Two MENA nations are moving aggressively to shape the region’s carbon market future, with Morocco signing another bilateral Article 6.2 agreement and Oman rolling out a national carbon trading framework anchored by a digital registry system.
The parallel developments signal a wider regional push to build the infrastructure needed to attract climate finance, issue credible carbon credits and participate in global carbon trading mechanisms.
In North Africa, Morocco signed a new Article 6.2 cooperation agreement with Norway on May 5, deepening its “learning by doing” approach to international carbon markets.
The deal, signed by Moroccan Energy Transition Minister Leila Benali and Norwegian Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, centres on bilateral transfers of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.
The agreement is expected to support nearly 2 GW of renewable energy and battery storage projects between 2026 and 2036, targeting emissions reductions of up to 10 million tonnes of CO₂ by 2030.
A key feature is the introduction of a Generation Based Incentive programme designed to support projects that struggle to secure conventional financing. The mechanism is intended to mobilise climate finance while helping Morocco scale renewable energy deployment and generate tradable carbon credits.
The Norway deal marks Morocco’s latest move to position itself as an early African and MENA leader in Article 6 carbon trading as countries prepare for a more active international carbon market under the Paris Agreement.
Meanwhile, Oman is focusing on building the regulatory and digital backbone required for a functioning domestic carbon market.
The country’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals and the Oman Net Zero Centre unveiled a national carbon market framework and net zero roadmap earlier this month, outlining plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Under the strategy, Oman aims to cut emissions by 33 per cent by 2035 compared to 2024 levels, with 7 per cent coming from mandatory reductions and 26 per cent from voluntary action.
At the centre of the framework is “Meezan”, a national digital carbon registry designed to issue, track and manage verified carbon credits.
The platform was validated against ISO 14064-3 standards in late 2025 and is already onboarding entities including OMRAN Group and Port of Duqm.
Oman’s roadmap prioritises six core decarbonisation technologies: renewable energy, energy efficiency, electrification, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and battery storage.
The strategy aims to convert national emissions reduction efforts into measurable and tradable carbon assets while improving transparency and market credibility.
The developments in Morocco and Oman reflect a broader reality emerging across MENA: carbon markets cannot scale without strong infrastructure, clear regulation and trusted registry systems.
While Morocco is accelerating bilateral carbon trading partnerships, Oman is concentrating on the systems needed to support long term domestic market participation.
Together, the two countries are helping shape what could become the next major carbon market growth region beyond Europe, Asia and Latin America.
