Mantle8 Secures Exclusive Negotiation Rights for Natural Hydrogen Exploration in the UAE
French natural hydrogen exploration company Mantle8 is preparing to investigate geological hydrogen potential in the United Arab Emirates after securing exclusive rights to negotiate an exploration contract with the Department of Energy in Ras Al Khaimah.
The agreement covers Block 7, an established energy exploration area in the northeastern UAE, where Mantle8 says preliminary fieldwork is already underway. The company describes the initiative as the country's first dedicated natural hydrogen exploration programme.
The announcement marks an expansion of Mantle8's international activities into the Middle East, a region attracting increasing interest because of geological formations capable of generating hydrogen through natural water–rock reactions.
The distinction between negotiation rights and an exploration licence is important. Mantle8 has secured the sole right to negotiate an exploration contract for Block 7. The announcement does not establish that a final exploration contract has been executed or that the company has received all approvals required for a full drilling programme.
If an agreement is concluded, the resulting exploration programme could extend for up to two years.
Mantle8 intends to finance the exploration activities itself, deploying proprietary geological and seismic technologies to investigate potential hydrogen generation mechanisms, subsurface migration pathways and possible accumulations.
The company has not disclosed a project budget, exploration well locations or a drilling timetable.
The geological setting is central to the opportunity.
Ras Al Khaimah lies within the broader geological environment associated with the Semail Ophiolite, one of the world's most prominent exposed sections of ancient oceanic crust and upper mantle.
Ophiolites are of particular interest to natural hydrogen researchers because they can contain ultramafic rocks rich in iron-bearing minerals.
The Semail Ophiolite extends across parts of Oman and the UAE, providing a broader geological context for evaluating hydrogen generation through serpentinization.
Neighbouring Oman has attracted attention from companies including HyTerra, Helios and Hynat, which have investigated natural hydrogen opportunities associated with the country's geological setting.
Full press release can be found here.
