UAE’s Hydrogen Backbone: How this New Pipeline Will Reshape the Global Energy Map

The United Arab Emirates is turning ambition into action with its newly unveiled Hydrogen Backbone Vision Paper, a bold roadmap to build a 2,200-kilometer hydrogen transmission network by 2040. Far more than an infrastructure blueprint, the plan signals a strategic pivot: the UAE isn’t just transitioning to clean energy—it’s aiming to control the hydrogen lanes that will fuel tomorrow’s global economy.

This vision builds on the momentum of the UAE National Hydrogen Strategy, launched in 2023, and the Abu Dhabi Low Carbon Hydrogen Policy introduced in 2024. These foundational policies lay the groundwork for positioning the UAE as one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of low-carbon hydrogen by 2031. Recognizing that pipelines are the most cost-effective method for transporting large volumes of hydrogen, the UAE is now set to connect its industrial hubs, ports, and neighboring nations through an extensive hydrogen network.

The transformation will unfold in three distinct phases. By 2030, the network will still be modest in scale—less than 100 kilometers—focused primarily on key industrial oases like Ruwais, KEZAD, and Jebel Ali. Hydrogen production will begin flowing to nearby offtakers through newly built pipelines, with early experiments in repurposing existing natural gas infrastructure. By 2035, the hydrogen backbone will expand significantly to 500 kilometers, linking four major hydrogen hubs through a strategic corridor running from Ruwais to Jebel Ali.

This corridor will facilitate both blue hydrogen produced in Ruwais and green hydrogen generated along the coast. By 2040, the network will grow to a staggering 2,200 kilometers, combining 1,300 kilometers of new construction with 900 kilometers of repurposed pipeline. This final phase will connect all six industrial oases, major export terminals, and create potential linkages to Saudi Arabia and Oman.

But the real question is, so what? Why does this matter beyond the UAE’s borders?

This network is more than domestic infrastructure—it’s a strategic chess move with regional and global implications. It positions the UAE as a major exporter of green and blue hydrogen to energy-hungry markets in Europe and Asia. With hydrogen set to play a central role in global decarbonization strategies, the country is staking its claim as a first mover in the hydrogen trade economy, not unlike its role in oil in the 20th century.

The UAE’s hydrogen corridors—coastal and inland—have been deliberately designed to serve both domestic industry and international markets through key ports like Jebel Ali and Khor Fakkan.

This also represents a powerful example of how oil-rich nations can transition smartly. Rather than abandoning fossil fuel infrastructure, the UAE is retrofitting it for the future. Repurposing gas pipelines for hydrogen transport is not only cost-effective but accelerates the timeline for deployment. It’s a model that other hydrocarbon producers would do well to study.

The plan raises the stakes for other nations. Countries like Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands have already laid out hydrogen pipeline strategies. But the UAE’s integrated approach—rooted in long-term planning, policy coordination, and infrastructure investment—shows what’s possible when ambition meets execution. If other countries aren’t planning hydrogen at national scale, they risk being left behind.

Crucially, this initiative isn’t just about export. The pipeline network will feed hydrogen directly to domestic heavy industries—steel, cement, aluminum, and petrochemicals—enabling real decarbonization at home. That’s a rare dual benefit: supporting climate goals while building a globally competitive industrial base.

To bring this vision to life, the UAE will need to align energy infrastructure planning across gas, electricity, and hydrogen. It must create clear licensing and regulatory frameworks to attract investment and secure financing. Perhaps most importantly, the government must engage with industry to better understand the location, scale, and certainty of hydrogen demand. A transparent, consultative approach—like Spain’s Enagás has used—can help ensure infrastructure is built where it's actually needed.

In the end, the UAE’s hydrogen backbone is more than steel in the ground. It’s the framework for a new era of clean energy leadership. As hydrogen demand is expected to grow sixfold by 2050, the UAE isn’t waiting for the world to catch up—it’s building the routes to meet the future head-on. This network could become the spine of the global hydrogen economy, reshaping trade routes, deepening regional cooperation, and setting a new benchmark for what climate-smart infrastructure looks like in the 21st century.

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