UAE Launches First High-Purity Carbon Capture Plant in Ras Al Khaimah, Boosting Net Zero 2050 Goals
In a landmark step toward industrial decarbonization, Gulf Cryo, a regional leader in industrial gases and carbon capture solutions, and RAK Ceramics, one of the world’s largest ceramics manufacturers, have inaugurated the UAE’s first carbon capture and utilization (CCU) plant dedicated to high-purity CO₂ production.
The new facility captures CO₂ emissions from RAK Ceramics’ natural gas engines and transforms them into 99.99% pure, food-grade CO₂, supplying essential industries such as food and beverage, healthcare, agriculture, and energy.
A Circular Leap for UAE’s Industrial Sustainability
Inaugurated by Sheikh Saqr bin Saud Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK Ceramics, alongside Sami Huneidi, Chief Administrative Officer of Gulf Cryo, the project is the first of its kind in the UAE to generate merchant-market CO₂ locally.
By capturing around 17,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually, the plant directly supports both the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 target and Ras Al Khaimah’s Integrated Sustainability Strategy 2050.
Previously, Gulf Cryo imported CO₂ from its recovery facilities in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The new Ras Al Khaimah plant closes that loop—building a domestic circular carbon economy and ensuring a more sustainable, self-reliant CO₂ supply chain.
Decarbonization Through Innovation
Sami Huneidi highlighted Gulf Cryo’s commitment to advancing climate technology and industry reliability:
“At Gulf Cryo, we are driving the carbon economy by expanding our CO₂ capacities and supporting emerging technologies that rely on it. We deeply value RAK Ceramics’ leadership in sustainability and their partnership in this journey.”
RAK Ceramics Group CEO Abdallah Massaad underscored the collaboration’s long-term impact:
“Sustainability is central to our growth strategy. This partnership with Gulf Cryo is a major step in reducing our environmental footprint while aligning with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 vision.”
A Model for the Region
By combining cutting-edge purification technology with local industrial integration, the Ras Al Khaimah CCU plant demonstrates how private-sector innovation and cross-industry collaboration can reduce emissions directly at their source while creating economic and environmental value.
The facility not only supports Ras Al Khaimah’s sustainability roadmap but also sets a regional benchmark for carbon capture in manufacturing, showcasing how smart partnerships can turn industrial emissions into a future-ready resource.
