The Arab Steel Summit 2025 kicked off at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, running for two days under the patronage of H.E. Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. The event brings together more than 600 officials, investors, experts, and representatives from regional and international companies in the iron and steel sector, organized by the Arab Iron and Steel Union.
The summit serves as a key intellectual and industrial platform that unites government perspectives, the private sector, and academia in a comprehensive dialogue on the future of the Arab iron and steel industry. Its main sessions address strategic themes such as industry leaders’ visions for the future, supply security and value chains, emerging protectionist policies, and the role of innovation and advanced technologies in boosting competitiveness and sustainability. The event also includes specialized discussions on environmental and technological transformation, the development of a circular economy based on recycling and industrial scrap, and a dedicated exhibition showcasing the latest technologies and industrial projects in the iron and steel sector.
In his opening address, H.E. Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef highlighted the summit’s leading status, reflected in its wide participation — nearly 600 participants representing over 200 global companies from 50 countries, along with 20 major industrial exhibitors and around 40 speakers, including experts, decision-makers, and industry leaders at both Arab and international levels.
He stated: “Oman Vision 2040, launched by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik — may God protect him — has laid the foundations for a national economy built on diversification, innovation, and sustainability. All government units closely monitor and diligently implement its performance indicators. Within this framework, the Industrial Strategy 2040 places the industrial sector among Oman’s top national priorities, with ambitious goals to increase its contribution to GDP, boost non-oil industrial exports, and expand a knowledge- and technology-driven production base.”
H.E. Al Yousef further noted that the iron and steel industry in Oman is one of the most promising sectors, contributing around 2% of GDP, attracting billions of dollars in investments, and employing hundreds of qualified Omani professionals. Iron and steel exports, he added, represent about 40% of Oman’s total industrial exports.
H.E. Dr. Saleh bin Said Masan, Undersecretary for Commerce and Industry at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, emphasized that Oman’s hosting of the 2025 Arab Steel Summit comes at a time of profound global transformations in supply chains, energy, and technology. These shifts, he said, call upon Arab nations to enhance industrial integration and adopt new strategies to stay aligned with global changes. He added that the summit offers an important opportunity for investors to connect and explore Oman’s industrial competitiveness, helping to attract strategic investments that strengthen the sector’s regional and global standing.
For his part, Eng. Khalid bin Salim Al Qasabi, Director General of Industry at the Ministry, stated that summit sessions discussed key issues such as global overproduction, new protectionist policies, raw material supply security, and the future of direct reduction technology amid fluctuating energy prices. He also highlighted the growing role of scientific research in developing more sustainable and efficient production solutions.
The opening session, titled “Industry Leaders’ Visions for the Future of Arab Steel”, brought together top CEOs from the Arab and global steel sectors for an open dialogue. Among the participants were Ahmed Ezz, Chairman of Ezz Steel and Chairman of the Arab Iron and Steel Union; Hatim Senhaji CEO – Maghreb Steel; Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, CEO of the EMSTEEL Group; and Dr. Mohamed Al Faqih, Chairman of the Libyan Iron and Steel Company.
The discussion explored major challenges facing the sector amid geopolitical and economic shifts, the transition toward low-emission production, and the importance of investing in modern technologies to enhance efficiency and competitiveness.
Speakers stressed the need for coordinated Arab efforts to ensure supply chain integration and market stability, as well as the pivotal role of governments in shaping industrial and legislative frameworks that encourage innovation and long-term investment. The dialogue also highlighted the importance of developing national talent and attracting young professionals to ensure the sustainable growth of the industry in the coming years.
The event also featured the opening of the International Exhibition held alongside the summit — a specialized professional platform showcasing cutting-edge technologies and industrial solutions in the iron and steel field, with participation from companies and organizations from both inside and outside Oman.
Saleh Al Muslahi, Regional Head for the Middle East and North Africa for Green Steel Projects at Vale, stated: “Oman’s selection to host this event reflects international confidence in its strategic location and its ability to foster major industrial partnerships. The ongoing collaboration between Vale and Omani government entities stands as a practical model of public-private partnership, paving the way for a regional production base that supports sustainability and economic growth in the Arab world.”
Ahmed Ezz, Chairman of Ezz Steel and the Arab Iron and Steel Union, reaffirmed that the summit’s convening in Oman represents a tangible example of the close cooperation between the Union and its member states to enhance the standing of Arab industry in the global economy. He commended the summit’s high level of organization and the strong presence of leading institutions and companies in the sector.
Al Roya
