EU Hydrogen & Advanced Fuels Breakthrough Summit:

Accelerating Regional Cooperation

13 January 2026 | Conference Hall B at ADNEC Expo Centre, Abu Dhabi, UAE
In partnership with Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
 

About the Summit

Set against the global convening power of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026, the EU Hydrogen & Advanced Fuels Breakthrough Summit is a high-level regional platform bringing together policymakers, regulators, investors, and industry leaders to accelerate cooperation across the European Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the wider MENA region.

Organised under a Team Europe approach by the EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project, in close coordination with the Delegation of the European Union to the UAE, the Embassy of Germany in the UAE, and the MED-GEM Network, the Summit reflects the EU’s collective engagement, bringing together EU institutions, Member States, and implementation partners working alongside regional counterparts.

As countries move from strategy to implementation, the Summit focuses on bridging policy ambition with market delivery. Discussions will centre on how regulatory convergence, certification frameworks, financing instruments, and public-private partnerships can enable bankable hydrogen and advanced fuels projects, support cross-border trade, and strengthen long-term energy security.

With ambitious national strategies and complementary strengths, the EU, GCC, and MENA regions are uniquely positioned to shape a resilient and globally connected hydrogen economy. The Summit aims to translate this shared potential into practical cooperation, investment readiness, and concrete next steps across the hydrogen and advanced fuels value chain.

Focus Areas of the Summit

The Summit will address the critical enablers required to scale hydrogen and advanced fuels markets, including:

• Hydrogen and Advanced Fuels Pathways
  Green and low-carbon hydrogen, RFNBOs and e-fuels, and their role in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation, shipping, and heavy industry.

• Regulatory Frameworks and Certification
  Guarantees of origin, sustainability standards, and mutual recognition mechanisms enabling trusted international trade.

• Financing and Market Development
  Public and private financing instruments, risk-sharing mechanisms, and EU-led tools supporting early-stage and large-scale projects.

• Infrastructure and Export Corridors
  Transport, storage, ports, and logistics enabling cross-regional hydrogen and fuels value chains.

• EU–GCC–MENA Cooperation Models
  Trilateral approaches linking policy alignment, technology deployment, and capacity-building.

Why Attend?

• Gain strategic insights into EU, GCC, and MENA hydrogen and advanced fuels priorities

• Engage directly with senior policymakers, regulators, financiers, and industry leaders

• Understand certification and regulatory frameworks shaping global hydrogen trade

• Learn from EU-led cooperation models and public-private success stories

• Participate in curated matchmaking, project showcases, and deal-making opportunities

• Connect through high-level panels, focused breakout sessions, and targeted networking

Expected Outcomes

• Announcements of strategic partnerships and investment initiatives

• Signature of MoUs and cooperation agreements

• Progress towards regulatory harmonisation and certification alignment

• Identification of joint policy roadmaps and capacity-building actions

• Enhanced visibility for EU-funded initiatives and trilateral cooperation frameworks

Who Will Be There

The Summit is expected to welcome over 300 senior participants, including:

• Ministers, policymakers, and regulators from the EU, GCC, and MENA

• Hydrogen and advanced fuels producers and project developers

• Energy, transport, logistics, and industrial companies

• Financial institutions, development banks, and sovereign wealth funds

• Academic institutions, think tanks, and R&D leaders

• International organisations, media, and civil society representatives

Organisers & Partners

Organised by
EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project

In partnership with
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Delegation of the European Union to the UAE
Embassy of Germany in the UAE
MED-GEM Network
Team Europe (EU Member State Embassies)