Gulf region accelerates deployment of climate-adapted direct air capture technology at ADIPEC 2025

HUB2ENERGY, a trailblazing company based in Kuwait, is really putting the Gulf region on the map when it comes to Direct Air Capture (DAC) innovation. They’re emphasizing how this area could become a global leader in carbon management tech. At ADIPEC 2025 in Abu Dhabi, the company laid out a pretty compelling vision for scalable carbon removal solutions that are specifically tailored to the Gulf’s tough climate — you know, lots of heat and humidity.

António Azevedo Campos, who’s both a co-founder and CEO of HUB2ENERGY, made it clear that DAC isn’t some distant, sci-fi idea. Nope, he presented it as something very doable right now. During his talk titled “Deploying Direct Air Capture in GCC Climates: Enabling Scalable Carbon Removal Solutions,” Campos framed DAC as a game-changing technology. It can turn what we usually think of as just CO₂ — honestly, more of a problem — into something actually useful. He also pointed out that the Gulf’s mix of scientific know-how, engineering skill, and financial capacity makes it a perfect environment for deploying industrial-scale DAC systems.

“In this region, collaboration isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s the core of the tech,” Campos explained. “When research, engineering, and finance come together, it sparks innovation and transforms ambitions into real infrastructure.” This session really put HUB2ENERGY’s leadership into focus, especially alongside partners like NEG8, Wavelength, and CCV, who are working on modular DAC systems designed specifically to handle the Gulf’s harsh conditions.

This initiative ties into HUB2ENERGY’s bigger mission — speeding up the Gulf’s shift towards a low-carbon future through decarbonization, digitalization, and decentralization. Their portfolio covers a range of tech, including carbon capture, DAC, hydrogen, CCUS, and waste-to-energy projects. Basically, they’re pushing scalable solutions across the oil, gas, and industrial sectors in the region.

And honestly, their efforts are happening in a wider regional context too. For instance, Saudi Aramco, the kingdom’s major oil company, recently kicked off Saudi Arabia’s first pilot unit for direct air capture, working with Siemens Energy. This facility can remove about 12 tonnes of CO₂ per year. The goal here is to improve capture materials and figure out how to scale up DAC tech. Aramco sees this pilot as a key step toward reaching net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050, while also making more sustainable chemicals and fuels. It’s pretty interesting, right? This shows the Gulf’s growing commitment to embracing advanced carbon removal methods into its energy framework.

The backdrop for HUB2ENERGY’s presentation was ADIPEC 2025, which is one of the biggest energy conferences in the world. Held from November 3rd to 6th in Abu Dhabi, the theme was “Energy. Intelligence. Impact.” Over 1,800 speakers and more than 200,000 visitors gathered there, all focused on merging AI and energy in ways that can really help build a more sustainable future. The event also showcased Abu Dhabi’s expanding AI Zone and launched the Low Carbon & Chemicals Expo, emphasizing how tech-driven solutions are vital in the global energy shift.

Within this ecosystem, institutions like Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence showcased how AI is transforming energy. They demoed things like autonomous inspection robots and decision-making tools powered by AI, which help boost operational safety and efficiency — you see, these are the kinds of advancements that complement DAC because they make deployment smarter and more reliable.

On the international stage, companies like Canada’s Deep Sky are also pushing forward. They’re working on large-scale carbon capture campuses, aiming to trap between 200,000 and 300,000 tonnes of carbon each year. This kind of ambition shows just how much effort is happening worldwide; the Gulf, with its resources and tech focus, obviously wants to match or even surpass these global standards.

Focusing on modular, climate-adapted DAC tech is pretty essential — especially considering the Gulf’s extreme environment and its status as a big oil and gas hub. For the region, carbon removal isn’t just an add-on; it’s becoming a vital part of their strategy to cut emissions and support industrial sustainability. HUB2ENERGY’s approach to smart digitalization and decentralization, leveraging local infrastructure and solutions, really stands out here.

Of course, DAC technology is still relatively new, and it’s not exactly cheap or energy-efficient yet. But with the Gulf’s wealth, engineering talent, and also the increasing push for carbon neutrality, it’s a promising environment for it to grow. And the way HUB2ENERGY brings academia, industry, and finance together — well, at least to me — it could become a model others look at closely.

All in all, HUB2ENERGY’s presence at ADIPEC 2025 paints a pretty confident picture of the Gulf stepping into a key role in the next wave of carbon management. By adapting DAC tech to local climate conditions and forming broad partnerships, they’re aiming to lead the region into a future where carbon removal is a serious part of the energy landscape. This aligns with Saudi Aramco’s initiatives and the larger push for a sustainable, low-carbon future underscored by AI and industrial innovation. The Gulf isn’t just reacting to climate change — it’s actively shaping how the tech can meet those challenges, and honestly, that’s quite inspiring.

Source: Noah Wire Services