EGA’s Al Taweelah smelter entered emergency shutdown on 28 March when an Iranian attack on Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi led to a full evacuation of the Al Taweelah site.

EGA teams are progressively restoring and restarting each reduction cell, working along the three potlines at Al Taweelah in parallel. The first restored reduction cell was restarted on 26 May.

So far, 631 of the 1,262 reduction cells at Al Taweelah have been restarted.

After restart, a reduction cell typically takes a week to stabilise and reach full production. Some hot metal is used to restart subsequent reduction cells, with the balance delivered to EGA’s Casthouse to be cast into finished aluminium products.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said today: “With our sustained good progress, we continue to expect that we will reach full production at Al Taweelah smelter during Q1 2027. The restoration of Al Taweelah is the biggest challenge we have ever faced as a company. Thousands of dedicated colleagues are working around the clock to bring back Al Taweelah, and EGA, stronger than ever before.”

Following the emergency shutdown, molten aluminium froze in every reduction cell at Al Taweelah, leaving solid metal pads weighing up to 45 tonnes to be removed. Almost 80 per cent of reduction cells can then be restarted. The remaining reduction cells require repairs, potlining demolition and relining, based on the duration the reduction cells had been operating before the incident.

Periodically cutting out, repairing and relining reduction cells at the end of operating life is routine in aluminium smelting. Compared to the normal rolling maintenance programme, EGA has more than tripled its capacity to safely repair and restart reduction cells at Al Taweelah through optimising workflows, adding equipment, strengthening people capability, and innovating new industrial processes.

During the restoration, EGA has accelerated the deployment of a new technology pilot at Al Taweelah that would otherwise have required operating reduction cells to be shutdown during construction. The pilot E40 upgrades to 13 DX technology reduction cells will be used to prove the performance of the technology before industrialisation across all 808 DX technology cells at Al Taweelah.

If applied to all DX reduction cells, EGA’s E40 technology has the potential to increase hot metal production by 67 thousand tonnes per year.

Al Taweelah alumina refinery continues to produce alumina at approximately 50 per cent capacity. While the alumina refinery is technically ready to ramp-up further, timing will be based on supply chain dynamics and the optimisation of EGA’s alumina sourcing strategy.

Over 44,000 students from more than 170 schools across the UAE have participated in EGA’s Engineer the Future programme since its launch in 2017.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics are vital fields for the UAE’s industrial future. EGA employs over 1,500 STEM experts, including more than 500 UAE Nationals.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Building a globally competitive industrial economy requires a strong pipeline of scientific and engineering talent. Through EGA’s Engineer the Future programme, we are helping students explore STEM and discover how they can apply these skills to solve real-world challenges, advance UAE industry and shape the nation’s future.”

EGA’s Engineer the Future programme enables students from grades nine to 12 to explore STEM concepts and learn how they are applied in industry. Female students account for 63 per cent of the programme’s participants.

The programme aims to bridge the gap between classrooms and industry through an interactive learning experience covering themes from sustainability, circular economy to industry 4.0 and innovation.

EGA’s Engineer the Future programme is delivered in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Education.

As part of Engineer the Future, EGA annually hosts the EGA Aluminium Design and Innovation Challenge. The challenge invites students in grades nine to 12 to apply their STEM knowledge to develop innovative aluminium-based solutions for real-world applications. Throughout the four-month programme, participating teams received mentorship from EGA engineers and access to specialised resources and technical guidance to support the development of their projects.

In the 2025/2026 academic year, some 1,200 students in 352 teams from 105 schools across the UAE took part in the EGA Aluminium Design and Innovation Challenge. Finalists were invited to present innovative aluminium-focused concepts from across four categories: architecture, product design, sustainable mobility, and space solutions.

During the same period, more than 7,000 students from schools across the UAE participated in Engineer the Future.

Some 66 thousand tonnes of bauxite were loaded onto a Panamax vessel at Kamsar in late August.

The renewed agreement between EGA and Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée is for up to 4.9 million tonnes per year of bauxite until 2044.

Bauxite is the feedstock for alumina refineries.

His Excellency Bouna Sylla, Minister of Mines and Geology of the Republic of Guinea, said: “The first bauxite shipment of Guinean bauxite to the UAE following the entry into force of the Global Settlement Agreement marks an important milestone in a new relationship that strengthens trade relations between the parties, in line with the vision and enlightened leadership of His Excellency President Mamadi Doumbouya, as reflected in the Simandou 2040 Programme. We are glad that EGA continue to be a customer for Guinean high-quality bauxite”.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “We look forward to contributing to the prosperity of Guinea and its people as a long-term bauxite customer, and to continuing to use high-quality Guinean bauxite in our operations as part of our diversified and resilient bauxite supply portfolio.”

EGA, Guinea Alumina Corporation and the Republic of Guinea (represented by the Minister of Mines and Geology and the Minister of Economy, Finance and Budget) reached an agreement in May to definitively settle disputes arising from the cessation of GAC's activities in Guinea and the interruption of Guinean bauxite supplies to EGA. The agreement was closed in late August after various conditions precedent were met.

The amicable settlement was reached through a formal conciliation process conducted under the auspices of the incumbent President (Bâtonnier) of the Paris Bar Association, Me. Louis Degos.

EGA’s recruitment team invited more than 300 candidates to attend the company’s upcoming open day interviews. Successful candidates are expected to join EGA before the end of 2026.

Most of the applicants are aiming to join EGA’s National Training and Graduate Training programmes, which prepare high school leavers and university graduates for permanent roles within EGA’s operations and corporate departments.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Fostering Emirati talent is essential to EGA’s future and the continued growth of UAE industry in line with Operation 300bn. We are pleased with the strong interest in joining EGA from young people at Ru’ya Careers UAE. EGA has a long-standing commitment to developing UAE Nationals, equipping them with the skills, experience, and opportunity to build rewarding careers and take on technical and leadership roles across industry.”

So far this year, EGA has hired 110 UAE Nationals, including 51 women. More than 1,200 UAE Nationals now work at EGA. Over 700 of EGA’s Emirati employees are under the age of 35.

As a UAE industrial gender diversity champion, EGA today employs 833 women in the UAE, including 462 UAE Nationals. More than 408 women at EGA hold operational roles, with Emiratis representing over 44 per cent of women in operations.

EGA’s National Training programmes develop high school leavers for technical roles in the company’s industrial operations and administration. More than 5,000 UAE Nationals have graduated from these programmes since they were first established in 1982, with many then having long and successful careers with EGA and some reaching senior leadership positions.

EGA’s Graduate Training programme is for university graduates. Graduate trainees complete 18 or 24 months of training for supervisory positions in corporate functions or in industrial operations in front-line roles, such as tending reduction cells. EGA currently employs 58 graduate trainees, which includes 19 women.

In 2025, over 220 UAE Nationals joined EGA, including 112 women. Over 80 per cent of 2025 UAE National recruits joined roles in EGA’s operations.

So far in 2026, the company has participated in 61 career and recruitment events, including major career fairs and EGA-led recruitment open days conducted internally and with government partners.

The agreement is part of EGA’s strategy to further strengthen the efficiency and resilience of its outbound logistics, supporting the company’s continued growth and its ability to serve customers in global markets. EGA’s aluminium is the biggest made-in-the-UAE export after oil and gas.

Under the agreement, EGA will route up to 250 thousand tonnes of aluminium from the UAE’s East Coast in the first year, increasing to up to 300 thousand tonnes in the second year. Volumes could increase further in subsequent years.

Gulftainer will further develop port capabilities to accommodate EGA’s requirements.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “EGA is the biggest ‘premium aluminium’ producer in the world, and our customers in more than 50 countries need our metal. We have already made considerable progress diversifying our outbound logistics to ensure reliable deliveries. Today’s agreement with Gulftainer is another important step forward.”

Farid Belbouab, Group CEO of Gulftainer, said: “This agreement goes far beyond logistics – it is about building resilience for UAE trade. By enabling Emirates Global Aluminium’s increasing logistics demand through the UAE’s East Coast, we are providing a strategic, efficient and reliable gateway to global markets. It underscores Gulftainer’s fully integrated platform in serving the nation’s most strategic industries.”

EGA supplies aluminium to more than 400 customers in over 50 countries worldwide. In 2025, EGA sold more than 2.83 million tonnes of cast metal.

The pilot upgrades to 13 DX technology reduction cells will be used to prove the performance of the new technology, called E40, before industrialisation across all 808 DX technology reduction cells at potlines 1 and 2 at Al Taweelah.

If applied to all 808 reduction cells, EGA’s E40 technology has the potential to increase hot metal production from the two potlines by 67 thousand tonnes per year, while reducing net specific energy consumption and associated carbon dioxide emissions from power generation by approximately six per cent per tonne of metal produced.

EGA has accelerated the E40 pilot programme to install the technology upgrades during the ongoing restoration of Al Taweelah, which was significantly damaged when Iranian strikes on Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi led to an emergency shutdown.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Continuous improvement has long been fundamental to how we operate at EGA. We do not only use EGA technology for greenfield projects, but also to progressively produce more aluminium from our existing assets with greater efficiency and lower environmental impact. Accelerating the E40 pilot programme at Al Taweelah is one way we are emerging from the challenges of 2026 stronger than ever before.”

EGA has developed its own aluminium smelting technology in the UAE for more than 30 years and has used EGA technology in every smelter expansion since the 1990s. EGA also has a long history of retrofitting older production lines with in-house developed technology upgrades.

EGA completed a three-year, $300 million project in 2017 to replace reduction cells in older production lines at its Jebel Ali smelter with the company’s own UAE-developed technology, boosting production capacity and reducing costs and environmental emissions.

Elsewhere at Al Taweelah, EGA is piloting its latest, 10th-generation EX smelting technology, which is amongst the most efficient aluminium smelting technologies in the world. The pilot is a key step towards preparing EX for large-scale industrialisation in greenfield projects, including in Oklahoma where EGA plans to build the first new primary aluminium smelter in the United States since 1980.

EGA announced its intention to acquire the majority stake in Eco Green in April. The transaction has now cleared all required regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

EGA is growing a global aluminium recycling business to help meet the world’s increasing demand for low carbon aluminium. With Eco Green, EGA now has more than 400 thousand tonnes per year of aluminium recycling capacity in the UAE, the United States, Germany and Italy, with a further 200 thousand tonnes of capacity under development.

Industry analysts expect around half of all aluminium demand to be met with recycled metal by 2040. Europe, excluding Russia, is the world’s third-largest recycled aluminium market after the United States and China.

EGA is also a major primary aluminium supplier to Europe, selling around 600 thousand tonnes per year of primary aluminium to European industries.

Eco Green was founded by the Scappini family in 1993. The family remain minority shareholders, and members of the management team. The company will be rebranded as EGA Eco Green.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Eco Green makes EGA an even better partner for Europe’s green future and further expands our growing global aluminium recycling business. Eco Green also brings us capability in Europe’s aluminium scrap market, which is important for our expanding recycling operations in the continent. I welcome everyone working at the Eco Green to EGA and an even brighter future as part of the biggest ‘premium aluminium’ producer in the world.”

Luca Scappini, Chief Executive Officer of Eco Green, said: “At Eco Green, we are proud of what we have achieved, growing our company into a leading aluminium recycling business in Italy over more than three decades. Becoming part of EGA unlocks our potential for further growth, as a key pillar of EGA’s expanding European aluminium recycling network. It will enable us to deliver even better products and services to our customers. And it creates further opportunities for our people. We are glad to join the EGA family.”

Eco Green has two plants in northeast Italy and specialises in aluminium scrap collection, sorting and casting, and dross processing. The company distributes a total of more than 70 thousand tonnes per year.

In Villafranca di Verona, Eco Green collects, sorts and distributes approximately 23 thousand tonnes of aluminium scrap annually.

Some of this scrap is supplied to the Eco Green plant in nearby Nogara di Verona, which casts more than 20 thousand tonnes of secondary sows per year. The furnace at Nogara di Verona has a nameplate capacity of 30 thousand tonnes per year. The plant also processes dross.

Eco Green is expanding the Nogara di Verona facility to add 20 thousand tonnes per year of recycled aluminium capacity. The expansion is expected to be complete in December 2026.

Eco Green has more than 60 customers across Europe, and a network of more than 350 aluminium scrap suppliers.

In Germany, EGA acquired EGA Leichtmetall in 2024. In December, EGA announced a major expansion project that will increase EGA Leichtmetall’s recycling capacity more than six-fold, adding 110 thousand tonnes per year of scrap sorting capacity and 150 thousand tonnes per year of melting and casting capacity.

Also in 2024,.EGA acquired 80 per cent of EGA Spectro Alloys in the United States. EGA Spectro Alloys completed an expansion in July 2025, bringing its total production capacity to 165 thousand tonnes per year of recycled aluminium ingots and billets. A second expansion phase, adding a further 35 thousand tonnes of billet capacity, is under development, with first hot metal expected in 2027.

In the UAE, EGA is currently ramping up production at the new Al Taweelah recycling plant, the country’s largest aluminium recycling facility with a capacity of 185 thousand tonnes per year.

The agreement was signed in the presence of NALCO Chairman-cum-Managing Director Brijendra Pratap Singh, and EGA CEO Abdulnasser Bin Kalban by Abdalla Zarouni, EGA Acting Executive Vice President Midstream of Emirates Global Aluminium, and Biju K, Chief General Manager (Projects) of NALCO.

Jagdish Arora, NALCO Director (Projects & Technical) and Abhay Behuria, NALCO Director (Finance) attended the signing ceremony.

NALCO will build a 500,000 tonnes per year brownfield smelter expansion in Anugola, Odisha using EGA’s technology. NALCO selected EGA as the technology provider for the project through a bidding process.

The project will more than double NALCO’s aluminium production. First aluminium production is expected by the end of 2030.

EGA’s DX+ Ultra is amongst the most efficient aluminium smelting technology in the world.

Brijendra Pratap Singh, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of NALCO, said: “We are glad EGA, a technology champion in the global aluminium industry, is our smelting technology partner for the Anugola expansion project. With EGA’s DX+ Ultra, this project will be one of the most efficient aluminium smelters in India. We look forward to the support of EGA’s technologists throughout construction and start-up to ensure the successful deployment of EGA’s technology in India.”

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said; “EGA’s industry-leading technology development has been an essential part of the competitiveness of our own aluminium production for decades. We are also the technology provider of choice for our global industry, creating further revenue streams for our company. NALCO’s selection of EGA’s smelting technology for its Anugola expansion is another milestone in this important journey. We look forward to working with NALCO as their technology provider to make this project a great success.”

Under the agreement, EGA will provide NALCO a license to use DX+ Ultra technology to build the reduction cells for 0.5 million tonnes per annum of capacity at the Anugola smelter, and provide EGA experts’ support for the development of the project. EGA will also train NALCO employees to operate the EGA-designed reduction cells.

EGA has developed its own aluminium smelting technology in the UAE for more than 30 years, over 10 technology generations. All EGA’s smelter expansions since the 1990s have used EGA technology, and the company has retrofitted all its older production lines.

EGA was the first UAE industrial company to license its core process technology internationally, in a major milestone for the development of a UAE knowledge economy. In 2016, EGA successfully licensed its DX+ Ultra smelting technology to Aluminium Bahrain for its Line 6 expansion project.

EGA today employs 833 women in the UAE, including 462 UAE Nationals. More than 408 women at EGA hold operational roles, with Emiratis representing over 44 per cent of women in operations.

The company continues to expand opportunities for women across all areas of the business, including operations, technical roles, leadership positions, and corporate functions, supporting the UAE's vision to increase female participation in the industrial sector.

EGA also continues to advance gender diversity beyond its own operations through the Challenger Programme, a collaborative initiative launched by EGA in 2023 that brings together leading industrial companies to address common barriers faced by women in industry and accelerate meaningful change across the sector.

Through the Challenger Programme, participating companies are working together on practical initiatives that support inclusive recruitment, career development, retention, and workplace culture. Recent efforts have included the development of shared resources and tools to help companies implement best practices for fostering more inclusive industrial workplaces.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: "Emirati Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise the remarkable contribution of Emirati women to EGA, our industry, and the nation. We are proud of the progress we have made in gender diversity at EGA, particularly in operational and technical roles. Our ambition is not only to increase participation but also to ensure women have the support, development opportunities, and environment they deserve to succeed and thrive. Through our own initiatives and collaborations such as the Challenger Programme, we remain committed to helping build a more diverse and inclusive industrial sector for future generations."

In 2022, EGA opened to women for the first time its long-standing National Training programmes for front-line roles in industrial operations. In the first full year following the change, women accounted for some 20 per cent of new joiners. By 2025, over 40 per cent of new National Trainees were women.

EGA is a signatory to the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles and remains committed to advancing gender diversity across its business. Through attracting, developing, and supporting female talent, EGA continues to champion women’s participation and leadership in industry, contributing to the UAE’s vision for a more inclusive and competitive economy.

EGA’s Al Taweelah sustained significant damage on 28 March when an Iranian attack on Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi led to an emergency shutdown of all EGA’s facilities on the site.

To restore hot metal production, EGA must progressively repair and restart each reduction cell. Some 315 out of the 1,262 reduction cells have now been restarted.

EGA is working on all three potlines at Al Taweelah in parallel to accelerate the rate of reduction cell start-ups. Potline 1 was energised on 26 May, potline 3 on 13 July and potline 2 on 3 August.

After restart, a reduction cell typically takes a week to stabilise and reach full production. Some hot metal is used to restart subsequent reduction cells, with the balance delivered to EGA’s Al Taweelah Casthouse to be cast into finished ‘premium aluminium’ products.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “The restoration of production at Al Taweelah is the biggest challenge we have ever faced at EGA. This work is led by a dedicated team of experts, and we are applying decades of experience as well as innovative new methods to make safe progress as fast as possible. Our continued strong progress gives us confidence that we will reach full production in Q1 2027.”

Around 1,000 people are currently working on the restoration of hot metal production at Al Taweelah smelter.

Al Taweelah alumina refinery continues to produce at around 50 per cent capacity. The pace of further ramp-up of alumina production will be determined by supply chain considerations and the optimisation of EGA's alumina sourcing strategy. The continued recovery of aluminium production at Al Taweelah smelter is not dependent on the refinery returning to full capacity.

Production ramp-up at EGA’s new Al Taweelah recycling plant continues on track, with full production expected by late Q4 2026.

_{*Financial and operating data presented in this table relate to Emirates Global Aluminium’s integrated aluminium business, including alumina refining, primary aluminium smelting and recycling operations, across the UAE and international locations.
**Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Profit exclude the impact related to the Iranian attack on KEZAD which led to an emergency shutdown
***Cast metal production is all finished products from EGA’s primary and recycling plants worldwide.
****Low carbon primary is metal sold under the product brands CelestiAL solar aluminium, CelestiAL-R solar aluminium sweetened with secondary content, MinimAL aluminium made with nuclear power, and MinimAL-R aluminium made with nuclear power sweetened with secondary content.
*****Recycling is aluminium sold under the RevivAL product brand, and is remelted post-consumer and pre-consumer aluminium scrap usually blended with a proportion of primary aluminium to achieve the metallurgical properties required by customers.}

United Arab Emirates, 12 August 2026: Emirates Global Aluminium, the world’s largest ‘premium aluminium’ producer, today announced resilient financial performance in the first half of 2026, despite logistical and geopolitical disruptions arising from the regional conflict in the Gulf since March.

EGA delivered Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) of AED 4,506 million ($1,227 million), up 11 per cent compared with AED 4,065 million ($1,107 million) in H1 2025 driven by higher realised aluminium prices, stronger regional premiums, lower alumina prices and disciplined cost management.

Adjusted EBITDA margin was 33 per cent in H1 2026, compared with 27 per cent in H1 2025.  

After recognising an AED 84 million ($23 million) impact related to an Iranian attack on KEZAD which led to an emergency shutdown, reported EBITDA was AED 4,422 million ($1,204 million).

Adjusted net profit increased by 34 per cent to AED 2,462 million ($670 million), compared with AED 1,836 million ($500 million) in H1 2025, reflecting strong EBITDA generation, coupled with lower net financial charges and lower taxes.

Reported net income was AED 1,737 million ($473 million) in H1 2026, after recognising a net impact of AED 725 million ($197 million) related to the incident.

EGA continues to demonstrate its commitment to shareholder returns, with the Board approving an H1 2026 interim dividend of AED 1,726 million ($470 million), representing a 70 per cent payout ratio to adjusted net income.

Revenue decreased to AED 13,544 million ($3,688 million) in H1 2026 from AED 15,079 million ($4,106 million) in H1 2025, due to lower sales volumes following the incident at Al Taweelah, partially offset by higher realised aluminium prices.

Cast metal production decreased to 1,006 thousand tonnes in H1 2026 from 1,420 thousand tonnes in H1 2025, primarily due to reduced production at Al Taweelah. Jebel Ali maintained uninterrupted production throughout the period.

Total aluminium sales were down 32 per cent to 939 thousand tonnes in H1 2026, compared with 1,373 thousand tonnes in H1 2025. Logistics constraints arising from the regional conflict led to the temporary suspension of new outbound shipments from the UAE in March and an increase in domestic metal inventories. EGA has since established alternative export routes through ports outside the Strait of Hormuz. This has enabled a gradual increase in shipment capacity and a reduction in UAE stockpiles.

Recovery to pre-incident shipment levels is currently expected to be contingent on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, although the ongoing development of alternative corridors is expected to reduce reliance on the strait over the longer term.

EGA secured its inbound logistics, ensuring raw material deliveries exceed the requirements of Jebel Ali and the restart at Al Taweelah. This enabled the rebuilding of strategic inventories and reinforced operational continuity.

EGA continues to execute a comprehensive and disciplined restoration programme at Al Taweelah, which was significantly damaged on 28 March when Iranian attacks on Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi led to an emergency shutdown of all facilities.

Basic utilities have been restored across the site, with natural gas and electricity availability projected to ramp up in line with the needs of the restart programme.

To resume hot metal production at Al Taweelah smelter, EGA must progressively restore each of the 1,262 reduction cells. The first restored reduction cell was restarted on 26 May at Potline 1. EGA has energised all three potlines now, marking an important milestone in the restoration effort and ramp-up of operations at Al Taweelah. As of Monday, 227 reduction cells, 18 per cent of the total, had been successfully restarted.

Hot metal production is expected to gradually ramp up as reduction cells are progressively restored and is expected to reach pre-incident levels in Q1 2027. EGA is working to accelerate this timeline.

Ramp-up of production at the new Al Taweelah recycling plant initially began in February. After the incident, ramp-up resumed in May. The recycling plant is currently running at approximately 10 per cent capacity. Ramp-up to full production is expected by late Q4 2026.

Al Taweelah alumina refinery produced 602 thousand tonnes of alumina in H1 2026, compared with 1,142 thousand tonnes in H1 2025, due to the shutdown of production on 28 March. Production restarted in early July and reached 50 per cent of pre-incident production levels within days. The pace of further ramp-up will be determined by supply chain considerations and the optimisation of EGA's alumina sourcing strategy. The continued recovery of aluminium production at Al Taweelah smelter is not dependent on the refinery returning to full capacity.

The capital expenditure required to restore production at Al Taweelah is expected to be approximately AED 1.5 billion ($400 million), with most of the expenditure expected during 2026 and some during 2027.

From 2026, EGA embarked on the second phase of its improvement programme, Najah 2.0. As part of the programme, EGA delivered AED 353 million ($96 million) in improvements in H1 2026 compared with the 2024 baseline, driven by alumina refinery improvements, efficiency gains and procurement savings. EGA is targeting AED 1.6 billion ($440 million) in annual improvements by 2030.

In response to regional uncertainty, EGA has implemented additional cash preservation measures to reduce discretionary costs and support cash‑flow generation in 2026.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “The first half of 2026 was the most challenging period in the long history of EGA. The safety and wellbeing of our people was our first priority throughout, and I thank our teams for their dedication in the most difficult of circumstances. Our financial and operational results demonstrate the resilience of EGA and our people. Despite significant logistics challenges, our supply chain is robust, and we continue to make deliveries to customers. We are making strong progress in the restoration of production at Al Taweelah. We are also advancing our global growth strategy. EGA will come back stronger than ever before.”

EGA sustained its focus on workforce safety, recording a Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate of 1.26 per million hours worked in H1 2026. EGA also continued to advance its environmental agenda, growing its low-carbon CelestiAL and MinimAL product lines and progressing its long-term decarbonisation strategy, while maintaining Aluminium Stewardship Initiative certification across its UAE operations.

EGA continued to progress primary aluminium growth through the Oklahoma Primary Aluminum project. In Q1 2026, Century Aluminum signed a joint development agreement with EGA to join the project as a minority partner, with EGA owning 60 per cent of the joint venture and Century owning the remaining 40 per cent.

During the period, the project advanced key commercial, permitting and technical workstreams towards the start of construction and first aluminium production is expected by the end of the decade. The 750 thousand tonnes per year plant is expected to be the first new smelter built in the United States since 1980, doubling American primary aluminium production. The plant will use EGA’s latest EX technology, the most advanced ever installed in the United States.

The United States’ Section 232 aluminium tariffs remained a key feature of the global aluminium market. In July 2026, the US Government announced additional measures under the Section 232 framework aimed at encouraging domestic primary aluminium production, while maintaining the broader tariff regime. The programme will request onshoring plans from companies that, if approved, will be eligible to import primary aluminium at half the prevailing Section 232 duties of a quantity that corresponds to the American production facility’s anticipated annual output.  

On recycling growth, EGA is advancing its planned acquisition of an 80 per cent stake in Italian aluminium recycling company Eco Green, as part of the company's strategy to expand its global aluminium recycling footprint and accelerate growth in Europe. The transaction has received regulatory approvals and is expected to close later this quarter.

Upon completion, the transaction increases EGA’s recycling capacity to more than 400 thousand tonnes per year in the UAE, Europe and the United States, with an additional 200 thousand tonnes of capacity under development in Europe and the US. EGA markets its recycled aluminium globally under the brand RevivAL. In H1 2026, EGA sold 47 thousand tonnes of RevivAL recycled aluminium compared with 46 thousand tonnes in H1 2025.

EGA sold 44 thousand tonnes of CelestiAL solar aluminium and nine thousand tonnes of MinimAL produced with nuclear power in H1 2026, in line with 53 thousand tonnes of low carbon primary aluminium sales in H1 2025.

Pål Kildemo, Chief Financial Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “EGA’s financial strength and disciplined Najah improvement and cash preservation programme position us well to complete the restoration of Al Taweelah while continuing to advance our strategic growth priorities, which include a good mix of organic and inorganic opportunities. Our financial position is also supported by underlying aluminium market fundamentals, which have entered a period of deficit supporting our margins.” 

In Q1 2026, EGA completed multi-tranche debt financing of AED 18.4 billion ($5 billion). The financing combined conventional and Shariah-compliant facilities arranged with a group of 21 leading regional and international banks, including term loans and revolving credit facilities with tenors of up to five years. The transaction strengthens EGA’s balance sheet and debt maturity profile, enhancing liquidity and providing additional financial flexibility for strategic growth. The company has undrawn available revolving credit facility of AED 3.67 billion ($1 billion) and cash and term deposits of AED 6.07 billion ($1.65 billion) as of 30 June 2026.

EGA continues to make progress towards closing the sale of its Al Taweelah power assets, a strategic transaction designed to unlock value, strengthen the company's capital position and support its long-term decarbonisation strategy. Financing commitments remain in place, and discussions are ongoing to address the remaining closing requirements ahead of financial close. EGA expects to receive $1.7 billion of proceeds post-closing of this transaction.

EGA also continued to strengthen the long-term resilience of its supply chain through further localisation.

In May, EGA signed a long-term agreement with TA'ZIZ for the domestic supply of approximately 200,000 dry metric tonnes per year from Q4 2028 of caustic soda, a critical raw material for alumina refining. TA'ZIZ is the first major domestic supplier of this input to EGA's Al Taweelah alumina refinery.

In June, EGA and AD Ports Group signed an agreement to jointly invest AED 84 million in a multi-phase upgrade of EGA's dedicated berth at Khalifa Port, expected by August 2028. EGA also signed an agreement with ADNOC Distribution for the supply of locally blended industrial lubricants, reinforcing EGA's commitment to in-country value.

The average London Metal Exchange aluminium price was $3,382 per tonne in H1 2026, up from $2,538 per tonne in H1 2025.

Regional premiums were highly volatile in H1 2026.

In Japan, the MJP index averaged around $282 per tonne in H1 2026 compared with around $169 per tonne in H1 2025.

In Europe, the MB premium averaged around $413 per tonne in H1 2026 compared with around $214 per tonne in H1 2025.  

In the United States, the MW premium averaged around $2,405 per tonne in H1 2026 compared with around $857 per tonne in H1 2025.

Cash flow from operations was AED 1,484 million ($404 million), compared with AED 3,441 million ($937 million) in H1 2025. Operating cash flow was impacted by a strategic build-up of inventory to support continued operations at both the Al Taweelah and Jebel Ali plants during the restoration and ramp-up period.

Total debt was AED 18.1 billion ($4.9 billion) in H1 2026 compared with AED 16.9 billion ($4.6 billion) in H1 2025.

Conducted in collaboration with R&D Carbon, a leading Swiss consultancy specialising in carbon technology and process improvement for the aluminium industry, the programme provides participants the opportunity to design and implement innovative solutions to advance EGA’s Carbon & Port operations.

Applying their technical knowledge to tackle real-world industrial challenges, each participant was also asked to develop an individual thesis and present their findings as part of the graduation ceremony.

In attendance was Werner Fischer, Founder of R&D Carbon, who congratulated the graduates on both the quality of their work and the delivery of their projects. Joining the graduates at the ceremony from EGA were Iman Al Qasim, Executive Vice President of Human Capital, and Amer Al Marzooqi, Senior Vice President of Carbon & Port Operations.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Developing the next generation of UAE National technical talent is essential to EGA’s future success and the continued growth of our nation’s industrial economy. This programme enables our engineers to deepen their expertise while developing practical solutions to real operational challenges. I congratulate our graduates and look forward to the enhanced impact they will make in operations at EGA.”

Amer Al Marzooqi, Senior Vice President of Carbon & Port Operations at Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “The programme was designed to serve as a bridge for transferring nearly 50 years of technical expertise to a new generation of UAE National engineers. The success of the first class demonstrated the true value of this investment through its tangible impact on strengthening technical knowledge, embedding best practices, and enhancing operational performance. Building on that success, the second cohort reflects EGA’s long-term commitment to developing the technical capabilities of our people and investing in national talent, ensuring our workforce is equipped to drive innovation and operational excellence across our Carbon & Port operations.”

Aspiring to be the industrial employer of choice in the countries it operates in, EGA offers technical development programmes for employees, including in collaboration with leading international partners from academia and industry peers.

In 2025, EGA launched the EGA Academy, a capability building and career development platform that delivers high-impact learning and development opportunities for EGA employees at all levels. EGA Academy offers employees access to programmes designed to develop the technical, professional, and leadership skills required to thrive in today’s fast-evolving industrial environment.

During the event, EGA showcased a range of career opportunities for UAE Nationals, with a particular focus on attracting high school graduates for the company’s National Training programmes. University graduates who visited EGA’s stand were considered for opportunities within the Graduate Training programme.

Following the event, all applications will be reviewed and assessed through EGA’s recruitment process, with shortlisted candidates progressing through screening, assessment and interview stages.

EGA’s National Training programmes develop high school graduates for technical roles in the company’s industrial operations and administration. More than 5,000 UAE Nationals have graduated from these programmes since they were first established in 1982, with many then having long and successful careers with EGA and some reaching senior leadership positions.

EGA’s Graduate Training programme is for university graduates. Graduate trainees complete 18 or 24 months of training for supervisory positions in corporate functions or in industrial operations in front-line roles, such as tending reduction cells.

In 2025, over 220 UAE Nationals joined EGA, including 112 women. Over 80 per cent of 2025 UAE National recruits joined roles in EGA’s operations.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “We are proud to see so many young National Service graduates choosing to apply to EGA to build their futures. Working at EGA gives young people the opportunity to contribute to the achievement of the UAE's industrial ambitions and further strengthen of our nation. For EGA, our success has always depended on attracting the best people and developing them over the long-term to lead. I look forward to welcoming these new recruits to EGA.”

EGA already has one of the highest Emiratisation rates of any major company on a like-for-like basis accounting for the high proportion of blue-collar roles in heavy industry.

More than 1,200 UAE Nationals now work at EGA. Over 700 of EGA’s Emirati employees are under the age of 35.

EGA has participated in 51 career events so far in 2026, including both major fairs and EGA-led recruitment open days conducted internally and also in collaboration with Dubai Government Human Resources Department, Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Department of Government Enablement, the HR Department of the Ras Al Khaimah Government, and the HR Department of the Fujairah Government.

Alumina production is expected to ramp-up to 50 per cent of plant capacity within days.

EGA expects to have the technical capability to ramp-up to full alumina production by the end of this year. The timing of further production ramp-up at Al Taweelah alumina refinery will be based on supply chain dynamics and the optimisation of EGA’s alumina sourcing strategy. The ramp-up of aluminium production at Al Taweelah smelter does not depend on full ramp-up at Al Taweelah alumina refinery.

Al Taweelah alumina refinery produced 2.4 million tonnes of alumina in 2025, and met 46 per cent of EGA’s alumina needs. Alumina is the feedstock for aluminium smelters.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “First alumina production from Al Taweelah alumina refinery is another big milestone in our journey to restore EGA’s Al Taweelah site to its position as one of the most important aluminium production complexes in the world. The dedication and agility of the team at Al Taweelah alumina refinery has enabled us to reach this milestone safely and quickly.”

Production at Al Taweelah alumina refinery was suspended on 28 March after Iranian attacks on Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi. Al Taweelah alumina refinery began producing hydrate, the precursor product of alumina, on 24 June.

Al Taweelah alumina refinery is located next to Al Taweelah smelter. Alumina is transferred to storage and then into the smelter by a system of conveyor belts. Al Taweelah alumina refinery originally began production in 2019.

The new companies join existing members ADNOC, Ducab, EMSTEEL, ENEC, Strata, TAQA, and TechnipFMC.

Founded by EGA in 2023, the Challenger Programme focuses on shared challenges ranging from encouraging more women to work in science, technology engineering and mathematics fields, to promoting inclusivity in industrial workplaces, to mentorship for young women in industry.

EGA has championed gender diversity in industry snice the start of this decade, setting itself ambitious goals to increase women’s role in the company’s workforce. Today EGA employs over 830 women with more than 60 per cent working in operational roles.. A quarter of all supervisory roles at EGA are held by women, a goal EGA set itself in 2021 to achieve by the end of 2025.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer at Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Diverse organisations perform better, making increasing the role of women at traditionally male-dominated industrial companies a business improvement opportunity as well as the right thing to do for society. We can make even faster progress if major industrial companies work together on this, so I am glad to welcome more of the UAE’s industrial champions to the Challenger Programme.”

Amel Chadli, Cluster President, Gulf Countries of Schneider Electric : “Building a more inclusive industrial sector requires collaboration and shared commitment. Through the Challenger Programme, we are proud to work alongside leading organisations across the UAE to develop inclusive leaders, share best practices, through coaching & Mentorship and create more opportunities for leaders to thrive. Together, we are helping shape a stronger, more diverse industrial workforce for the future."

Abdallah Massaad, Group CEO, RAK Ceramics, said: “Creating an inclusive workplace is not only the right thing to do ,  it is essential for building stronger businesses and stronger communities. RAK Ceramics is proud to join the EGA Challenger Programme and work alongside like-minded organizations to advance gender diversity across the industrial sector. Through collaboration, shared learning, and collective action, we can create more opportunities for women and shape a future where our industry reflects the diversity of the society it serves.”

Thierry Dezenclos, CEO Veolia UAE, said: “Veolia is proud to support the EGA Challenger Program and its focus on inclusion and diversity for women in heavy industry. At Veolia, we believe that the future of industry must be built with diverse talents, perspectives, and leadership, and that women have a vital role to play in shaping a more innovative, resilient, and sustainable industrial sector."

Romain Crouzit, Managing Director of Delta Plus Middle East, said: “It is a true pleasure to be part of the Challenger Programme, alongside some of the UAE’s most reputable and visionary organizations. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn, collaborate and contribute with such an inspiring network, and I look forward to the progresses we can achieve together as we continue to support leadership, women empowerment and positive impact to the society.”

Paul Button, CEO of Knauf GCC, said: “Real progress is achieved when diverse perspectives come together with a shared purpose. KNAUF is proud to join the Challenger Programme and reaffirm our commitment to creating a workplace where everyone has the opportunity to grow, lead, and make a meaningful impact.”

Since the Challenger Programme’s launch, EGA has worked closely with NAMA Women Advancement to develop initiatives tackling industry challenges and encouraging more women to join the STEM fields.

One such initiative is a gender assessment toolkit, which enables industrial companies to evaluate policy, workplace culture, talent development, and inclusion practices, helping identify opportunities to advance gender diversity.

The Cross Mentorship initiative supports women in heavy industries by providing access to mentorship opportunities. Pairing candidates with professionals and leaders from amongst the Challenger Programme members, participants develop the critical industry skills required to succeed in their fields.

Last year also saw the launch of the DEI Cultural Toolkit, a sector-aligned framework that provides organisations with practical strategies, resources, and tools to support making industrial workplace more inclusive.

Alongside these initiatives, the Challenger Programme members commissioned a research study in close collaboration with American University of Sharjah to better understand the challenges faced by women in heavy industry.

Released in February 2026, the study explores the barriers impacting women in the sector, best practices for creating more inclusive workplaces, as well as guidance on future policies and initiatives.

The award recognises EGA’s innovative implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies and future-focused digital and AI-powered use cases. EGA's ongoing digital transformation leverages advanced digital capabilities to transform operations, processes and systems.

Hosted annually by the Manufacturing Leadership Council, part of the US-based National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Leadership Awards is an awards platform that recognises organisations driving the future global manufacturing through operational excellence and innovation.

EGA’s digital transformation programme was launched in 2021 and has delivered significant improvements. Industry 4.0 at EGA has delivered some $100 million in financial impact through the implementation of more than 80 Industry 4.0 use cases, ranging from using artificial intelligence vision to quality check carbon anode production in real-time, to predictive tools for market movements in key commodities.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer at Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “This award recognises the progress we have made in embedding digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence across our operations to deliver measurable improvements in safety, performance, and efficiency. By combining world-class industrial expertise with advanced digital capabilities, we are strengthening EGA's position as the technology provider of choice for the global aluminium industry while supporting the UAE's ambitions to lead in Industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence."

EGA’s ongoing digital transformation is a key part of EGA’s drive to innovate the future of aluminium production and be the technology provider of choice for the global aluminium industry.

In 2024, EGA introduced the region’s first 100 per cent renewable energy powered industrial data centres at its Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah sites and launched of one of the first digital manufacturing platforms in the region with Microsoft to unlock additional value through large-scale Industry 4.0 applications.

Last year, EGA was named an Industry 4.0 global lighthouse by the World Economic Forum, the first industrial company in the UAE and the first aluminium company in the world to achieve this designation.

EGA’s Al Taweelah site sustained significant damage on 28 March as Iranian attacks on Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi led to an emergency shutdown.

The safety and wellbeing of employees and contractors is always EGA’s highest priority. Two employees sustained injuries requiring hospitalisation and have since been discharged to continue their recoveries.

EGA established a dedicated, experienced team to deliver a safe and efficient restoration and restart of the Al Taweelah facilities.

Repairs to damaged infrastructure have progressed rapidly. Basic utilities have been restored across the site, with natural gas and electricity availability projected to ramp-up in line with the needs of the restart programme.

To resume hot metal production at Al Taweelah smelter, EGA must progressively restore each of the 1,262 reduction cells. Anode removal has been completed at all the reduction cells, bath cleaning completed at around 90 per cent, and frozen metal removed from over 20 per cent of the reduction cells.

The first restored reduction cell was restarted on 26 May. So far, 89 reduction cells have been restarted.

Hot metal production will gradually ramp-up as reduction cells are progressively restored and could take up to a year to reach pre-incident levels. EGA is working to accelerate this timeline.

Al Taweelah Casthouse produced its first cast metal on 4 May. The Casthouse is remelting frozen metal removed from the reduction cells during restoration to produce finished aluminium products, in addition to casting hot metal from restored reduction cells.

Al Taweelah recycling plant had recently begun final commissioning and cast metal production at the time of the incident. Final commissioning work resumed during April, and recycled cast metal production resumed in early May. Ramp-up to full production is expected to take up to six months, in line with the original ramp-up timeline, depending on scrap availability.

At Al Taweelah alumina refinery, first alumina production is expected early in the third quarter, with a potentially rapid ramp-up to full production subject to the optimisation of bauxite supply chains. The ramp-up of hot metal production is not expected to depend on full ramp-up at Al Taweelah alumina refinery.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “We are rapidly and safely actioning a clear, disciplined plan to restore production at Al Taweelah, which is one of the most important aluminium production complexes in the world. All opportunities to accelerate the timeline further are being explored, and we will achieve our goal of emerging stronger than ever before. Our people have risen to this challenge, and I commend their continued heroism and dedication to EGA’s bright future.”

EGA’s Jebel Ali site continues aluminium production at full capacity. Average daily inbound deliveries of all major raw materials currently exceed EGA’s requirements to maintain metal production at Jebel Ali and meet the demands of restoration at Al Taweelah, with raw materials stocks on the ground in the UAE increasing.

EGA had significant volumes of metal on the water and in warehouses in certain overseas locations at the start of the conflict, enabling the continued supply of metal to some customers.

Constraints on outbound logistics from March resulted in the temporary suspension of new shipment departures and EGA built up significant inventory of finished metal on the ground in the UAE. EGA has made progress in establishing alternative outbound logistics routes using ports outside the Strait of Hormuz. EGA is currently selling more metal than the company is producing at Jebel Ali, with UAE stockpiles gradually reducing. A return to pre-crisis shipment levels is expected, based on current conditions, to require the re-opening of the Strait.

EGA’s recycling plants in the United States and Germany have continued production throughout 2026.

The inauguration was attended by Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), EGA’s Chairman Homaid Al Shimmari, EGA’s Vice Chairman His Excellency Saeed Al Tayer, and members of EGA’s Board and senior management team.

Her Excellency Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “Recycling is the cornerstone of the UAE’s Circular Economy Policy which aims to transform the nation into a global hub for green development by shifting from linear to circular production and consumption, enhancing resource efficiency, and minimising waste. Aluminium represents one of our greatest opportunities to drive this transition from linear to circular model of production. It is infinitely recyclable, protecting our ecosystems while fuelling a sustainable, low-carbon economy. Recycling aluminium waste requires up to 95 per cent less energy[1] compared to producing new primary aluminium from raw ore, saving significant energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“Emirates Global Aluminium has been a pioneer of our nation’s industry for decades, and today, they are leading the charge as our national champion in aluminium recycling. I congratulate EGA on the strategic growth of its recycling business both here in the UAE and globally, proving that industrial leadership and climate action go hand in hand.”

Al Taweelah recycling plant has a production capacity of 185,000 tonnes per year. The plant processes post-consumer aluminium scrap, and some pre-consumer aluminium scrap, into low-carbon, high-quality ‘premium aluminium’ billets and T-bars, marketed by EGA under the product name RevivAL.

EGA also blends recycled metal with primary aluminium produced using solar power, marketed as CelestiAL-R, and with nuclear power, sold as MinimAL-R.

Most aluminium scrap generated in the UAE has historically been exported for processing outside the country and is lost to the national economy. Al Taweelah recycling plant offers the processing capacity locally making  EGA the largest consumer of aluminium scrap in the UAE.

Constructing Al Taweelah recycling plant took 4 million hours of work, which was completed with zero injuries requiring time off work. The project required more than 26,300 cubic metres of concrete, more than the volume of 10 Olympic-size swimming pools, as well as over 4,600 metric tonnes of structural steel, almost two-thirds of the iron weight of the Eiffel Tower.

Al Taweelah recycling plant began producing recycled aluminium in February. Final commissioning work was paused following an Iranian attack on Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi on 28 March and resumed during April. Recycled cast metal production resumed in early May. Ramp-up to full production is expected to take up to six months, in line with the original ramp-up timeline, depending on scrap availability.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “The inauguration of Al Taweelah recycling plant is a major milestone in EGA’s development of a global aluminium recycling business. This new plant turns aluminium waste generated in the UAE and elsewhere into new aluminium that makes modern life possible around the world. With this project, we have added a new industrial activity to EGA’s operations in the UAE, in line with Make it in the Emirates and the UAE’s Operation 300bn industrial growth strategy.”

With Al Taweelah recycling plant and a planned aluminium recycling plant acquisition in Italy, EGA’s aluminium recycling capacity has reached more than 400,000 tonnes per year across the UAE, Europe and the United States, with an additional 200,000 tonnes of capacity under development in Europe and the United States.

EGA acquired recycling plants in Germany and the United States in 2024, and is growing both operations.

EGA is expanding EGA Leichtmetall in Germany more than six-fold, with a second plant in a new location near Hannover adding 150,000 tonnes of capacity and expected to be complete during 2028.

In Minnesota in the United States, EGA Spectro Alloys completed a 65,000 tonnes per year expansion in 2025 and is currently developing a second phase of the expansion to add a further 35,000 tonnes per year of capacity during 2027.

In April, EGA announced its intention to acquire an 80 per cent stake in Italian aluminium recycling company Eco Green. The acquisition remains subject to regulatory approvals.

EGA achieved the target it set itself back in 2021 to reach 25 per cent gender diversity at supervisory levels by the end of 2025. Women then held just 18 per cent of supervisory roles at EGA.

In 2025, more than 200 women joined the company, including 113 UAE Nationals. EGA now employs over 830 women. More than 60 per cent working in operational roles focused on engineering.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Advancing women’s role in industry is essential to building a future-ready workforce that drives excellence. The progress we have achieved reflects our belief that diverse organisations perform better. That’s why we are focused on creating an inclusive environment, and why we will continue to create opportunities for women to contribute, grow, and lead EGA’s and the UAE’s long-term success.”

Last year, EGA recruited 199 young UAE nationals, including 95 women, into the company’s National Training and Graduate Training programmes. EGA’s National Training programmes prepare high school graduates for technical and administrative positions in the company’s industrial facilities and administration.

EGA aims to increase women’s representation to 15 per cent of all roles by the end of 2026, with women currently accounting for 12 per cent of the total workforce including frontline operators.

In early 2025, EGA launched Ershaad, a mentorship programme for female UAE students to encourage careers in industry, particularly in STEM fields. Through mentoring by EGA experts, the programme provides industry exposure, career guidance, and access to professional networks to help young women shape their future careers.

In 2023, EGA launched the Challenger Programme, bringing together leading industrial companies to collaborate on advancing gender diversity across the sector by addressing shared, practical challenges.

EGA has worked with the American University of Sharjah to research barriers to women’s participation in the heavy industrial workforce and find solutions to achieve systemic inclusion.

EGA established its Women’s Network in 2020, providing women at all levels of the company a platform for connection, leadership development, and mutual professional support.

The awards were presented to EGA by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.

Najeeba Al Jabri, EGA’s Chief ESG & Sustainability Officer, was recognised in the Leadership Category of the Emirates Women Award.

EGA was also recognised for continuous improvement in health and safety, and for innovation projects across the company’s operations.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “I was proud to accept the innovation award from His Highness, and I congratulate all my colleagues who were recognised at the Dubai Quality Group Awards. What matters most is what they represent - the dedication of our people to continuously improve, innovate, and find better ways of working every day.”

EGA has developed its own aluminium smelting technology in the UAE for more than 30 years, and is a technology provider of choice in the global aluminium industry. EGA has used its own technology in every smelter expansion since the 1990s, and was the first UAE industrial company to license its core process technology internationally. EGA’s latest technology EX, the 10^th generation, is amongst the most efficient in the world and is currently being piloted at Al Taweelah.

EGA has focused on continuous improvement as a foundation of its global competitiveness since the company’s foundation. EGA engages all its employees in continuous improvement through its Suggestion Scheme, which is one of the longest-running programmes of its type in the world. EGA also brings together mid-level employees to work on larger improvement projects through its Tamayaz scheme, which has been running since 2016. 

The EGA Aluminium Design and Innovation Challenge forms part of EGA’s long-running Engineer the Future programme, which aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators in the UAE. Since the beginning of the current academic year, more than 7,000 students from schools across the UAE have participated in Engineer the Future activities.

The challenge invites students in grades nine to 12 to apply their STEM knowledge to develop innovative aluminium-based solutions for real-world applications. Throughout the four month programme, participating teams received mentorship from EGA engineers and access to specialised resources and technical guidance to support the development of their projects.

This year, some 1,200 students in 352 teams from 105 schools across the UAE took part in the EGA Aluminium Design and Innovation Challenge. Following the evaluation stage, 32 shortlisted teams were selected to present innovative aluminium-focused concepts across four categories: architecture, product design, sustainable mobility, and space solutions.

This year’s first-place winning teams in each category are: Al Shwamekh School in the category of architecture, Fatima Al Zahraa Secondary School for Girls in the category of product design, Al Rushed American Private School in the category of space solutions, and Zayed Educational Complex- Al Saf in the category of future mobility.

Her Excellency Amna Al Saleh, Assistant Undersecretary of Curriculum and Assessment at the Ministry of Education, affirmed that the Aluminium Design Challenge represents a successful model of collaboration between the education sector and the national industrial sector, providing students with valuable opportunities to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges and develop innovative solutions that address future needs.

She added that the Ministry places great importance on initiatives that promote applied learning and equip students with essential future-ready skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation, which are essential foundations for preparing a generation capable of keeping pace with the rapidly evolving job market.

Her Excellency noted that the strong participation in this year’s challenge reflects the creative potential and capabilities of the UAE’s youth. She emphasised that collaboration with leading national institutions such as Emirates Global Aluminium helps strengthen the connection between education and industry, while enabling students to explore future academic and career pathways in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer at Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “STEM fields are essential to shaping the future of industry and innovation in the UAE. Through initiatives such as Engineer the Future, we aim to inspire young people to explore STEM fields and develop the skills needed to contribute to the nation’s industrial growth and future competitiveness. We were impressed by the creativity, technical thinking, and ambition demonstrated by the participating students, whose ideas reflected the potential of the next generation of innovators and engineers in the UAE.”

Since the Engineer the Future programme was launched in 2022, more than 29,046 students have benefited from its activities, with over 952 teams participating in the challenge from schools across the UAE.

EGA is a major employer of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics professionals, with more than 1,500 employees working in these fields across the company, including over 500 UAE Nationals.

EGA is a major employer of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics professionals, with over 1,500 people working in these fields at the company, including more than 500 UAE nationals.

The new STEM labs offer students with hands-on experience using methods and equipment commonly applied across engineering, fabrication, and product development, supporting the development of essential technical skills and encouraging interest in future STEM careers.

In addition to developing and equipping the new facilities, EGA is overseeing the instruction of teachers and trainers in the effective use of the new equipment.

EGA has partnered with Al Samha School, Al Rahba School, Al Falahiya School, Dubai National School (DNS), Zayed University (ZU), and the Higher College of Technology (HCT) to build the STEM labs.

Over 2,600 students per year are expected to directly benefit from the initiative.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “EGA is a company built on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These skills are essential for the future of our company and our nation. By empowering the next generation with the experience and technical capabilities needed for the industries of the future, we are helping bridge the gap between education and industry, while enabling students to develop practical technical skills and inspiring greater interest in STEM careers across the UAE.”

EGA is currently evaluating further opportunities to expand the programme through the introduction of additional STEM labs at schools and universities across the UAE.

The new initiative complements EGA’s existing student outreach programmes, including Engineer the Future, which STEM students with hands-on workshops exploring topics, such as Industry 4.0, sustainability, material science, and the circular economy.

EGA also organises the annual EGA Aluminium Design and Innovation Challenge, which engages students from grades nine to 12 to creatively use science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills to address real-life challenges with aluminium. Part of a partnership with the UAE Ministry of Education, over 300 teams from schools across the UAE participated in the challenge in 2025.

Engineer the Future has reached over 36,000 students from over 128 schools in the UAE since the programme was launched in 2017.

EGA and ADNOC L&S aim to strengthen and expand their commercial relationship on logistics, including transportation, fleet management and infrastructure. The agreement envisages the potential formation of a joint venture focused on logistics assets, transportation services and integrated supply chain solutions.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “With the scale of our worldwide shipping, EGA is not just a metal producer but also a global logistics company. Supply chain resilience is essential for our growth as a UAE industrial champion. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with ADNOC L&S to further strengthen our inbound and outbound logistics, and UAE industry.”

Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, Chief Executive Officer of ADNOC Logistics & Services, said: “At ADNOC Logistics & Services, we are proud to support Emirates Global Aluminium with our world class maritime logistics. This contributes to supply chain resilience and supports the UAE’s industrial development, while creating growth opportunities for ADNOC L&S beyond energy logistics.

EGA ships around 14 million tonnes of raw materials and finished metal products around the world every year. EGA supplies aluminium to customers in more than 50 countries.

ADNOC L&S is a global maritime logistics leader with a total fleet of more than 340 owned vessels and more than 600 additional vessels chartered every year.

The agreement envisages that ADNOC Distribution will supply high-performance, locally blended lubricants to EGA’s operations, reinforcing the role of UAE-made solutions in enabling reliable and efficient industrial performance.

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA)’s collaboration with ADNOC Distribution’s collaboration will support the UAE’s industrial development under Operation 300bn, enabling the supply of high-performance lubricants for efficient, large-scale industrial operations.

EGA already spends around AED 8 billion annually on goods and services from UAE suppliers, with more than 40 percent of its total procurement directed locally, reflecting its strong commitment to in-country value. Through this partnership, EGA will benefit from ADNOC Distribution supplying locally blended lubricants tailored to its large-scale operations, supporting greater efficiency, reliability, and long-term performance.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “With the UAE’s industrial development through Operation 300bn and Make it in the Emirates, even more of EGA’s advanced industrial supply requirements can be met locally, in a virtuous circle of industrial growth. This agreement with ADNOC Distribution strengthens EGA’s supply chain resilience, while further increasing our economic impact in the UAE.”

Eng. Bader Saeed Al Lamki, Chief Executive Officer of ADNOC Distribution, said: “This agreement reflects our commitment to championing local manufacturing by delivering high-performance, UAE-made solutions to national industries. By working with leading UAE industrial champions such as EGA, we are creating strategic demand for locally produced products, strengthening supply chain resilience, and advancing in-country value, supporting the UAE’s long-term vision for a diversified and globally competitive industrial economy.”

EGA operates advanced industrial facilities that require reliable, high-performance lubrication solutions. Through this agreement, ADNOC Distribution will supply locally blended lubricants tailored to the requirements of EGA’s large-scale operations, supporting efficiency, reliability and long-term asset performance.

ADNOC Distribution will leverage its advanced blending capabilities and local research and development expertise to deliver lubrication solutions designed for demanding industrial environments. The agreement also reinforces the role of the Company’s lubricants business in supporting UAE industry, with high-performance, UAE-manufactured lubricants exported to more than 50 markets worldwide, reflecting global confidence in ADNOC’s quality, innovation, and technical expertise.

The collaboration also supports the UAE’s broader economic diversification agenda by enabling local production, reducing reliance on imports, and strengthening industrial supply chains through partnerships that prioritize long-term value creation.