A high-level delegation from the UAE participated in the World Hydrogen 2024 Summit and Exhibition, where they explored the latest hydrogen technological advancements and investment opportunities.

On the sidelines of the summit, His Excellency Rob Jetten, Minister for Climate and Energy Policy and Deputy Prime Minister of The Netherlands, and His Excellency Eng Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, co-chaired the second Ministerial-Executive Roundtable hosted by the International Hydrogen Trade Forum (IHTF) and the Hydrogen Council.

The roundtable brought together Ministerial officials of the IHTF supporting countries, representing prospective hydrogen importing and exporting countries, as well as the delegation of 15 Hydrogen Council executives.

The roundtable featured Ministerial-Executive dialogues on global, cross-border trade corridors in hydrogen and its derivatives from the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, to Europe and Asia, considering the status and outlook for the deployment of diverse hydrogen carriers, the enabling infrastructure, and the demand from end use sectors.

His Excellency Eng Al Olama said: “Today’s Ministerial-Executive dialogue is an important milestone in public-private cooperation paving the way for the development of the global hydrogen market. The analysis carried out by the IHTF and the Hydrogen Council shows how alongside the vital climate benefits, cross-border supply chains in hydrogen can deliver cost-efficiency gains helping save some US$ 3.7 trillion in energy system costs by 2050, providing good quality jobs across geographies. The UAE remains committed to continued collaboration with our partners in Europe and Asia.”

The Undersecretary reflected on the National Hydrogen Strategy 2050 that primarily aims to deliver on the UAE’s target of becoming a leading and reliable producer and supplier of low-emission hydrogen by 2031 through the development of robust supply chains and the establishment of hydrogen oases and a national R&D center.

He added: “We in the UAE are keen on capitalizing on the emerging hydrogen economy which well serves our net zero by 2050 target and our commitment to building a thriving, sustainable future for the next generations.”