Tawazun Council, aerospace and defence leader RTX, and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to position EGA as a new global producer of gallium. Under this initiative, gallium extraction and refining facilities will be developed at EGA’s alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi, establishing UAE as the world’s second-largest producer of this critical mineral, essential to global supply chains.
Gallium (Ga) is closely linked to the aluminium industry, as it is commonly recovered as a byproduct during alumina (Al₂O₃) production. In the Bayer process widely used to extract alumina from bauxite gallium accumulates in the sodium aluminate solution, from which it can be extracted. Beyond aluminium production, gallium is also present in residues from zinc processing and other industrial byproducts.
Gallium plays a vital role across a wide range of industries, with key applications in semiconductors, electric vehicles, medical devices, and telecom infrastructure. In the defence sector, gallium is especially critical, serving as an essential material in advanced radar systems and other high-tech defence products. The newly signed agreement will help secure a reliable supply of this strategic mineral for companies like RTX.
Tawazun Council is driving this initiative through its Tawazun Economic Programme a strategic platform aimed at attracting advanced technologies, promoting knowledge transfer, and strengthening national industrial capabilities. This initiative is a cornerstone of the UAE’s efforts to bolster industrial security, ensuring the country’s defence sector remains resilient, self-reliant, and globally competitive.
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Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said, “Gallium is an important metal for the most advanced electronics systems but remains commercially challenging to produce. This agreement between Tawazun Council, EGA, and RTX makes the development of a new source of gallium in the UAE feasible, creating an additional revenue stream for EGA and a new industrial capability for the UAE in line with our nation’s industrial growth strategy Operation 300bn. We look forward to making progress on this project with our partners.”
Dr Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of Tawazun Council, stated that the initiative aligns closely with the Council’s 2025–2028 strategy, which focuses on establishing a competitive national industrial base and advancing cutting-edge infrastructure to safeguard the UAE’s industrial and technological security. A key part of this strategy involves attracting high-value investments, strengthening strategic partnerships both locally and globally, and empowering Emirati talent.
He described the project as a significant milestone in the development of the UAE’s critical industries, positioning the nation as a global leader in gallium production a rare and essential metal used in semiconductors, advanced military radar systems, electric vehicles, medical technologies, and telecommunications.
Dr Al Nuaimi underscored the project's strategic importance in enhancing the UAE’s production and export capabilities, while also building an independent national supply chain. He noted that the initiative reinforces the country’s position as a progressive, globally recognised industrial hub.
EGA and RTX are expected to enter into an agreement to conduct a feasibility study for establishing a high-purity gallium plant at EGA’s Al Taweelah alumina refinery, which converts bauxite ore into alumina the primary raw material for aluminium production. Gallium naturally occurs in trace amounts within bauxite, and since it is considered an impurity in aluminium, its concentration must be precisely controlled to meet the stringent quality standards required for high-performance applications.
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