EMSTEEL Wins 2026 ‘worldsteel Sustainability Champion’
The group recorded its lowest emissions intensity levels since 2019 demonstrating its ability to decouple growth from emissions through sustained efficiency improvements
EMSTEEL has been honored as the 2026 Steel Sustainability Champion by the World Steel Association for the third consecutive year. This recognition makes EMSTEEL the sole steel company in the MENA region to achieve this, solidifying its position in sustainable steelmaking, low-carbon steel production, and industrial decarbonisation.
The announcement was made during the Steel Sustainability Champions Award Ceremony, held at the World Steel Association’s Special General Meeting of the Board of Members 2026 in Berlin, Germany. These awards recognise companies that demonstrate commitment to sustainable development and best practices within the global steel industry.
This milestone reflects EMSTEEL’s continued efforts in embedding sustainability across its operations. In a year defined by execution, the group said it advanced its decarbonisation roadmap, scaled innovative technologies, and strengthened operational performance across both its steel and cement businesses, translating long-term strategy into measurable results.
Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group CEO, EMSTEEL said, “Being recognised once again as a worldsteel Sustainability Champion reflects the tangible progress we are making in advancing lower-carbon steel production. Sustainability is at the core of how we operate, innovate, and grow, and this milestone reinforces the strength and consistency of our approach.”
“In 2025, we moved from ambition to execution, advancing key decarbonisation initiatives, while maintaining strong operational performance. As we continue this journey, our focus remains on delivering practical and scalable solutions that support the transition to lower-carbon industries and create long-term value for our stakeholders,” he added.
In 2025, EMSTEEL delivered a 34% reduction in absolute emissions compared to its 2019 baseline, while continuing to improve emissions intensity across its operations. The group said it recorded its lowest emissions intensity levels since 2019, reaching 0.637 tCO₂e per tonne of steel and 0.638 tCO₂e per tonne of cementitious material, demonstrating its ability to decouple growth from emissions through sustained efficiency improvements.
The achievement was supported by EMSTEEL’s strong focus on energy optimisation, clean electricity integration, and the advancement of carbon capture and circular economy solutions. Clean energy played an increasingly central role, with 88.7% of total electricity consumption in the steel business and 28.6% in the cement business covered by clean energy certificates, substantially reducing Scope 2 emissions on a market-based basis.
At the same time, carbon capture continued to make meaningful contributions to reducing Scope 1 emissions, while targeted energy efficiency programmes delivered both environmental and economic value, reflecting EMSTEEL’s approach of advancing decarbonisation alongside strong operational performance.
The group also continued to lead on industrial innovation, advancing initiatives that position it at the forefront of low-carbon steelmaking. This includes the launch of its first Electric Process Gas Heater (ePGH), progress on green hydrogen initiatives, and the scaling of circular solutions that convert industrial by-products into valuable low-carbon inputs through EMSTEEL’s TrueGreen framework. Together, these efforts contribute to a more sustainable and resilient industrial ecosystem.
Beyond its operational achievements, EMSTEEL remains actively engaged in global sustainability efforts. Through its role as Co-Chair of the Alliance for Industry Decarbonisation, the group said it continues to collaborate with international partners to accelerate the transition to cleaner industrial systems and contribute to the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 ambitions.
