The Middle East is seeking to leverage its renewable resources and strategic location to become a leader in green hydrogen production and trade. But turning ambition into durable advantage will require more than resources. Costs remain high, demand is uncertain and the infrastructure required for large-scale hydrogen production, transport and export is capital-intensive and complex. In a region with scarce spare water, questions around resource use and environmental integrity are also central. As global standards, subsidies and trade frameworks evolve the region faces strategic choices: how quickly to scale, which markets to prioritise and how to ensure projects are viable.