Meed | Economic agenda stirs GCC energy transition

Economic agenda stirs GCC energy transition

14 November 2024

Commentary
Jennifer Aguinaldo
Energy & technology editor

The 2021 headline-grabbing 600MW Shuaibah solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Saudi Arabia is about to start operations, according to the majority owner, Saudi-listed Acwa Power.

In 2020, a team led by Acwa Power offered a levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) of $cents1.04 a kilowatt-hour ($c/kWh) for the project, which broke the world record in terms of unsubsidised solar PV production cost.

It bested a record previously held by the 1,500MW Al-Dhafra solar PV independent power project in Abu Dhabi, which is being developed at an LCOE of $c1.32/kWh.

Four years later, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have renewable energy installed capacities of about 4.1GW and 5.5GW, respectively.

The pipeline of under-construction and planned solar and wind projects in both countries has a total combined capacity exceeding 100GW, in line with their energy diversification targets. Saudi Arabia plans to tentatively procure up to 20GW annually until 2030 while the UAE intends to procure 1.5GW a year until at least the middle of the next decade.

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi's renewable energy capacity procurement strategies complement - though some analysts prefer to say are at odds with - clear plans to build additional nuclear energy capacity in the UAE and massive gas-fired capacity in Saudi Arabia.

The total planned generation capacity appears out of proportion even when considering the population growth projected for the two countries; their industrial expansion programmes; and their determination to become top global artificial intelligence (AI) players, which will require a significant increase in their data centre capacity.

The electricity generation capacity buildout by Riyadh and Abu Dhabi can be better understood within the context of their overall energy transition strategies, however.

Blessed with cheap fossil fuels underground and plenty of sunshine – and to some extent wind – above ground, the two Gulf states want to play both sides during the energy transition to ensure their economies continue to prosper post-peak oil.

By overbuilding clean energy capacity, they can decarbonise their domestic economies, including the energy-intensive oil exploration and production and downstream industries, allowing them to be the 'last barrel standing'. This will also enable them to attract green downstream investments catering to export markets, and to export surplus green energy in the form of electrons, molecules like hydrogen and liquids such as ammonia.

Furthermore, AI applications are envisaged to help orchestrate energy efficiency and value creation from small businesses to large, state-backed enterprises.

To execute these plans, sovereign funds and entities in both states have started to invest billions of dollars in renewable energy and other energy transition programmes and are encouraging foreign partners to do the same.

For exports, they are capitalising mainly on existing relationships with their oil, gas and utilities clients in Asia and Europe, which have ambitious net-zero targets.

The main potential stumbling block would be a snag in the supply of key raw materials that are required for renewable energy projects, such as nickel, copper and lithium, vital components in solar and wind turbines and batteries, and which neither country produces nor mines in a commercial quantity.

However, government-level talks with the largest suppliers of these materials are understood to be under way in the hope of easing any potential supply chain bottlenecks.

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Jennifer Aguinaldo

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Firms submit King Salman airport project prequalifications
8 July 2026

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Saudi Arabia’s King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC) received prequalification statements on 1 July from contractors for two new packages at King Salman International airport (KSIA) in Riyadh.

These include the construction of a permanent East-West corridor and landside access roads serving the North and South terminals.

The scope covers the construction of roads, bridges and tunnels.

The client is expected to float the tenders soon.

The latest development follows KSIADC's selection of three groups to deliver the Terminal 6 apron, taxiways and other airfield infrastructure at KSIA.

KSIADC, which is backed by Saudi sovereign wealth vehicle the Public Investment Fund, will initially deliver the project on an early contractor involvement basis.

In March, MEED exclusively reported that KSIADC had selected three groups for the construction of Terminal 6.

In November last year, MEED reported that KSIADC was targeting mid-2026 to award the contract for the construction of Terminal 6.

MEED reported in May 2025 that US firm Bechtel Corporation had been appointed as the delivery partner for the terminals at KSIA.

According to local media reports, KSIADC’s acting CEO, Marco Mejia, said the project developer has completed the project’s masterplan.

The reports added that Terminal 6 will boost the airport’s capacity by 40 million passengers.

The project is expected to be delivered before the start of Expo 2030 Riyadh.

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Yasir Iqbal
WEBINAR: Saudi Giga Projects: Market Update for Q3 2026
8 July 2026
Webinar: Saudi Giga Projects: Market Update for Q3 2026
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- Saudi projects market outlook and giga projects update
- 2026 contract awards, project activity and market performance
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- Key project announcements, milestones and market developments to watch
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Yasir Iqbal
Genel Energy buys Egypt-focused oil company for $360m
8 July 2026

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UK-listed Genel Energy has agreed to acquire Egypt-focused Capricorn Energy in a $360m all-cash deal.

Genel said the acquisition will combine its Kurdistan production base with Capricorn’s portfolio of Egyptian oil and gas assets.

The company also said the deal will allow it to obtain production in a country with a “well-established regulatory regime, stable contracts and attractive fiscal terms”.

Several approvals are still required before the acquisition can be finalised.

In a statement, Genel said: “Genel’s strategy is to build a business with resilient diversified cash flows that deliver sustainable value to shareholders.

“The Genel board and Genel management are resolute in their belief that this can best be achieved through strategic acquisitions, which add substantial high-quality producing assets to its existing portfolio.”

Genel’s existing oil and gas assets include its 25% non-operated working interest in the Tawke PSC in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The company said this asset generated working interest production averaging 17,520 barrels a day (b/d) of oil in 2025 and had operating costs of around $4 a barrel.

The combined group is expected to hold reserves of 117 million barrels of oil equivalent and production of 41,003 b/d.

Capricorn is headquartered in Edinburgh and has been listed on the London Stock Exchange for more than 30 years.

Its core operations are in Egypt’s Western Desert region, where it holds onshore development and production assets.

In May 2025, Capricorn agreed with Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation to consolidate eight of its 50:50 jointly owned concessions into a single integrated licence with enhanced commercial terms. Capricorn announced in March 2026 that it had received formal parliamentary ratification of the agreement.

The deal has been announced at a time when Genel is seeing frequent disruption to operations at its assets in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Production was temporarily suspended at the Tawke field in February after the US and Israel attacked Iran, increasing security concerns in the wider region.

While the security situation is understood to have improved in the Iraqi Kurdistan region and many oil companies have resumed operations, there are now concerns that the Iraq-Turkiye Pipeline could be shut due to an agreement between the two countries expiring later this month.

If the pipeline does stop operations, it will negatively impact Genel as it is the main route through which the company’s Iraqi oil is exported.

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Wil Crisp
Axens signs Egypt refining deal
8 July 2026

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France’s Axens has signed a long-term agreement with the Egyptian Refining Company (ERC) that covers product supply, digital transformation and refinery performance optimisation.

ERC operates Egypt’s $4.4bn Mostorod refinery, which was inaugurated in September 2020.

In a statement about the deal, Axens said that it will “leverage its comprehensive and integrated portfolio of technologies, equipment, catalysts and services to support ERC’s operational, economic and sustainability objectives”.

It added: “With its end-to-end expertise across the entire refining value chain, Axens is uniquely positioned to support ERC from early-stage project studies through engineering, unit start-up, operational optimisation and long-term technical follow-up.

“This fully integrated approach will help ensure reliability, operational excellence and environmental performance across the refinery’s life cycle.”

Quentin Debuisschert, the chief executive and chairman of Axens, said: “This long-term agreement marks an important milestone in the relationship between Axens and ERC.

“It reflects our ability to support customers beyond technology licensing by delivering a fully integrated offering that combines all process and catalyst technologies a modern refinery needs, services, digital solutions, operational expertise and training.

“We are committed to supporting ERC’s ambitions in operational excellence, digital transformation and sustainability while helping maximise the long-term value and competitiveness of its assets.

“We are proud and motivated to continue supporting ERC in ensuring the economic and operational success of its refinery."

Mohamed Saad, the president of ERC, said: “ERC values its strong partnership with Axens and the confidence this agreement brings for the future.

"This collaboration will help us continue enhancing refinery performance, maximising operational efficiency and delivering high-quality products to support Egypt’s energy needs.”

The Mostorod refinery is located 10 kilometres north of Cairo and has the capacity to produce about 4.7 million tonnes of petroleum products annually.

It sells all of its output directly to the national oil company Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation under a 25-year agreement.

When the refinery was brought online and reached full capacity, it boosted Egypt’s capacity to produce diesel by 30% and increased gasoline production by 15%.

Operations started at the refinery in November 2019.

Qatar Petroleum is a stakeholder in the project. It owns 38.1% of the Arabian Refinery Company, which in turn owns 66.6% of ERC.

The Mostorod refinery mainly produces Euro 5 refined products, including diesel and jet fuel, which are intended for consumption primarily in Cairo and surrounding areas.

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Wil Crisp

Gulftainer commits to $2bn expansion plan

8 July 2026

Gulftainer has unveiled a $2bn strategy to transform from a ports and terminals operator into an integrated global trade infrastructure company, a long-horizon commitment made at a port that was struck three months ago and in a region where the shipping lanes it depends on are under renewed attack.

The strategy restructures the company around four platforms: container terminals and maritime gateways, inland logistics and multimodal transport, logistics parks and industrial ecosystems, and regional maritime services connecting strategic trade corridors.

At the centre of the strategy is Khorfakkan Port, the UAE's deepwater gateway on the Gulf of Oman. Expansion works will raise annual handling capacity from 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 5 million TEUs, a 43% uplift, with a long-term master plan targeting more than 10 million TEUs. Planned integration with Etihad Rail will turn the port into a fully multimodal gateway linking sea, road and rail.

The commitment comes despite the port's recent exposure to the conflict in the region. On 5 April, a fire broke out at Khorfakkan after debris fell on the facility following the interception of an unidentified object. In a post on X, the Sharjah media office said the incident injured four people, one Nepalese national seriously and three Pakistani nationals with minor to moderate injuries. The strait through which Khorfakkan-bound traffic passes has come under further attack in recent days, with merchant vessels struck near the Strait of Hormuz.

Inland, Al-Dhaid Logistics Park and Sajaa Logistics Park will together provide 2.3 million TEUs of annual inland capacity, extending Gulftainer's reach.

The company positions itself as a key enabler of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and the UAE's role in China's Belt and Road Initiative, linking ports, shipping services, inland logistics networks and digital platforms across major global trade routes. The transformation follows nearly five decades of operation and is being implemented under the New Gulftainer strategy.

Gulftainer's partnership with the Sharjah Ports, Customs & Free Zones Authority underpins the Khorfakkan expansion. The port sits within an integrated maritime network spanning both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, offering shippers several routing options across the two waterways.

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