• Mantle8 has established its first permanent base outside Europe in Dubai.
• The natural hydrogen explorer raised about $36 million to support global expansion.
• Jean-Valery Garcia will lead regional partnerships, commercial activity and operations.

Dubai becomes Mantle8’s Middle East base

Mantle8 has established a regional headquarters in Dubai as the natural hydrogen explorer expands beyond Europe. The company has appointed Jean-Valery Garcia as Regional Director for the Middle East.

The permanent office gives Mantle8 a foothold in a region seeking new routes to energy diversification. It also places the company closer to governments, industrial groups and potential partners evaluating natural hydrogen.

Garcia brings more than 25 years of experience in subsurface exploration, geoscience technology and oilfield services. His regional networks will support Mantle8’s commercial and operational development across the Middle East.

Emmanuel Masini, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mantle8, said: “Expanding into the Middle East is a significant step for Mantle8. Establishing a permanent presence in the UAE, with a dedicated office and Jean-Valery leading commercial and operations activities on the ground, reflects the scale of the opportunity we see in the region. Jean-Valery’s industrial background and his deep networks across the Middle East make him the right person to drive our programme forward.”

Fresh capital supports international expansion

The Dubai opening follows Mantle8’s recently completed Series A financing round. The company raised approximately $36 million, converted from €31 million at the prevailing exchange rate.

That capital is intended to accelerate global expansion, with the Middle East forming a central part of the strategy. Establishing a local operation could help Mantle8 identify exploration opportunities and build partnerships suited to the region’s regulatory and geological conditions.

The move also reflects a wider search for lower-cost sources of hydrogen. Natural hydrogen, also called geological hydrogen, is produced through processes within the Earth’s crust. If commercially recoverable at scale, it could reduce some of the production costs associated with manufactured hydrogen.

Unlike green hydrogen, geological hydrogen does not depend on renewable electricity and electrolysers for production. However, its commercial potential will depend on resource quality, recoverability, infrastructure and regulatory approval. Exploration results will therefore remain central to investment decisions.

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Regional partnerships move into focus

The Middle East combines established subsurface expertise with institutions seeking to diversify national energy portfolios. Those capabilities could support natural hydrogen exploration, particularly where governments already have mature frameworks for energy development.

Garcia will be responsible for building Mantle8’s local team and developing relationships with commercial and institutional stakeholders.

Jean-Valery Garcia, Regional Director, Middle East at Mantle8, said: “Natural hydrogen exploration is one of the most compelling frontiers in the energy sector today. When I saw the technology Mantle8 had built and the alignment with natural hydrogen initiatives in the Middle East, I knew this was the right opportunity. I’m looking forward to building the team and partnerships on the ground here to turn that opportunity into a leading position for Mantle8 in the region.”

For policymakers, natural hydrogen could add another option to national hydrogen strategies. Its role will depend on how governments classify the resource, license exploration and regulate extraction. Environmental safeguards and credible measurement will also shape its acceptance within climate frameworks.

What executives and investors should watch

Mantle8’s expansion gives investors an early view of how the natural hydrogen market may develop outside Europe. The immediate indicators will include exploration agreements, local partnerships, licensing progress and the deployment of Series A capital.

Corporate buyers will also need evidence on production costs, emissions and supply reliability. Geological origin alone will not guarantee a strong sustainability profile. Projects will require transparent lifecycle assessments, responsible land management and clear governance.

Dubai’s position as a regional finance and energy centre could help connect exploration companies with capital, technical expertise and potential customers. If commercial discoveries follow, the Middle East could become an important testing ground for a resource that remains at an early stage globally.