UAE graphene ambitions move into production

NanoCarbonX has signed an AED50 million manufacturing agreement with Graphene Star to establish industrial-scale graphene production in Abu Dhabi, giving the UAE a new foothold in advanced nanomaterials manufacturing and strengthening its push to localise high-value industrial supply chains.

The agreement, signed at Make it in the Emirates 2026, gives NanoCarbonX an exclusive licence to produce Graphene Star’s patented graphene technology in the UAE. The company, a subsidiary of The Nano Company, plans to set up a facility in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi with capacity of up to 960 tonnes a year, targeting supply to paints and coatings, concrete and construction, polymers, and battery and energy storage markets.

First product delivery is targeted for the second quarter of 2027. The project is planned around scalable production lines, with The Nano Company having invested directly in Graphene Star to secure access to its intellectual property and technical know-how. The structure of the deal points to a shift from distribution-led access to advanced materials towards domestic production, technology transfer and industrial integration.

Graphene, a one-atom-thick form of carbon arranged in a hexagonal lattice, is valued for its strength, conductivity, lightness and durability. Industrial users are exploring it as an additive to make coatings more resilient, concrete stronger, polymers lighter and batteries more efficient. Commercial adoption has been uneven because of cost, consistency and scaling challenges, but new production models are drawing interest as manufacturers seek materials that can improve performance without redesigning entire supply chains.

NanoCarbonX will operate the facility using Graphene Star’s production method, which the partners say avoids harsh chemicals and lowers energy consumption compared with conventional graphene manufacturing. That claim will matter to potential buyers in construction, coatings and energy storage, where environmental performance, repeatability and certification can determine whether laboratory gains become commercially viable products.

Osama Fadhel, Assistant Under-Secretary of Industrial Accelerators at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, said the agreement brings proprietary technology, production capacity and technology transfer into the UAE. Anwar Nusseibeh, chairman of The Nano Company, said NanoCarbonX had “moved from development to production”, while Graphene Star chief executive Marina Starkova said the UAE offered a supportive environment for efficient and sustainable manufacturing.

The deal was among more than 200 agreements signed during the four-day Make it in the Emirates platform, which drew 146,329 visitors and 1,245 exhibitors across 12 sectors at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The event produced AED171 billion in aggregate deals, including AED48.5 billion in investments and AED19.2 billion in financing and enablement programmes. Authorities also expanded cumulative industrial offtake opportunities to AED180 billion over the next decade and set out plans to localise more than 5,000 products.

The graphene agreement fits within Operation 300Bn, the UAE’s industrial strategy aimed at raising the sector’s contribution to GDP from AED133 billion to AED300 billion by 2031. Advanced materials are emerging as a priority because they connect several strategic sectors at once, including construction, mobility, energy, defence, aerospace and electronics.

Market forecasts underline the commercial rationale. The global graphene market is estimated at about $2.91 billion in 2026 and projected to reach about $15.20 billion by 2031, with demand led by batteries, composites, semiconductors, coatings and aerospace applications. Asia Pacific remains the largest and fastest-growing region, but Gulf producers see an opening through energy infrastructure, logistics, industrial zones and procurement-backed localisation policies.

NanoCarbonX is not the only graphene-linked initiative moving through the UAE’s industrial ecosystem. Dana Gas and Levidian signed a separate agreement at Make it in the Emirates to develop the Sharjah Graphene Park, beginning with indicative capacity of about 15 tonnes a year and possible expansion beyond $50 million as demand grows. Together, the projects suggest that the UAE is testing multiple production routes rather than relying on a single technology pathway.

The challenge will be execution. Graphene buyers require consistent particle quality, validated performance, reliable pricing and clear safety documentation. Construction and coatings customers may adopt the material faster than battery manufacturers, where qualification cycles are longer and supply-chain requirements are stricter. Export ambitions will also depend on certification, intellectual property protections and the ability to meet volume commitments without compromising quality.

For KEZAD, the facility adds another advanced manufacturing component to Abu Dhabi’s industrial base, linking materials production with logistics, research, workforce development and downstream users. For NanoCarbonX and Graphene Star, the agreement offers a route to convert patented technology into regional industrial capacity, with the UAE serving as both production base and launch market for graphene-enabled products.