China’s Sunstone Development has signed an MoU with the UAE’s Ministry of Investment to set up a $300 million anode production facility in the UAE.

The signing of the MoU comes after Sunstone entered into a joint venture agreement with Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) in December 2025 to develop the anode production facility. 

Once operational, the facility’s output is expected to replace most of EGA’s current anode imports and position the UAE among a handful of countries exporting anodes globally, in line with the Make It In The Emirates initiative and Operation 300bn. 

As part of the MoU, the Ministry of Investment will support Sunstone’s establishment and licensing in the UAE, coordinating with relevant authorities and connecting the company to free zones and industrial parks, port operators and customs authorities, and chambers of commerce and industry associations, as well as government-led trade missions, investment summits, and industry platforms. This reflects the Ministry’s role in helping strategic investors navigate the UAE’s ecosystem and translate their commitments into long-term operations, in line with its ambition to build the UAE into a global centre for industrial manufacturing, trade, and investment, as set out in the National Investment Strategy 2031.

The project is expected to generate skilled employment opportunities for UAE nationals and residents, while strengthening the country’s domestic manufacturing base and industrial capabilities. 

By localising a critical stage of the aluminium value chain, the facility will reduce reliance on imported anodes, support the competitiveness of the UAE’s wider aluminium industry, and contribute to the broader diversification of the national economy.