UAE Energy Giant Unveils Massive $150 Billion Expansion Amid Soaring Reserves and Global AI Push

The United Arab Emirates has approved a major update to its national energy roadmap, authorizing a US$150 billion spending plan for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) covering the years 2026 to 2030. The decision, endorsed by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, comes after new assessments showed substantial additions to the country’s oil and gas reserves, reinforcing its long-term commitment to expanding its hydrocarbon sector and related industrial and international activities.

ADNOC reported that the nation’s oil reserves have risen by an estimated 7 billion stock tank barrels, bringing the total to about 120 billion STB, while natural gas reserves have increased by roughly 7 trillion cubic feet to approximately 297 tscf. These gains are attributed to ongoing discoveries—around 1.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent—supported by advanced seismic surveying and AI-enhanced geological analysis.

The newly approved US$150 billion program will target several priority areas: preserving upstream production capacity, notably increasing natural gas output, and accelerating the development of refining, petrochemical, and other downstream ventures. A major focus is on further exploring Abu Dhabi’s unconventional deposits, which are believed to contain around 160 tscf of gas and 22 billion STB of oil.

Enhancing gas production is a central objective. The board has authorized the creation of a new operating entity, ADNOC Ghasha, responsible for the vast Ghasha Concession, which covers the Hail, Ghasha, Dalma, SARB, and Nasr fields. The concession’s production targets have been raised to 1.8 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day and 150,000 barrels per day of oil and condensate. Work on the major Hail and Ghasha development continues to advance rapidly.

To support the UAE’s broader industrial agenda, ADNOC aims to channel US$60 billion into the domestic economy through its In-Country Value program during the 2026–2030 period. Since its launch in 2018, this program has already contributed more than US$83 billion to the national economy. The company has also secured US$21.8 billion in agreements for local manufacturing, moving toward its goal of sourcing US$24.5 billion in domestically produced industrial goods by 2030.

Downstream growth is progressing as well. Initial development activities are now underway for the first phase of the TA’ZIZ industrial chemicals hub in Al Ruwais. Once completed, the complex is expected to produce about 4.7 million tonnes of chemicals annually, bringing ADNOC’s total chemical output capacity to around 11 mtpa by 2028.

ADNOC continues to emphasize technology adoption across its operations, reiterating its ambition to become the most AI-driven energy company worldwide. The organization is expanding the use of robotics, automation, and advanced data analytics to raise efficiency and operational performance in both upstream and downstream sectors.

The company’s global investment arm, XRG, has also seen rapid expansion, with its enterprise value rising from roughly US$80 billion to US$151 billion in about a year—an increase that strengthens Abu Dhabi’s role as a major global energy investor.

Separately, the UAE is elevating its involvement in international technology development by committing US$1 billion to enhance artificial intelligence infrastructure and services across Africa. The investment is intended to help bridge gaps in data-center availability and other critical digital infrastructure, providing a significant boost to AI adoption by businesses and government institutions across the continent.