ITA Partners with UAE and Bahrain to Boost Green Industry in MENA
The Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA) has announced new partnerships with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Bahrain to advance industrial decarbonization across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. In collaboration with industry leaders, investors, and regional governments, the ITA aims to drive sustainable growth and attract significant investment by 2026.
The partnerships mark the first country collaborations in MENA for ITA’s Project Support Programme, following the success of its Brazil program launched earlier this year. The UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce are the program’s initial partners. These alliances are set to support the UAE and Bahrain in achieving national climate goals through a pipeline of projects focused on green industrial innovation and decarbonization.
H.E. Abdulla Bin Adel Fakhro, Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, underscoring Bahrain's commitment to sustainable manufacturing. He stated, "This partnership reinforces our dedication to achieving carbon neutrality and fostering a robust green industrial sector in line with our Industrial Sector Strategy (2022-2026)."
Faustine Delasalle, Executive Director of the ITA, highlighted the potential impact of the partnerships, noting that accelerating the deployment of green projects in MENA would significantly contribute to regional and global climate goals. In the UAE alone, six announced net-zero projects could achieve around 30% of the nation’s 2030 climate target, if finalized and brought online.
Driving Investment and Sustainable Innovation
To support large-scale projects across the region, the ITA is providing on-the-ground guidance and tailored assistance, with plans to stimulate demand for green commodities, develop low-emission supply chains, and address regulatory challenges to encourage investment.
In the UAE, major corporations including EMSTEEL, Emirates Global Aluminium, and Arabian Gulf Steel Industries (AGSI) have already signed agreements to collaborate with the ITA. Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, CEO of EMSTEEL, emphasized the company’s commitment to pioneering low-carbon products, including a pilot green steel project with Masdar. Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium, affirmed the importance of cross-industry cooperation to tackle decarbonization challenges.
Asam Hussain, CEO of AGSI, which operates the world’s first carbon-neutral steel plant, voiced optimism about the MENA region’s path to net-zero, stressing the need for industry support, regulatory clarity, and scalable solutions.
With these new collaborations, the ITA is positioned to play a crucial role in advancing the MENA region’s green industry agenda and supporting the global transition to sustainable industrial practices.
