The first batch of engineering equipment has been gradually brought into place at the project site of Abu Dhabi Habshan Industrial Zone in 2026, and the EPC contracts for the second and third phases of the rich gas development project with a total value of 8.2 billion US dollars have been officially implemented. This is another key move in the natural gas sector of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, following a $5 billion investment in the first phase, marking the fast lane of comprehensive construction for the UAE's natural gas value chain upgrade strategy.

Implement phased consolidation of production capacity base

Wison Engineering has secured a $3.9 billion Phase II project to build a new natural gas processing facility at the Habshan Gas Processing Plant, directly expanding ADNOC Gas' natural gas processing capacity and enhancing operational flexibility of existing assets. The newly added supply of raw gas will provide stable support for the rapidly expanding downstream petrochemical industry in the UAE.

The $4.3 billion Phase III project undertaken by Tecnimont will deliver a new natural gas condensate fractionation unit in the Ruwais region, significantly enhancing the ability to recover high-value NGL products from rich gas, directly expanding the export scale of related products, and consolidating ADNOC Gas' share in the global natural gas condensate market. Combined with the previous investment of 5 billion US dollars, the total investment of the entire rich gas development project has reached 13.2 billion US dollars. In the first half of 2026, the UAE's natural gas exports increased by 12% year-on-year, and this new production capacity will further amplify this growth advantage after it is put into operation.

Upgrading the entire chain supports long-term growth

The Rich Gas Development Project is a core component of ADNOC Gas' large-scale natural gas growth investment plan, which also includes three core projects: Ruwais liquefied natural gas, ethane recovery and monetization maximization, and Estidama. After all are implemented, it is expected to create approximately $13.4 billion in domestic economic value, directly driving the development of local supply chains and helping the UAE achieve its goal of economic diversification.

ADNOC Gas has simultaneously raised its growth target, increasing its EBITDA growth target from over 40% to 60% from 2023 to 2030. It plans to invest approximately $28 billion between 2026 and 2030 to advance a new growth strategy. After the completion of supporting development projects such as Babu Natural Gas Top and Umshayif Natural Gas Top, sufficient associated gas resources will be provided for the entire rich gas development project, further expanding the domestic natural gas supply and export capacity of the United Arab Emirates. Keywords: natural gas, Middle East news

The natural gas upgrade network spanning the east and west coasts of Abu Dhabi, from the newly built processing facility in Mount Hab to the fractionation facility in Ruwais, is reshaping the UAE's industrial position in the global natural gas market. In 2026, as the global energy landscape continues to adjust, ADNOC Gas' full chain investment layout not only locks in long-term stable cash flow for itself, but also provides reliable natural gas supply increments for the global energy market.Editor/Cheng Liting