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New opportunities in gas production to define future of Middle East energy giants

An employee walks on the Expedient regasification ship, anchored off the coast of Israel in the Mediterranean Sea on February 26, 2015, as natural gas began flowing from the vessel, hired by the Israel Electric Corporation, to its power stations. The ship, anchored about ten kilometres from the Hadera coast, was connected the previous week to the marine buoy and as of February 25, natural gas has begun flowing from the LNG (liquid natural gas) ship through an underwater pipeline directly to the company's po
To:

Al-Monitor Pro Members

From:

Dr. Karen E. Young

Senior Fellow, Director of the Program on Economics & Energy, Middle East Institute

Date:

June 30, 2022

Bottom line:

While there will continue to be a market for oil and associated petrochemical products for some time to come, the short- and medium-term opportunities in gas production will be transformational for some MENA states. For some, like Egypt and Israel, this is as a new net hydrocarbon exporter. And for others like Qatar, and neighbors UAE and Saudi Arabia, gas will be a source of longevity for resource-based income streams. The difference for the UAE is that domestic production will be combined with external investments and partnerships, creating new gas energy giants.