Omani startup 44.01 bags $1 million XPRIZE for groundbreaking carbon removal

Muscat: The award-winning project by 44.01, based in Fujairah, UAE, uses Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology to extract CO₂ from the atmosphere and then mineralise it—turning it into rock—ensuring the carbon can never return to the air. The company’s technology speeds up a natural process, removing carbon permanently in less than a year.

This success comes from Project Hajar, which the startup has tested in both Oman and the UAE. The technology is now set to scale globally, offering a vital tool in the race to reach net-zero targets and decarbonise heavy industries.

Out of over 1,300 teams from nearly 80 countries, 44.01 was among the 20 finalists selected in May 2024, with the winners announced on Wednesday in New York. The XPRIZE judges praised the project as a safe, scalable, and high-quality solution capable of making a real impact in the fight against climate change.
Founder and CEO Talal Hasan highlighted the regional significance of the win as a testament to the leading role our region can play in decarbonising our atmosphere and providing new jobs and opportunities as we navigate the energy transition.

With mineralisation being deployable on every continent, 44.01’s ambitions now go global, aiming to export their climate tech solution worldwide. Their efforts underscore the Middle East’s growing role as an innovation hub for carbon removal and climate action.

The XPRIZE Foundation, a US-based non-profit, is known for designing high-impact global competitions to drive technological breakthroughs. The carbon removal challenge, launched four years ago, aimed to surface gigatonne-scale CO₂ solutions, pushing the frontiers of science and sustainability.