Abu Dhabi Ports and Masdar Forge Offshore Wind Energy Partnership to Drive Renewable Power Projects

Abu Dhabi Ports Group has signed a partnership deal with Masdar, the UAE's renewable energy company, to develop offshore wind energy projects globally. The agreement positions the UAE as a major player in the rapidly growing offshore wind sector, where companies are racing to capture market share in what's expected to become a trillion-dollar industry over the next two decades.

Under the partnership, Abu Dhabi Ports will serve as a key partner and contractor for Masdar's offshore wind projects worldwide. The two companies will work together to identify technical requirements and deploy Abu Dhabi Ports' maritime and logistics capabilities across the entire project lifecycle.

This includes manufacturing and supplying substations, providing land and sea logistics solutions, underwater services, and ongoing maintenance and operations support. The collaboration brings together Masdar's project development expertise with Abu Dhabi Ports' industrial infrastructure and maritime operations experience.

"Our integrated maritime and logistics capabilities, combined with our extensive experience in managing major projects, enable us to provide the technical solutions and operational excellence needed to support Masdar's major offshore wind generation projects," said Captain Ammar Al Shaiba, CEO of Maritime and Shipping at Abu Dhabi Ports Group.

The timing reflects the offshore wind industry's explosive growth. Global offshore wind capacity is expected to increase 15-fold by 2040, according to the International Energy Agency. Countries are rushing to secure supply chains and technical expertise as they build out renewable energy infrastructure to meet climate commitments.

Masdar brings significant offshore wind experience to the partnership. The company has developed major projects across Europe, including the 476-megawatt Baltic Eagle project in Germany and the 1.4-gigawatt East Anglia 3 project in the UK. These projects demonstrate the commercial viability and scale potential of offshore wind technology.

"Masdar is a global leader in developing offshore wind projects, and we continue our efforts to accelerate growth in this vital sector," said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar. "Through strategic partnerships like our agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports Group, we're expanding our global presence and implementing high-impact projects."

Offshore wind offers advantages over land-based wind farms. Ocean winds are typically stronger and more consistent, allowing turbines to generate higher and more reliable power output. But offshore projects require specialized vessels, port facilities, and underwater installation capabilities that few companies can provide at scale.

For investors and energy markets, this partnership signals the UAE's broader strategy to become a renewable energy hub while diversifying its economy beyond oil. The country is positioning itself to export clean energy expertise and technology, similar to how it built its oil and gas services industry.

The collaboration also reflects how offshore wind development is becoming increasingly global. While most projects are currently in European waters, companies are looking to expand into new markets across Asia, the Americas, and other regions where offshore wind resources are strong.