At Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2025, experts highlighted the significant transformation of the green hydrogen sector in recent years, driven by large-scale projects that demonstrate the immense potential of hydrogen as a clean energy source.
According to an analysis by Strategy&, global demand for green hydrogen could reach 530 million tons by 2050, approximately 7 percent of primary energy consumption. The Middle East is actively set to produce over 4 million tons of electrolytic hydrogen by 2030, often for export purposes, according to the EIA.
Green hydrogen to improve SAF efficiency
In statements to WAM during ADSW 2025, which runs until January 18, officials said the green hydrogen sector will witness unprecedented growth in 2025, driven by its integration into numerous industries and its adoption across various sectors.
Kuljit Ghata-Aura, president of Boeing Middle East, Türkiye and Africa (META), said that green hydrogen, produced from renewable sources, will play an increasingly important role in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and improve its efficiency.
He emphasized that the aviation industry has committed to introducing this biofuel to achieve global sustainability goals. He added that research has resulted in the production of biofuel that has been successfully used to power aircraft operated by the national carrier, Etihad Airways.
Ghata-Aura also noted the strong partnership with the UAE and national entities, including the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC), which comprises Masdar Institute, Khalifa University, Etihad Airways, and other leading entities in this field.
In addition, he reaffirmed Boeing’s commitment to strengthening its relations with the UAE and working towards achieving significant and sustainable progress in the aviation sector. The company continues to support major airlines such as Emirates and Etihad Airways, which operate approximately 300 Boeing aircraft, emphasizing its efforts to meet the needs of these airlines and support their future expansion.
The president of Boeing META said the company is working closely with the UAE to support an environment of innovation and places great importance on sustainability through initiatives that support the development of innovative and environmentally friendly solutions.
Committed capital in green hydrogen grows sevenfold
For her part, Ivana Jemelkova, CEO of the Hydrogen Council, said the green hydrogen sector is undergoing a significant transformation, reflecting unprecedented global development. Investment in this sector has reached very encouraging levels, with committed capital increasing sevenfold in the past four years.
She explained that the Hydrogen Council currently oversees more than 430 projects worldwide, indicating the maturity of the sector and the progress of projects towards actual implementation. She added that the next phase will focus on building integrated ecosystems to support commercial demand for hydrogen.
Jemelkova also commended the leading role of the UAE and the region in supporting global initiatives to develop the green hydrogen sector, noting the recent joining of Masdar to the board of directors of the Hydrogen Council. In addition, she expressed her desire to intensify cooperation with the UAE and the region to drive the growth of hydrogen projects regionally and globally.
2025 will be a pivotal year for the green hydrogen sector as efforts will focus on activating policies and the regulatory framework and driving the momentum of project implementation on the ground. She emphasized that leading markets will play a key role in accelerating the pace of growth.
UAE’s Masdar ramps up investments
For its part, Masdar is ramping up its investments in green hydrogen by establishing a dedicated unit to develop specialized projects in this sector locally, regionally and globally. Mohammad Abdelqader El Ramahi, chief green hydrogen officer, said that this period is the best time to implement these projects in the UAE, aiming to allocate half of the targeted production capacity according to Masdar’s announced strategy by 2030-2033, which is one million tons per year of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
El Ramahi explained that Masdar has allocated half of this quantity for development in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, equivalent to 500,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, which will enhance Abu Dhabi’s leading role as one of the world’s main hubs for green hydrogen production. He pointed out that the development of these projects had already begun in early January 2023.
