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Feed progresses on Etihad Energy’s Fujairah refinery project

4 August 2026

Front-end engineering and design (feed) work is progressing on a project by Dubai-based Etihad Energy Holding to establish a crude oil refinery in the UAE emirate of Fujairah.

The planned refinery will have a processing capacity of nearly 15,000 barrels a day (b/d). It will primarily process naphtha to produce Euro 5-compliant gasoline and other higher value-added products, in line with the requirements of regional and international markets.

Etihad Energy awarded the feed contract to PEG Engineering & Contracting, the Dubai-based subsidiary of Italy’s Progetti Europa & Global, in December last year.

The company also awarded a separate contract to  for licensed technology for the naphtha-to-gasoline conversion process.

In June this year, Dubai Financial Market (DFM)-listed Etihad Energy announced the commencement of feed work on the planned Fujairah refinery project. Based on preliminary studies, the company said at the time that the project was estimated to require capital expenditure of $300m-$350m, although this is subject to a final investment decision.

“Feed work on the project is progressing well and is expected to be completed before the end of the year,” a source told MEED. “Based on that timeframe, Etihad Energy could start the engineering, procurement and construction tendering process during the last quarter,” the source added.

Dubai-based midstream oil and gas company Gulf Navigation Holding (GulfNav) rebranded as Etihad Energy in June this year after completing the acquisition of UAE-based Brooge Energy. The transaction, which was initiated last June, was valued at $871m and included Brooge Energy’s Fujairah-based subsidiaries Brooge Petroleum & Gas Investment Company FZE (BPGIC) and Brooge Petroleum & Gas Investment Company Phase 3 FZE.

BPGIC is the operator of the Fujairah crude oil refinery project.

“Upon successful completion of the project and commencement of commercial operations and production, the project is expected, based on the company’s preliminary estimates, to generate at least approximately $1bn in additional value for the company and its shareholders, subject to the completion of the ongoing studies and the final investment decision. The financial impact is expected to commence following completion of the project and the start of commercial production,” Etihad Energy said in a filing with DFM in July.

Separately, in July, Etihad Energy secured a 10-year offtake agreement with the government of Fujairah for the purchase of the planned refinery’s gasoline production.

“The agreement forms part of ongoing efforts to support the development of the Etihad Refinery project by establishing a long-term commercial framework for the purchase of its gasoline production. It is expected to enhance the project’s long-term sustainability, strengthen the petroleum supply chain, and support the UAE’s strategic direction toward developing value-added downstream industries,” Etihad Energy said, without revealing specific terms or offtake quantities agreed in the deal.

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Indrajit Sen

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