The Middle East will require an estimated $200 billion in natural gas investments over the next four years to raise production by 30 per cent, industry leaders said on Wednesday at the Middle East Gas Conference in Dubai. The call for accelerated spending comes as the region faces sharp growth in electricity consumption driven by expanding data centres, rapid adoption of artificial intelligence systems, and nationwide digital infrastructure projects.
Majid Jafar, CEO of Crescent Petroleum and board managing director of Dana Gas, said the region is rapidly cementing its position as a global gas powerhouse. In his opening remarks, he noted that Middle Eastern gas output has increased by more than 15 per cent since 2020 and is on track to post another 30 per cent rise by 2030. Achieving that scale of growth, he said, would require a funding commitment of $200 billion to expand capacity and strengthen supply networks.
Jafar stressed that the surge in demand extends beyond traditional energy requirements. He said the growth trajectory presents a strategic opportunity for economic expansion, industrial development and deeper regional cooperation. According to him, natural gas will remain central to ensuring energy security and supporting industries that rely on uninterrupted power. It will also act as a critical tool for countries working to balance economic progress with cleaner energy pathways.
Current financing structures, however, may not be sufficient. Jafar urged the industry to explore new avenues of capital, including stronger participation from sovereign wealth funds and an expanded role for multilateral development banks, which could help accelerate critical projects. Crescent Petroleum, he said, has already increased its own natural gas production by 50 per cent.
The UAE and neighbouring countries have seen consumption triple over the past two decades. Demand is expected to rise another 50 per cent within the next five years, with the power sector, manufacturing, and fast-growing AI infrastructure emerging as the biggest contributors. Regional forecasts indicate that producers must bring on an additional 14 billion cubic feet per day of supply by 2030 to reach a total output of 86 bcfd—equivalent to meeting the entire gas demand of Europe’s power sector.
Delegates at the conference also highlighted how the aggressive push to build advanced AI ecosystems in the UAE and Saudi Arabia will place new pressure on electricity systems. AI server farms, which require stable baseload power and operate around the clock, are expected to expand rapidly due to the region’s relatively low energy costs and strong industrial infrastructure. Natural gas, they said, remains the most reliable source to support this growth.
Senior industry figures including Musabbeh Al-Kaabi, CEO of Adnoc Upstream, and Abdulkarim Al-Ghamdi, executive vice president for gas at Saudi Aramco, addressed keynote sessions. Speakers underscored the importance of strengthening partnerships among producers and investors while developing regulatory frameworks that can support integrated, resilient gas networks across the region.
