Tawazun Council, RTX, and Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) have signed an MoU to establish EGA as a new producer of gallium, a critical mineral used across global supply chains.
This initiative will create gallium extraction and refining capabilities at EGA’s alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi and make the UAE the world’s second-largest producer of gallium.
Gallium has applications across many different sectors, including the production of semiconductors, electric vehicles, medical devices, and telecom infrastructure. For the defense industry, the supply of gallium is critical as it is a key component of defense products, including advanced radars. This new agreement would secure access to this critical mineral for companies, including RTX.
“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.”
Tawazun Council is spearheading efforts through its Tawazun Economic Program, a strategic initiative focused on attracting cutting-edge technologies, accelerating knowledge transfer, and building robust national industrial capabilities. This approach is vital to reinforcing the UAE’s industrial security posture, ensuring the country’s defense sector remains resilient and competitive amid global challenges.
HE Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of Tawazun Council, highlighted that the project aligns seamlessly with the Council’s new strategy 2025–2028, which prioritizes building a competitive national industrial base and advancing cutting-edge infrastructure to ensure industrial and technological security. Central to this strategy is attracting high-quality investments, expanding strategic partnerships locally and internationally, and empowering Emirati talent.
“The aerospace and defense industry relies on stable access to rare earth elements. Today’s agreement puts us on a path towards a reliable supply of gallium, needed for the production of critical aerospace and defence solutions,” said Paolo Dal Cin, senior vice president for operations and supply chain at RTX.
EGA and RTX anticipate entering into an agreement to conduct a feasibility study for a high-purity gallium plant at EGA’s Al Taweelah alumina refinery, which processes bauxite ore into alumina, the feedstock for aluminum smelters. Gallium is found in trace amounts in bauxite. As gallium is an impurity in aluminum, gallium levels must be carefully managed in metal for the most demanding applications.
