ADNOC Gas Sees Potential To Advance Ruwais LNG Commercial Start In 2028

ADNOC Gas is advancing several major LNG projects that aim to lift UAE export capacity and support long-term energy security, as the company adjusts its strategy to fast-changing global gas markets and works to keep its infrastructure ready, efficient and sustainable for future demand.

The Ruwais LNG project is central to this plan, with engineering and construction progressing faster than the current schedule. ADNOC Gas said this may allow commercial operations to start earlier than the planned second half of 2028, helping the company respond more quickly to shifting global LNG demand.

Once Ruwais LNG starts production, the UAE’s total LNG capacity is expected to reach about 15 million tonnes per year. Ruwais alone is designed to produce 9.6 million tonnes per year, making it a key element in ADNOC Gas’s target to secure reliable supply while keeping flexibility in how volumes are sold.

ADNOC Gas stated to Emirates News Agency (WAM) that it will acquire ADNOC’s stake in the Ruwais project upon completion, for an estimated US$5 billion. The company said this step will integrate Ruwais within its existing asset base and support a unified approach to operations and marketing.

The company has already signed long-term sales and purchase agreements covering more than 8 million tonnes per year of Ruwais output. Around 80 percent of the planned production is allocated to these long-term contracts, with the remaining volumes to be marketed on the spot market, mirroring the commercial model used at the Das Island LNG facility.

ADNOC Gas said this marketing balance is designed to secure stable value in the early operating years, while still allowing it to react to market price movements. The company also noted that global forecasts remain uncertain, as LNG supply and demand continue to change with economic trends and energy transition policies.

To prepare for an expected increase in global LNG supply in the second half of this year, ADNOC Gas has moved to secure more long-term contracts, particularly with customers in Asian markets. These agreements are structured to support effective placement of future Ruwais LNG volumes and help maintain stable returns despite price volatility.

Over the past three years, ADNOC Gas has signed a series of long-term LNG supply deals for annual volumes between 0.4 million and 1.2 million tonnes, with contract durations of up to 14 years. These deals broaden the customer base and strengthen the company’s role as a regular supplier of lower-emissions LNG to fast-growing Asian energy markets.

ADNOC Gas LNG facilities at Das Island and Ruwais

At Das Island, where ADNOC Gas has operated LNG facilities for nearly fifty years with capacity of around 6 million tonnes per year, the company completed a major upgrade programme last year. Works included expanding loading jetties so they can receive larger LNG carriers, improving export options and operational flexibility.

The next stage at Das Island will focus on a significant refurbishment of trains one and two to maintain reliability and extend asset life. ADNOC Gas said it remains committed to ongoing investment in this long-standing facility, although there are no current plans to expand capacity, reflecting the impact of evolving global LNG market conditions.

ADNOC Gas also highlighted that it is tracking global demand drivers, including expected increases from artificial intelligence data centres, which require more electricity and therefore more gas in many markets. These factors will guide future decisions on how to balance domestic gas needs with potential additional LNG exports.

ADNOC Gas LNG projects and Rich Gas Development phases

Alongside LNG-specific projects, ADNOC Gas confirmed that it is preparing to take the final investment decision on the second phase of the Rich Gas Development project. The first phase, approved in June 2025, is progressing on schedule and aims to add 1.5 billion cubic feet per day of gas processing capacity by 2027.

This first phase includes a broad debottlenecking programme across four major sites: Asab, Buhasa, Habshan and Das Island. The work is intended to remove constraints in existing units, improve efficiency and unlock additional throughput without immediately building entirely new facilities.

The second phase of Rich Gas Development will involve constructing a new fractionation unit, Train 5, at Ruwais. This unit is designed to produce liquefied petroleum gas, condensate and naphtha. A planned third phase will add a new gas processing train at the Habshan facility, further lifting processing capacity.

Key project data released by ADNOC Gas on its LNG and gas developments is summarised below.

ADNOC Gas stated that its wider growth strategy follows a staged plan. The company focuses first on maximising use of current capacity, then on removing operational bottlenecks to improve efficiency, and finally on adding new units only when needed to achieve the best possible utilisation of all assets.

Across LNG and gas projects, ADNOC Gas is aligning investment, marketing and operations to support long-term value for the UAE while responding to global trends. The company’s phased approach, contract portfolio and asset upgrades are intended to keep existing facilities reliable, expand future flexibility and balance domestic and export priorities.

With inputs from WAM