Prospects for Algal Biofuel Industry in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) can be an ideal place to develop a world class and internationally competitive algal biofuel industry and become an industry leader, according to experts from the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. The presentation on the UAE's growth and export potential in the algal biofuels sector was done during the AlgaeWorld MENA 2013 Conference, Seminar and Summit that was held from February 25-27 in Dubai.

UAE's native algae have evolved to grow under a wide range of temperatures and salinities. The development and production of these algal strains for biofuels are not expected to compete with the fresh water supply or with food production but can be used to supplement the growth of the aquaculture industry in the country. In addition, UAE can utilize its vast desert for algae cultivation with properly designed facility so that it will not have an impact in the marine ecosystem of the Arabian Gulf. The establishment of algae-for-biofuel industry in the UAE is expected to boost its biofuel export potential and create a unique algal knowledge base that will allow the UAE to also export the necessary know-how for implementing this industry in other parts the world.

Commercial venture into biofuel is still in the implementation and growth phase in the UAE. Currently biofuel-related research activities are being undertaken in Masdar Institute's Algae Research Laboratory and Microbial Environmental and Chemical Engineering Laboratory (MECEL).