There are moments in one’s career that feel heavy with meaning. Not because of the titles in the room, but because of the quiet sense that something lasting is being built. For me, that moment came this Tuesday in Amsterdam.
It was my first time participating in a state visit representing my home. The occasion was the historic visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On the sidelines of that grand diplomacy, something deeply personal unfolded. A project I had been patiently building for nearly two years came to life in the form of a world-first agreement.
For 23 months, I have been part of the team behind what is now the first liquid hydrogen corridor globally. From the deserts of Al Duqm to the port of Amsterdam and the industrial landscapes of Germany, we brought together every piece of the value chain. Production, liquefaction, shipping, import terminals and offtake were all aligned through one unified vision. What began as a shared ambition among a handful of determined partners is now a signed commitment among eleven entities representing three nations.
After the signing, I had the rare honour of meeting Their Majesties, the Sultan of Oman and the King of the Netherlands, in a networking reception. I stood there not just as a delegate, but as someone who had helped build this bridge from an idea into something real. And in that moment, I had the privilege to share with them a quiet but powerful truth. This was the first of its kind in the world. A global first. A moment where Oman, the Netherlands and Germany were not following a trend, but setting one.
It is difficult to describe the weight of that moment. To stand in front of two monarchs and articulate a vision that has consumed nearly two years of your life. But what I felt most was clarity. This was not about ceremony. This was about legacy.
This corridor is not just about molecules. It is about meaning. It is about how nations can come together to solve shared challenges. It is about showing the world that Oman is not only ready to participate in the energy transition but to lead it with purpose.
At the heart of the project lies Duqm, soon to be home to the largest hydrogen liquefaction, storage and export terminal in the world. By 2030, it will deliver green, RFNBO-compliant hydrogen directly to Europe. Around it, new industries will grow. Jobs will be created. Value will be generated. The impact will ripple across borders.
Liquid hydrogen is not new. It has fuelled spacecraft for decades. What is new is our decision to scale it here on Earth. Not for exploration, but for decarbonisation. Not for propulsion, but for transformation.
As I left that room, I carried more than pride. I carried a stillness. A quiet recognition that 23 months of effort had led to something real. Something historic. And I knew, without doubt, that this was only the beginning.
Rumaitha Al Busaidi
The writer is an environmental strategist and advocate for sustainable development, focusing on climate change impacts in the Middle East and women's empowerment in environmental solutions
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