His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, along with His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Martyrs’ Affairs, attended a significant celebration hosted by Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) to mark its 50th anniversary. The event also commemorated a decade since the merger of Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL) and Emirates Aluminium (EMAL), creating one of the UAE’s most prominent industrial powerhouses.
Fifty years ago, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum launched Dubai Aluminium with an annual production capacity of 135,000 tons, establishing one of the first pillars of the UAE’s industrial transformation and economic diversification. Today, EGA produces over two million tons annually and contributes around AED23 billion to the national economy, a testament to its pivotal role in the UAE’s industrial growth.
EGA’s Leadership in Sustainability and Technology
Sheikh Hamdan praised EGA’s leadership in technological innovation and sustainable practices. The company became the world’s first producer of solar aluminium and has launched a new generation of low-carbon aluminium products. These achievements reflect the UAE’s commitment to industrial development and sustainable growth. Sheikh Hamdan emphasized that global leadership is achieved through ambition, innovation, and determination, values that form the foundation of the UAE’s Union.
Sheikh Theyab highlighted the importance of the industrial sector as a driving force behind the UAE’s economic diversification and growth. He stated that EGA represents one of the nation’s most distinguished industrial accomplishments, having powered the UAE’s development for more than five decades. Innovation and sustainability are central to the UAE’s long-term vision, ensuring balanced development that secures prosperity for future generations.
EGA: A Pillar of UAE Industrial Growth
Founded in 1975 as Dubai Aluminium, EGA began as a small regional smelter producing 37,000 tons in its first full year of operations. Over the decades, the company has expanded its Jebel Ali plant eight times, transforming into a global-scale enterprise that now produces the same volume every five days.
The establishment of Emirates Aluminium in Al Taweelah in 2007 created the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelter at the time. The 2014 merger of EMAL and DUBAL formed EGA, establishing a national industrial leader with global reach. Today, EGA supplies premium aluminium to customers in more than 50 countries, making it the UAE’s largest non-oil export and a significant contributor to the national economy.
Global Expansion and Strategic Growth
Over the past decade, EGA has expanded its operations internationally across the entire aluminium value chain, from alumina refining and primary aluminium production to recycling. The company is developing the first new primary aluminium plant in the United States since 1980, which will nearly double American primary aluminium output. In recycling, EGA is building a global platform through acquisitions and expansions in Germany and the U.S., along with constructing the UAE’s largest aluminium recycling facility in Al Taweelah.
EGA has been developing its proprietary smelting technology for over 35 years, applying it to every expansion and upgrading all earlier production lines. In 2016, the company became the first UAE industrial firm to license its core process technology internationally, marking a significant milestone for the nation’s knowledge economy. EGA is also recognized as a leader in Industry 4.0 technologies and was named an Industry 4.0 Global Lighthouse by the World Economic Forum, the first in both the UAE and the global aluminium industry.
Empowering UAE Talent
EGA places strong emphasis on Emiratization and employs more than 1,300 UAE Nationals, including over 700 under the age of 35. The company aims to increase this to 50 percent by 2027, planning up to 600 additional Emirati hires. By investing in local talent, EGA is not only building a skilled workforce but also supporting the UAE’s vision of economic diversification and long-term industrial sustainability.
Abdulnasser bin Kalban, CEO of EGA, remarked that guided by UAE leadership, EGA has been a cornerstone of the nation’s industrial strength and global reputation for over fifty years. He stated that the company continues to accelerate this legacy with clarity and ambition, aiming to become a smart, sustainable, and globally competitive industrial champion that supports the UAE’s future prosperity.
Milestones and Achievements
Earlier this year, EGA surpassed a major milestone of producing 50 million tons of cast metal since its establishment. From its modest beginnings in Jebel Ali to becoming a global aluminium leader, the company has consistently driven industrial development and economic diversification in the UAE.
EGA’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and global growth underscores its essential role in shaping the UAE’s industrial landscape. Its pioneering work in solar aluminium, low-carbon products, and recycling technologies positions it as a forward-looking industrial leader contributing to a more sustainable future.
Looking Ahead
With global demand for aluminium expected to rise by 50 to 80 percent by 2050, EGA is strategically positioned to expand production and maintain its status as a global industrial champion. Its international projects, technological innovations, and sustainable practices ensure that it will remain central to the UAE’s industrial progress for decades to come.
The presence of Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Theyab at the 50th-anniversary celebrations highlighted EGA’s remarkable achievements and its pivotal role in advancing the UAE’s industrial transformation. The company continues to exemplify the nation’s ambition, innovation, and long-term vision for sustainable development.
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