Egypt and the UAE are exploring ways to strengthen cooperation in the oil and natural gas sectors, with discussions covering investment, exploration, and field development, according to an official statement.
The discussions took place on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2026), where Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Hussein Eissa, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, met with Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
The meeting focused on reinforcing the two countries’ strategic economic partnership and identifying fresh investment opportunities across the energy sector.
Both sides highlighted the growing strength of Egyptian-Emirati relations and their established cooperation across several industries, particularly oil and gas. This includes the participation of Egyptian petroleum companies in projects in the UAE and increasing Emirati investment in Egypt’s energy sector.
Eissa reiterated Egypt’s commitment to expanding economic and investment ties with the UAE, noting that their longstanding strategic relationship plays an important role in advancing shared interests and strengthening regional energy security.
He also described ADIPEC as a key international platform for policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to exchange expertise and explore business opportunities. Egypt’s participation in the event, he added, provides an opportunity to highlight investment prospects in its energy sector and showcase the country’s capabilities in supporting sustainable development.
Badawi emphasized the importance of building on existing partnerships to unlock further opportunities in investment, exploration, research, and field development. He also highlighted the scope for increasing the involvement of Egyptian petroleum companies in UAE projects while benefiting from advanced technologies and technical expertise.
The discussions included expanding the role of Egyptian companies Engineering for the Petroleum and Process Industries (ENPPI) and Petroleum Projects and Technical Consultations Company (Petrojet) in projects led by ADNOC and its subsidiaries, particularly those scheduled for 2026–2028.
The two sides also reviewed Emirati investments in Egypt’s natural gas industry, particularly through Arcius Energy, a joint venture between ADNOC’s international investment arm XRG and bp.
Arcius Energy is involved in several projects, including the development of the Harmattan gas field and the West Atoll exploration well, as well as activities in the Zohr field and North Damietta concession. These developments are expected to help increase Egypt’s domestic natural gas production in 2026 and 2027.
On the exploration front, discussions covered opportunities for XRG and Arcius Energy to participate in developing untapped areas in the Mediterranean, take part in Egypt’s 2026 international bidding round, and explore potential opportunities in the Red Sea.
The meeting also addressed ADNOC Drilling’s interest in supporting Egypt’s five-year drilling programme through cooperation with the Egyptian Drilling Company (EDC). The proposed collaboration aims to increase drilling rig capacity and utilise advanced technologies and technical expertise to help achieve the programme’s objectives.
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