Adnoc plans to capture 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2030. Delores Johnson / The National
Adnoc plans to capture 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2030. Delores Johnson / The National
Adnoc plans to capture 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2030. Delores Johnson / The National
Adnoc plans to capture 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2030. Delores Johnson / The National

How the UAE is advancing efforts to strengthen its carbon capture commitment


Robin Mills
  • English
  • Arabic

Adnoc announced on Wednesday one of the largest carbon capture projects in the Mena region. It will trap 1.5 million tonnes per year of climate-heating carbon dioxide from the Habshan gas processing plant, and store it safely and permanently underground.

This is the second big step the UAE has taken on carbon capture, as it and the region need to go into quick march.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) deals with carbon dioxide from power stations burning gas, coal, oil or biomass, industrial processes, petroleum operations and cement plants. Instead of releasing it into the atmosphere to heat the globe, carbon dioxide is separated from other gases such as nitrogen and water vapour. It is then transported by pipeline to a suitable storage point, and injected into rock formations several kilometres underground, where it should remain trapped for thousands to millions of years.

Or, the carbon dioxide can be reacted with certain minerals to form solid carbonates, ensuring very permanent storage.

Adnoc started a pilot mineralisation project in Fujairah in January with Oman-based start-up 44.01, whose name refers to the molecular weight of carbon dioxide. The Northern Emirates and Oman host some of the world’s best geology for this approach.

The carbon dioxide can also be re-used to make chemicals, plastics, cements or synthetic fuels, put bubbles in drinks, and enhance growth in greenhouses.

One major use – for enhanced oil recovery – attracts criticism, as producing more oil is seen as undesirable by climate campaigners.

But they ignore that this oil would have a much lower – even negative – carbon footprint, and that oil will be produced somewhere in the world to meet demand. If that is not in the UAE, it could be from much higher-carbon or geopolitically problematic suppliers.

Carbon capture is recognised by major energy and climate bodies as essential for decarbonisation goals. Certain industries such as cement, ammonia, waste combustion and iron smelting have almost no technologically-mature, cost-effective alternatives.

But as it is associated with the oil and gas industry, and not familiar the general public like electric cars or rooftop solar panels, it faces unfamiliarity, and opposition from environmental groups who should know better.

Much of the debate about targets for the Cop28 climate conference starting in Dubai on November 30 has revolved around phasing out “fossil fuels” versus “unabated fossil fuels”.

“Abated” fossil fuels are those used with CCS so that emissions to the atmosphere are minimal. The aim should be to eliminate emissions, not prematurely retire fossil fuels – a Sisyphean task on which we are anyway moving far too slowly.

It’s critical for the UAE, therefore, that it demonstrates its serious commitment to CCS ahead of Cop28, and progresses real, large-scale projects.

Adnoc plans to capture 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2030.

In 2016, the world’s first commercial-sized industrial capture project opened at the Emirates Steel plant in Musaffah, with 0.8 million tonnes per year of capture.

In addition to that and the Fujairah and Habshan projects, Adnoc in July announced drilling of the world’s first well for carbon dioxide storage in a carbonate reservoir formation, different from the sandstones used in projects in the North Sea, Canada, Algeria and Australia.

The carbon dioxide comes from fertiliser company Fertiglobe, where capture is essential to produce “blue” or low-carbon ammonia. In 2021, Fertiglobe announced plans for a new blue ammonia facility which, on typical benchmarks, would produce 2.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide to be captured each year. Past media reports have suggested gas processing from the onshore Shah and offshore Ghasha fields as further targets for CCS.

Last month, Adnoc agreed to evaluate CCS in the UAE and US with American oil company Occidental, a leading proponent. And in July, another UAE player, Sharjah National Oil Company, announced a partnership with Japan’s Sumitomo to develop carbon capture around Sharjah.

So the UAE has a strong and growing portfolio of CCS developments and opportunities. The GCC has, across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, about 10 per cent of current global operating capacity. These other countries have their own major ambitions too. These can lift the region’s share of worldwide CCS to about 14 per cent by 2030, depending on how fast other countries progress.

This would be impressive given the growing momentum for CCS in the US and north-western Europe, where carbon prices and tax credits give a strong economic incentive, and governments have finally woken up to the technology’s importance. The UAE’s latest communication on its climate goals mentioned the possible introduction of contracts to pay at least some of the cost of CCS, an important positive step.

Yet the importance of hydrocarbons to the GCC economies, and their geological advantages in storage, mean the region can and should do much more. The energy business is well-accepted here, receiving government approvals is far easier, and storage sites would be in remote desert or offshore locations, raising few safety concerns.

Strategy in Europe has moved from single projects to large hubs which can gather emissions from a wide range of nearby industries and power plants, thus creating economies of scale.

Saudi Aramco plans a 9 million tonne per year hub at the industrial city of Jubail with eventual expansion to 44 million tonnes. GCC countries do not have to limit themselves to cutting their own emissions; they can offer CCS as a service to emitting countries who can’t or won’t store their carbon dioxide at home.

As CCS scales up, the industry gains experience, and new technologies are introduced, costs will come down. Occidental has a long-term vision of itself as a carbon management company. That could be a destination for Adnoc, Aramco and the other Gulf giants too.

Robin M. Mills is chief executive of Qamar Energy and author of The Myth of the Oil Crisis

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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
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Mane points for safe home colouring
  • Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
  • Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
  • When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
  • Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
  • If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
Where can I submit a sample?

Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.

Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:

  • Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
  • Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
  • Al Towayya in Al Ain
  • NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
  • Bareen International Hospital
  • NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
  • NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
  • NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Hurricanes 31-31 Lions

Wellington Hurricanes: 
Tries: Gibbins, Laumape, Goosen, Fifita tries, Barrett
Conversions: Barrett (4)
Penalties: Barrett

British & Irish Lions:
Tries: Seymour (2), North
Conversions: Biggar (2)
Penalties: Biggar (4)

Bahrain%20GP
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F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Updated: September 11, 2023, 3:00 AM`