Many countries in the Middle East and Africa are scaling up their hydrogen production. While some of this hydrogen will support domestic decarbonization efforts, the majority is intended for export to demand markets. Africa is set to host 4 out of the 10 largest upcoming low-carbon hydrogen projects, and is focussing on green hydrogen production, leveraging its vast renewable resources. The Middle East on the other hand is focussing on blue hydrogen production, leveraging its vast refinery infrastructure.
The MEA region aims to rapidly establish itself as a key player in the global hydrogen market. Although the region currently accounts for only 11% of global active hydrogen capacity, a pipeline of large-scale low-carbon hydrogen projects is set to significantly enhance its global standing. Several African countries, chiefly Egypt, Mauritania, and Morocco are aiming to leverage their abundant renewable energy resources to produce cost-competitive green hydrogen. While some of this hydrogen will support domestic decarbonization efforts, the majority is intended for export to demand markets such as Europe. In contrast, the Middle East is pursuing a diversified low-carbon approach, with companies investing in both green and blue hydrogen. This strategy capitalizes on the region’s existing refinery infrastructure and experience, while also aiming to position the Middle East as a supplier to global markets.
The MEA region aims to rapidly establish itself as a key player in the global hydrogen market. Although the region currently accounts for only 11% of global active hydrogen capacity, a pipeline of large-scale low-carbon hydrogen projects is set to significantly enhance its global standing. Several African countries, chiefly Egypt, Mauritania, and Morocco are aiming to leverage their abundant renewable energy resources to produce cost-competitive green hydrogen. While some of this hydrogen will support domestic decarbonization efforts, the majority is intended for export to demand markets such as Europe. In contrast, the Middle East is pursuing a diversified low-carbon approach, with companies investing in both green and blue hydrogen. This strategy capitalizes on the region’s existing refinery infrastructure and experience, while also aiming to position the Middle East as a supplier to global markets.
Key Highlights
- MEA active capacity is currently 0.21mtpa; - MEA upcoming electrolyzer capacity is currently 211GW; - MEA upcoming capacity is currently 23.5mtpa; - Middle East and Africa currently account for only a small share of the global hydrogen market (11% of the global market share); - 80% of upcoming hydrogen capacity in the MEA region lies within its early stage feasibility projects; - Egypt is expected to lead future hydrogen production in Africa and Oman is expected to lead future hydrogen production in the Middle East; - out of the 10 largest upcoming low-carbon hydrogen projects globally, four are based in Africa
Scope
- MEA's low-carbon hydrogen capacity outlook, Key regional projects, Key companies operating in MEA's hydrogen market, Hydrogen end-use sectors, Hydrogen policy in the Middle East and Africa, Deal activity related to hydrogen in MEA, Company filings analysis of MEA headquartered companies
Reasons to Buy
- Identify the market trends within the region and key players in hydrogen technologies.
- Develop market insight of active and upcoming capacity and latest trends of the sector.
- Analyze the region's different scenarios for 2030 based on the likelihood of projects' completion.
- Identify the demand in key application areas for both regions, with particular focus on transport, ammonia and methanol, iron and steel.
- Analyze how the MEA market is growing as it is rapidly scaling up to position itself as a key global hydrogen export hub.
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Executive summary
- Snapshot of the low-carbon hydrogen market
- MEA future leaders in green and blue hydrogen production
- Low-carbon hydrogen market
- Middle East and Africa in a global context
- Leading countries in the regional hydrogen market
- Largest upcoming projects globally
- Largest upcoming projects in the Middle East
- Largest upcoming projects in Africa
- MEA hydrogen capacity in high and low-case scenarios
- Low-carbon hydrogen competitiveness drivers
- Major barriers to low-carbon hydrogen deployment
- Demand in Key Application Areas
- Key MEA countries’ targets and demand focus
- Intended use sectors for low-carbon hydrogen in Africa
- Intended use sectors for low-carbon hydrogen in the Middle East
- Transportation
- Iron & steel
- Ammonia & chemicals
- Natural gas & gas blending
- Refining
- Hydrogen sector challenges
- Policies, Projects, and Key Players
- MEA climate targets vs hydrogen targets
- Africa hydrogen policy
- Middle East hydrogen policy
- MEA hydrogen funding
- MEA hydrogen deal activity
- MEA hydrogen corporate filings
- MEA future leaders in green and blue hydrogen production
- Largest active and upcoming low-carbon hydrogen plants in the Middle East by 2030
- Largest active and upcoming low-carbon hydrogen plants in Africa by 2030
- Major opportunities and barriers for low-carbon hydrogen deployment
- Key MEA countries’ production targets and demand focus
- Hydrogen demand in transportation
- Main MEA low-carbon hydrogen projects from iron and steel use
- Main plant owners involved in developing low-carbon hydrogen projects for chemicals end use in the MEA region
- Main MEA low-carbon hydrogen projects for ammonia supply
- Total upcoming hydrogen pipelines in Middle East and Africa
- Total upcoming gas blending projects in Middle East and Africa
- MEA vs Global low-carbon hydrogen capacity by development stage
- Top 10 countries for H2 production in the MEA region, 2025-2030
- Top countries in the MEA region by low-carbon hydrogen capacity and development stage
- MEA low-carbon hydrogen capacity senarios, 2025-2030
- African low-carbon hydrogen consumer industry breakdown, 2025YTD
- Middle Eastern low-carbon H2 consumer industry breakdown, 2025YTD
- MEA maximum low-carbon hydrogen production capacity for steel sector, 2021 - 2030
- Middle East and Africa’s conventional ammonia supply, 2025-2030
- Middle East and Africa ammonia and methanol demand, 2025-2030
- MEA region low-carbon ammonia production capacity, 2025 - 2030
- MEA refining capacity by country, 2025-2030
- MEA headquartered companies with the most mention of hydrogen in their corporate filings, 2021 - Feb 2025
- MEA headquartered companies with the most mentions of hydrogen in their corporate filings, 2021-2024
Companies Mentioned (Partial List)
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
- Sasol SA
- ACME Group
- ACME Cleantech Solutions Pvt Ltd
- Scatec ASA
- OQ
- Qatar Energy
- ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Co)
- Mitsui&Co
- JER Group
- CWP Global
- GCL New Energy Holdings Ltd
- Eni SpA
- EGPC (Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation)
- GHI
- GreenGo Energy Group
- Adani New Industries
- BP Plc
- ACWA Power Co
- Air Products and Chemicals Inc
- Engie SA
- POSCO Holdings Inc
- PTT Public Co Ltd
- Samsung E&A Co Ltd
- Neom Co
- Blue Power Partners AS
- Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners KS
- Actis Corp
- Fortescue Future Industries Pty Ltd
- ENEOS Corp
- Electric Power Development Co Ltd
- Electricite de France SA
- Yamna Ltd
- ADQ
- GS Energy Corp
- Egyptian Electricity Transmission Co
- New and Renewable Energy Authority
- Sovereign Fund of Egypt
- British International Investment Plc
- Norfund
- Abu Dhabi National Energy Co
- Conjuncta GmbH
- Infinity
- Mubadala Investment Co
- Falcon Capital
- Hydrogene de France SA
- Eren Groupe SA
- TotalEnergies SE
- Westgass IPS
- Jindal Shadeed Group
- Fertiglobe
- Volvo
- VDL
- Daimler
- Anglo America
- BMW
- Enertrag AG
- Nicholas Holdings Ltd
- SDG Namibia One Fund
- Chariot Ltd
- Consolidated Contractors Co
- Fusion Fuel Green Plc
- Hassan Allam Holding SAE
- NNPC Ltd
- Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines
- Bayerngas GmhB
- OMV AG
- Snam SpA
- OG Gas Networks SAOC
- Enagas SA
- The European Investment Bank
- CFM (Climate Fund Management)
- Brooge Energy Ltd
- GenCell Energy Ltd
- Saudi Arabian Oil Co
- NewMed Energy LP
- Saudi Basic Industries Corp
- Omnia Holdings Ltd
