combine our strengths to unlock new opportunities for trade, innovation and investment towards more sustainable energy future.’
- https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eu-gcc-cooperation-green-transition-project-hosted-event-during-world-hydrogen-mena-conference_en – The EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition project played a pivotal role as a Strategic Partner at the World Hydrogen MENA Conference, held in Dubai from February 27 to 29, 2024. One of the conference’s highlights was the panel discussion organised by the project, ‘Regulation and Standards for International Trade of Renewable Hydrogen,’ which addressed the need for policy alignment between the EU and GCC countries. The event attracted over 70 attendees, including high-level representatives from the European Commission, government officials from Oman, and specialists from regulatory bodies, businesses, and investment firms. Key speakers at the panel discussion included Ruud Kempener from the EU Commission, Dr Khalil Hanshi from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals in Oman, Hammad Masood from ACWA Power, Daria Nochevnik from the Hydrogen Council, Kirsten Raeymaekers from Port of Antwerp-Bruges International, and Wa’el Almazeedi from Avance Labs.
- https://www.eeas.europa.eu/node/447688_en – The 1st EU-GCC Investment & Finance Green Transition Forum successfully concluded in Abu Dhabi, bringing together leaders from government, finance, and industry to advance sustainable investments and green finance ecosystems across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and European Union (EU) regions. The event was organised by the EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition, a project funded by the European Union to enhance EU-GCC cooperation in addressing climate change and advancing the green transition. Building upon the momentum of the recent COP29 held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024, the forum addressed key themes aligned with global climate objectives, including policy alignment, innovative financial instruments, and the development of transformative projects in renewable energy, hydrogen markets, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
- https://med-gem.eu/abu-dhabi-sustainability-week – The EU-GCC-MENA Hydrogen & Advanced Fuels Summit, held during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, marked a significant milestone in regional clean energy cooperation. Convening senior policymakers, regulators, investors, and industry leaders from Europe, the Gulf, and the wider Middle East and North Africa, the Summit sent a clear message: hydrogen cooperation has entered a phase of delivery, with the Southern Mediterranean emerging as a strategic anchor of future markets. Organised under a Team Europe approach by the EU–GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project, in close coordination with the European Union Delegation to the UAE, the Embassy of Germany in the UAE, and the MED-GEM Network, the Summit reflected the EU’s collective engagement in fostering long-term partnerships between Europe, the GCC, and the Southern Neighbourhood.
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emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
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Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is current, reporting on the EU–GCC–MENA Hydrogen & Advanced Fuels Summit held on 13 January 2026 during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. No earlier versions of this specific event have been identified.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The quotes attributed to HE Ditte Juul Jørgensen and H.E. Lucie Berger are unique to this event and have not been found in earlier publications.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from the European External Action Service (EEAS), the diplomatic service of the European Union, which is a reputable and authoritative source.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about the summit’s objectives, participants, and discussions align with other reputable sources covering the event. The emphasis on hydrogen and advanced fuels in the context of EU–GCC–MENA cooperation is consistent with ongoing initiatives in the region.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is a current, original news report from a reputable source, with unique quotes and consistent claims. No issues with freshness, source reliability, or content type were identified.
