Abu Dhabi energy giant ADNOC has greenlit a US$6.2 billion (AU$9.3 billion) final investment decision to develop the massive Umm Shaif Gas Cap, accelerating its global gas growth strategy as international demand for cleaner energy continues to surge.
The major offshore expansion, delivered alongside international partners TotalEnergies, Eni, and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), aims to unlock more than 600 million standard cubic feet of natural gas and associated liquids per day.
The projected output equates to nearly 10 per cent of the United Arab Emirates’ current daily gas consumption, with first production slated for 2030.
The project highlights the UAE’s push to harness its status as home to the world’s seventh-largest gas reserves.
ADNOC expects the additional supply to bolster national energy security, support domestic industrial expansion and the growth of artificial intelligence infrastructure, while reinforcing its role as a key exporter to global markets.
ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said: “ADNOC is accelerating its integrated gas strategy to further harness the UAE’s vast gas resources and expand our global LNG platform.”
Al Jaber added that the venture builds on decades of responsible stewardship at Abu Dhabi’s longest-operating offshore field.
The US$6.2 billion commitment includes US$5.1 billion across three engineering, procurement, and construction contracts awarded to major UAE and international consortiums for large-scale offshore infrastructure.
Additionally, subsidiary ADNOC Drilling will execute a US$365 million, 14-well drilling program over 18 months using three existing rigs.
The investment follows the recent concession award for the Bab Gas Cap, expected to yield another 1.5 billion cubic feet per day, and aligns with ADNOC’s ambitious trading platform targeting 47 million tonnes of combined annual LNG capacity by 2035.
TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné said the decision aligns with the group’s long-term global growth strategy focused on low-cost, low-emissions resource extraction.
“Following the recent award of the Bab Gas Cap concession, this FID marks another important step in developing Abu Dhabi’s significant gas resources,” Pouyanné said.
“This development will contribute to TotalEnergies’ Upstream production beyond 2030 with low-cost and low-emissions resources.”
TotalEnergies holds a 20 per cent interest in the Umm Shaif and Nasr concession alongside ADNOC, which holds the majority 60 per cent, China National Petroleum Corporation and Eni, each with 10 per cent.
