ADIPEC 2026: Rotterdam seeks UAE partnership to drive energy transition with hydrogen and CCS investments
Abu Dhabi: Rotterdam is positioning itself as a long-term partner for the UAE’s energy transition, urging Gulf producers to start with blue hydrogen rather than wait for green, and inviting investors to tap CCS and hydrogen infrastructure that is already in place. The city’s mayor, Carola Schouten, is in Abu Dhabi for ADIPEC with a delegation of Dutch companies. Speaking to Gulf News, the mayor…
Rotterdam, Europe's largest port, is courting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to partner with it in the energy transition, focusing on blue hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) investments. Mayor Carola Schouten of Rotterdam is in Abu Dhabi for the ADIPEC conference, alongside a delegation of Dutch companies. Schouten emphasized the UAE's importance to the Netherlands, stating that she felt an immediate connection with the UAE's forward-thinking mentality.
The port of Rotterdam, which is Europe's gateway for energy imports, holds a 70 percent share in the Port of Sohar in Oman, indicating strong business ties. During her visit, Schouten highlighted Rotterdam's existing CCS infrastructure and plans to export green hydrogen from the UAE. She also encouraged Gulf producers to start with blue hydrogen, produced with carbon capture, rather than waiting for green hydrogen to become viable.
Rotterdam aims to become Europe's strongest port by 2050, reflecting its commitment to a greener energy system for future generations. The city plans to launch a "Women in Energy" initiative during ADIPEC, aiming to give female professionals in the sector more visibility and encourage collaboration. Schouten praised the UAE's ability to turn plans into action, expressing her desire to learn from the country's resilience and artificial intelligence initiatives.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
