RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is turning to Germany to explore opportunities in hydrogen as the Kingdom is vying to be one of the largest players in the fuel of the future.
The Saudi Cabinet last night approved a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Energy and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy to explore opportunities in the hydrogen field, state news agency SPA said on Tuesday.
This agreement comes at a time when state-owned energy giant Saudi Aramco is planning to expand in production of blue hydrogen, while the futuristic project of NEOM is working on producing its first green hydrogen in 2025.
Although the agreement was signed yesterday, Germans were heavily involved and active over the past two years with Saudi counterparts on hydrogen discussions. NEOM has already a team of Germans leading its hydrogen unit, with Peter Terium, a Dutch energy executive and former Chief Executive Officer of innogy and RWE, as head of its energy sector.
Saudi Aramco said on Monday that it is looking for off-take agreements for blue hydrogen in its key markets to expand its output and sees strong potential for growth. Aramco is talking to potential buyers in Japan and South Korea, which it says will be major markets for the fuel, CEO Amin Nasser said on an investor call.
Blue hydrogen uses the traditional Haber-Bosch method of turning natural gas into hydrogen but captures the carbon emissions, while green hydrogen is created with renewable energy and water.
Hydrogen is converted into ammonia for long-distance transportation.
In September last year, Saudi Aramco and Japan’s Institute of Energy Economics (IEEJ) announced the first shipment of blue ammonia from Saudi Arabia to Japan.
The shipment, which was in partnership with Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), contained forty tons of high-grade blue ammonia, and is meant for use in zero-carbon power generation.
Nasser also said on Monday Saudi Aramco is in talks about renewable investments with the nation’s wealth fund PIF and Acwa Power.
Saudi Arabia explores hydrogen opportunities with Germany amid push for global market share
https://arab.news/juqj3
Saudi Arabia explores hydrogen opportunities with Germany amid push for global market share
- Saudi Ministry of Energy to work with Germany's Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy
- Saudi Aramco said on Monday that it is looking for off-take agreements for blue hydrogen in its key markets
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New Murabba seeks contractors for Mukaab Towers fit-outs: MEED
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s New Murabba Development Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has issued a request for information to gauge the market for modular and offsite fit-out solutions for its flagship Mukaab development, MEED reported on Wednesday.
The RFI was released on Jan. 26, with submissions due by Feb. 11. NMDC has also scheduled a market engagement meeting during the first week of February to discuss potential solutions with prospective contractors.
Sources close to the project told MEED that NMDC is “seeking experienced suppliers and contractors to advise on the feasibility, constraints, and execution strategy for using non-load-bearing modular systems for the four corner towers framing the Mukaab structure.” The feedback gathered from these discussions will be incorporated into later design and procurement decisions.
The four towers — two residential (North and South) and two mixed-use (East and West) — are integral to the Mukaab’s architectural layout. Each tower is expected to rise approximately 375 meters and span over 80 stories. Key modular elements under consideration include bathroom pods, kitchen pods, dressing room modules, panelized steel partition systems, and other offsite-manufactured fit-out solutions.
Early works on the Mukaab were completed last year, with NMDC preparing to award the estimated $1 billion contract for the main raft works. This was highlighted in a presentation by NMDC’s chief project delivery officer on Sept. 9, 2025, during the Future Projects Forum in Riyadh.
Earlier this month, US-based Parsons Corp. was awarded a contract by NMDC to provide design and construction technical support. Parsons will act as the lead design consultant for infrastructure, delivering services covering public buildings, infrastructure, landscaping, and the public realm at New Murabba. The firm will also support the development of the project’s downtown experience, which spans 14 million sq. meters of residential, workplace, and entertainment space.
The Parsons contract follows NMDC’s October 2025 agreements with three other US-based engineering firms for design work across the development. New York-headquartered Kohn Pedersen Fox was appointed to lead early design for the first residential community, while Aecom and Jacobs were selected as lead design consultants for the Mukaab district.
In August 2025, NMDC signed a memorandum of understanding with Falcons Creative Group, another US-based firm, to develop the creative vision and immersive experiences for the Mukaab project. Meanwhile, Beijing-based China Harbour Engineering Co. completed the excavation works for the Mukaab, and UAE-headquartered HSSG Foundation Contracting executed the foundation works.
