Letter from Saudi Arabia: Gulf countries well set to be hydrogen leaders

Region has competitive edge in low-carbon hydrogen, but infrastructure and export challenges are key roadblocks to overcome

As the global push for decarbonisation gathers momentum, hydrogen—currently a niche industry dominated by the fossil-fuel–derived variety of the fuel—is rapidly evolving. However, only 5% of the planned low-carbon hydrogen projects have reached the investment decision stage. The market leaders of tomorrow will be those who can navigate the technical, financial, regulatory and infrastructural challenges today. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are among those seeking to strategically position themselves as leaders in low-carbon hydrogen production and trade. They possess several advantages that may give them an edge over competitors. Navigating the infrastructure and export challenges