Letter from the Middle East: Adnoc’s road to net zero
The NOC must decarbonise rapidly if the UAE is to meet its emissions pledge
The UAE’s 2050 net-zero carbon pledge, announced on 7 October, ramps up the pressure and puts the spotlight on state oil giant Adnoc. Its CEO Sultan al-Jaber also happens to be chairman of clean energy vehicle Masdar and the UAE’s special envoy for climate change. A healthy competition has developed between Adnoc and its neighbourly rival Saudi Aramco on climate, as on modernisation and strategic vision generally. This mirrors a wider race between the UAE and Saudi Arabia in which Abu Dhabi often, but not always, makes the first move. Riyadh’s own net-zero commitment, a decade later than the UAE’s, was promulgated just over a fortnight after its neighbour. 39.7mn t – Adnoc’s direct CO₂
Also in this section
28 April 2026
Datacentres will guzzle power at a ferocious rate, but the impact on wider energy markets will be far more complex than previously thought
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
24 April 2026
The European Commission’s response to the Middle East crisis is to double down on its transition strategy, with plans for a new target on electrification
24 April 2026
A major new discovery by Eni and BP that can likely be fast-tracked to production is welcome news for Egypt as it scrambles to plug a widening supply gap and deal with rising import risks






