Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has unveiled an ambitious new phase in its growth strategy, announcing plans to invest $150 billion between 2026 and 2030. This large-scale capital program aims to strengthen ADNOC’s position as a global energy leader, expand its oil and gas production capacity, and accelerate the company’s diversification into emerging low-carbon and renewable sectors.
A New Era of Strategic Investment
The announcement follows a comprehensive review of ADNOC’s medium-term objectives, with a focus on maintaining energy security while embracing new opportunities in the global energy transition. The ADNOC capital investment plan reinforces the company’s mission to deliver reliable energy to the world while supporting the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) long-term economic growth and industrial development goals.
Under the new investment framework, ADNOC will channel funds into upstream, midstream, and downstream projects, as well as in digital transformation, sustainability, and international partnerships. The company aims to balance profitability with innovation, ensuring it remains competitive amid a rapidly evolving energy landscape.
Expanding Proven Reserves
As part of its new strategic direction, ADNOC confirmed significant growth in its hydrocarbon reserves. The company’s oil reserves have risen to 120 billion stock tank barrels (stb), up from 113 billion, while natural gas reserves have grown from 290 trillion to 297 trillion standard cubic feet (scf). This increase in proven resources underscores ADNOC’s continued success in exploration and reservoir management.
These reserves solidify the UAE’s standing as one of the world’s leading energy producers, ensuring long-term supply reliability to meet global demand. ADNOC’s ongoing investment in exploration and recovery technologies also highlights its commitment to extracting maximum value from each barrel produced while maintaining operational efficiency.
Unlocking Unconventional Resources
Beyond conventional reserves, ADNOC is accelerating development of unconventional energy sources that require advanced extraction technologies. The company estimates that Abu Dhabi holds around 160 trillion cubic feet of unconventional gas and 22 billion stb of unconventional oil. These assets are seen as vital for supporting the UAE’s energy self-sufficiency and expanding its export potential.
By investing in unconventional projects, ADNOC seeks to diversify its production portfolio and enhance flexibility. This effort complements its broader energy transition strategy, positioning the company to adapt to changing global market trends while maximizing national resource value.
Strengthening Global Reach Through XRG
A cornerstone of ADNOC’s international growth strategy is its investment subsidiary, XRG. Since its establishment in late 2024, XRG’s enterprise value has more than doubled—rising from approximately $80 billion to $151 billion. This rapid expansion reflects ADNOC’s commitment to building a diversified, global energy investment platform.
XRG focuses on acquiring and developing assets in chemicals, natural gas, renewables, and advanced materials. The company’s international footprint has expanded across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, where it is actively pursuing partnerships and joint ventures to capture growth in sustainable and high-value energy sectors. This approach reduces ADNOC’s reliance on traditional oil revenue and strengthens its position as a long-term investor in the global energy transition.
The Ghasha Project: Boosting Gas Output and Energy Security
As part of its domestic expansion efforts, ADNOC’s board has approved the creation of a new operating company for the Ghasha offshore concession. This large-scale development is one of the most significant gas projects in the region, expected to produce around 1.8 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day and approximately 150,000 barrels per day of oil and condensates once it becomes fully operational.
The Ghasha project plays a key role in the UAE’s goal to achieve gas self-sufficiency. By combining advanced offshore engineering with stringent environmental safeguards, ADNOC is ensuring that energy production growth aligns with the country’s sustainability targets. The project will also support local employment, technology transfer, and industrial participation through ADNOC’s In-Country Value (ICV) program.
Driving the Energy Transition
Although ADNOC continues to expand its oil and gas portfolio, the company’s latest investment cycle demonstrates a clear focus on sustainable energy development. Part of the $150 billion allocation will be directed toward low-carbon and renewable initiatives, including hydrogen, ammonia, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and electrification of industrial operations.
ADNOC aims to reduce its carbon intensity by 25% before 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. These objectives are supported by the integration of renewable power from solar and nuclear sources into its operations, as well as the adoption of energy-efficient technologies across production facilities.
This dual-track approach—maintaining robust hydrocarbon output while accelerating clean energy investment—positions ADNOC as a pragmatic leader in the global transition toward sustainable energy systems.
Supporting UAE’s Economic Vision
Beyond energy expansion, ADNOC’s capital program serves as a vital engine for the UAE’s economic diversification strategy. The company’s large-scale investments will stimulate industrial growth, attract foreign investment, and create thousands of skilled jobs across multiple sectors.
Through its In-Country Value (ICV) initiative, ADNOC continues to boost local manufacturing and supply chain development. The new projects under the 2026–2030 plan will provide opportunities for UAE-based companies to participate in engineering, procurement, and construction contracts, reinforcing the national industrial base.
These efforts align with the UAE’s Vision 2031 framework, which emphasizes innovation, sustainability, and economic resilience as cornerstones of long-term prosperity.
Partnerships and Global Collaboration
Collaboration remains central to ADNOC’s operational philosophy. The company has formed strategic alliances with leading international players in the oil, gas, and renewables sectors. These partnerships have led to major joint ventures in petrochemicals, LNG, and clean hydrogen, helping ADNOC tap into global expertise and cutting-edge technologies.
Through its partnership model, ADNOC fosters innovation while sharing development risks and optimizing capital efficiency. As the company continues to expand its presence in new markets, international cooperation will remain essential for achieving both growth and sustainability targets.
Technological Transformation and Digital Innovation
Another major pillar of ADNOC’s 2026–2030 strategy is digital transformation. The company is investing heavily in smart systems, data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation to improve operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
ADNOC’s implementation of digital twins, real-time monitoring, and predictive maintenance technologies allows for better asset management and safer, more reliable operations. By leveraging cloud-based infrastructure and advanced analytics, ADNOC aims to achieve significant cost savings while boosting productivity across its upstream and downstream businesses.
These technological advancements will also enhance the company’s environmental performance by minimizing flaring, reducing emissions, and improving energy efficiency throughout its operations.
Resilience in a Dynamic Energy Market
The global energy industry continues to face uncertainty due to fluctuating demand, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical shifts. ADNOC’s diversified portfolio and disciplined investment approach provide a strong foundation for resilience in this dynamic environment.
By combining strong hydrocarbon fundamentals with forward-looking investments in renewables and technology, ADNOC ensures long-term competitiveness. The company’s financial stability and access to strategic reserves enable it to maintain growth even during market volatility.
With the $150 billion investment program, ADNOC is reinforcing its ability to adapt to global energy trends while delivering consistent value to stakeholders and the broader UAE economy.
Leadership in Global Energy Supply
As the world’s energy demand continues to evolve, ADNOC’s role as a reliable supplier is becoming increasingly important. The company’s ongoing capacity expansion, coupled with its sustainability initiatives, ensures that it can meet the needs of traditional and emerging energy markets alike.
ADNOC’s balanced strategy—anchored in hydrocarbons but extending into renewables and low-carbon solutions—places it at the center of the world’s transition toward a more secure and sustainable energy future.
Conclusion: Investing in the Future of Energy
The announcement of $150 billion in ADNOC capital investment between 2026 and 2030 marks a defining moment in the company’s history. It demonstrates a bold vision for growth, innovation, and sustainability, reflecting the UAE’s broader ambition to remain a global energy leader in the decades ahead.
Through resource expansion, technological innovation, and international collaboration, ADNOC is reshaping the energy landscape while laying the foundation for a diversified and resilient future. The company’s integrated approach ensures that the UAE will continue to play a vital role in powering economies worldwide—today and tomorrow.
For more information about ADNOC’s operations, visit adnoc.ae.
