Read the Digital Magazine

In a major move to advance its integrated global gas growth strategy, ADNOC has taken final investment decision (FID) for the Ruwais Diyab Unconventional Gas Development during ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi

Unlocking a new source of energy, the project is set to generate 345 mn standard cu/ft per day of raw gas starting 2029. This will have the the domestic as well as international markets covered, not only for more than a 25-year period but also ensuring a future capacity of up to 1 bn standard cu/ft per day. 

After processed on site, the gas will be channelised through new pipeline infrastructure to take over UAE's gas network. Once supply begins, it will significantly add to the nation’s economic and industrial growth while also fulfilling ADNOC’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export ambitions.

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, said, “Ruwais Diyab is ADNOC’s first large-scale unconventional gas development and this FID marks an important milestone in unlocking Abu Dhabi’s vast gas resources. This investment will strengthen the UAE’s energy security, support industrial growth and advance ADNOC’s integrated global gas growth strategy to responsibly meet rising demand at home and abroad.”

The development will be a new addition to UAE's gas reserves, which is known to be the seventh-largest in the world at 298 trillion standard cu/ft of conventional gas reserves and 160 trillion standard cu/ft of unconventional gas resources. The Ruwais FID comes at a time when global demand for reliable, lower-carbon energy continues to grow. This strategic decision will help ADNOC expand its LNG portfolio.

Ruwais Diyab’s additional unconventional gas supply will strengthen ADNOC’s gas value chain, including ADNOC Gas’s ability to meet rising domestic and international customer demand.

Ruwais Diyab advances ADNOC’s ambition to establish a scalable unconventional gas business and create a platform for future growth. The development follows a disciplined program of technical studies, field testing and subsurface analysis, delivered by ADNOC Onshore under a design-build-operate (DBO) model, to reduce development risk. It brings together advanced subsurface expertise, AI-enabled drilling and completion technologies, and integrated project delivery capabilities to support the efficient and responsible development of domestic gas resources.

The Middle East occupies a pivotal position in the global energy landscape, and any disruption on vital shipping lanes has a huge impact on international supply chains, as shown with the disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, through which at least 20% of global oil flows passed prior to the current crisis

This underscores the importance of developing alternative routes and strengthening regional infrastructure to keep the energy flowing.

The UAE is accelerating construction of a new oil pipeline to the port of Fujairah, the West-East pipeline, which is expected to begin operations next year. The UAE’s existing Habshan-Fujairah pipeline carries 1.8mn barrels bpd, but the new pipeline will significantly increase capacity. Meanwhile Saudi Arabia earlier this year expanded the capacity of the East-West pipeline, which has been critical in enabling the Kingdom to bypass the Strait of Hormuz and maintain oil exports.

Al Gharbia Pipe Company (AGPC), an Abu Dhabi–based producer of longitudinally submerged arc welded (LSAW) steel pipes, is contributing to the region’s energy security objectives with the supply of around 360,000 metres or 220,000 metric tons of LSAW steel pipes for a major oil pipeline project. The project is an alternative export pathway that enhances flexibility and reinforces the UAE's energy supply chain. The company's access to the UAE's ports on both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman allow its steel plate imports and LSAW pipe exports to reach international destinations unimpeded.These multiple port options keep deliveries moving in the event of regional disruption.

"Resilient supply chains are essential for regional and global economies to mitigate disruption of passage along key trade routes," said Noritsugu Mifune, CEO of Al Gharbia Pipe Company. "Al Gharbia Pipe Company's advanced manufacturing and logistics capabilities help supply steel pipes for strategic pipeline networks. This helps strengthen reliability and security of energy flows across the region."

AGPC's AI-powered quality inspection and safety monitoring systems identify possible defects quickly and accurately and prevent workplace safety incidents. Combined with advanced automation and digital production technologies, these capabilities improve traceability, reduce operational risk and ensure that critical pipeline infrastructure meets the rigorous standards required by major energy transit projects, supporting the development of robust pipeline networks in the UAE and wider Middle East region that underpin both today's energy needs and long-term energy transition ambitions.

AGPC has also enhanced its precision manufacturing capabilities, expanding its maximum pipe wall thickness from 44.50 mm to 47.30 mm. According to Mifune, the production of thicker pipe walls is a significant technical achievement for the company due to the increased complexity associated with forming, welding, dimensional control, testing, and inspection of heavy-wall pipes.

AGPC's commitment to manufacturing excellence has led to it winning its second consecutive Impact Champion award at ADIPEC 2026. The award recognises exhibitors that demonstrate their role in strengthening energy systems through innovation, interactive technology, strategic messaging, and compelling visual storytelling.

As the Middle East navigates an increasingly complex operating environment, advanced, AI-enabled manufacturing technologies and multiple supply chain routes are helping ensure that critical pipeline assets meet the highest standards of performance and reliability, contributing to a stronger, safer and more reliable infrastructure that supports regional energy security.

At the S&P Global Energy Middle East Petroleum & Gas Conference (MPGC) held in London, Musaab Al Mulla, Aramco's vice president of market analysis and sustainability, underlined the need for the recognition of the role refined products play in resilient energy systems, which has been brought into sharp focus in the current crisis

Al Mulla highlighted the need for a realistic approach to the role of oil and gas as the engine for economic growth and the impact of the crisis on products ranging from helium to materials and fertilisers, with shortages of the latter in turn impacting food supply.

A common theme of the event was the need for resilience and redundancy in the energy system to be able to weather such crises. Al Mulla highlighted Aramco’s focus on long-term strategic planning and investment for the future, as exemplified by its investment in the east-west pipeline which is now not only transporting crude but also products, building flexibility into the system, transporting crude to refineries for export and ensuring refined products get to market.

“The world has realised the need for more investment in pipeline infrastructure and domestic refining to ensure industry is working together,” he said.

He remarked that the crisis has demonstrated demand is resilient and has exposed the underinvestment in refineries, with capital flows being redirected towards the energy transition and resulting in a deficit of 3mn bpd.

“We need to build refineries and infrastructure while also reducing emissions,” he said, noting that Aramco has one of the lowest emissions intensities.

Discussing demand for refined products, he noted that demand for jet fuel continues to grow and refinery utilisation is at record rates.

“We believe demand will continue to be resilient, and low carbon products will be important as well,” he said.

He foresaw strong growth in chemicals with the market for durable materials growing in multiple sectors, noting that carbon-based materials can help reduce emissions. Replacing steel with polypropylene in cars can reduce emissions by 80%, for example. He also highlighted growth in demand for low carbon aviation fuel (lcaf), fossil-based jet fuel, which is 10% lower in emissions than conventional jet fuel, and complements sustainable aviation fuel (saf) as it addresses some of its limitations.

Highlighting the continuing long-term strategic importance of refining, he stressed that gasolene will still account for a significant proportion of transportation fuel by 2050.

With resilience, reliability and sustainability being global challenges, Al Mulla said that resilience for Aramco means building on operational excellence, long-term investment in oil and gas, new energies and low carbon, and localisation, noting Aramco’s 70% localisation target to ensure a resilient supply chain.

“Resilience is correlated with sustainability, you can’t be sustainable if you are not resilient,” he said. It involves not only having the flexibility to be able to adapt to shocks, but also having the capacity to innovate and grow supply while also reducing emissions, he added.

Commenting on the Middle East’s attractiveness as an investment destination, he said, “Clearly the region remains the hub for oil and gas petrochemicals and refining, and it has shown its infrastructure and energy system have been resilient in this historic crisis.”

He said Aramco is also looking at other regions, and urged the need for more investor-friendly policies in Europe, where there is a need for more domestic refining and chemicals so as not to be dependent on other regions.

Discussing the role of gas, Al Mulla said there will be increasing demand to fulfil the growing demand for power from data centres, highlighting the move towards regional data centres.

Nayef Bou Chaaya, vice president for the Middle East, Turkey and Central Asia at industrial software company AVEVA, discusses the growing power demand from data centres, the evolution of AI deployment and how the CONNECT platform improves project delivery and reduces inefficiencies

Growing investment in AI infrastructure across Saudi Arabia and the UAE is expected to increase electricity consumption as energy companies accelerate digitalisation and expand production capacity. The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centres across the Middle East is driving demand for electricity, adding pressure on regional energy producers to increase capacity while improving efficiency and reducing emissions, according to AVEVA.

Bou Chaaya said the growing number of data centres being developed across the region, particularly in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, would reshape energy requirements over the coming years.

"Electricity is increasing, as we see, because of the data centres that are being built in the regions," Bou Chaaya said in an exclusive interview with Oil Review Middle East on the sidelines of ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi.

The increase in power demand comes as regional governments invest in AI infrastructure, cloud computing and digital technologies, creating additional requirements for reliable electricity supplies alongside existing industrial and commercial consumption.

Bou Chaaya expects conventional energy production to remain important, while renewable energy, natural gas and carbon capture technologies play an increasing role in meeting demand and reducing emissions. The challenge for energy producers will be to expand electricity generation while maintaining operational reliability, improving efficiency and supporting the transition towards lower-carbon energy sources.

For AVEVA, which provides industrial software to energy companies, the shift is creating opportunities to deploy digital technologies across power generation, oil and gas production and industrial infrastructure.

AI moves beyond pilot projects

While AI infrastructure is contributing to rising electricity demand, the technology is also becoming increasingly important in helping energy companies manage their operations.
Bou Chaaya said the Middle East's energy sector was moving beyond small-scale AI experiments towards large deployments capable of delivering measurable improvements in operational performance.

Predictive analytics, which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify potential equipment failures before they occur, has emerged as one of the most mature applications.

Over the past two to three years, energy companies have moved from testing the technology on approximately 10 assets to implementations covering as many as 10,000, according to Bou Chaaya.

The technology allows operators to monitor equipment conditions, analyse historical performance and identify early warning signs of potential failures. By anticipating maintenance requirements, companies can prevent unexpected shutdowns, protect production levels and improve workplace safety. Reducing unplanned shutdowns can also help lower emissions and energy consumption associated with operational disruptions.

Bou Chaaya said major energy companies were increasingly recognising the commercial benefits of predictive analytics and moving towards wider implementation.
The transition reflects a broader shift in the industry's approach to AI, with companies increasingly focused on demonstrating financial and operational returns rather than experimenting with emerging technologies.

Digital platforms improve project delivery

At ADIPEC 2026, AVEVA showcased its industrial intelligence capabilities, including its CONNECT platform, which integrates engineering, construction and operational information across the lifecycle of industrial assets.

Bou Chaaya said connecting these processes through a shared digital platform could significantly improve project delivery and reduce inefficiencies caused by disconnected systems.

Traditionally, engineering design, construction and operations have relied on separate teams and databases, creating challenges when technical information needs to be transferred between project stages.

AVEVA's technology aims to address these gaps by providing a common information platform that allows different teams to access and work with the same data. One application involves AI-assisted engineering design, including the routing of pipelines and equipment within complex industrial facilities.

Designing infrastructure such as a refinery requires engineers to coordinate extensive networks of pipelines, machinery and supporting systems. Bou Chaaya said AI-enabled engineering tools could reduce the number of people required for certain design tasks while accelerating completion times. Digital integration can also shorten the handover process between engineering and operations, which can traditionally take six to nine months. By reducing repeated verification and allowing teams to work from consistent information, companies can accelerate project delivery and bring industrial assets into operation sooner.

The technology is particularly relevant as the Middle East expands its energy infrastructure to accommodate rising electricity demand and new industrial developments.

Clean data key to AI adoption

Despite growing investment in artificial intelligence, Bou Chaaya said data quality remained one of the biggest challenges facing energy companies seeking to scale the technology.

"Most important, AI is proper data. It's clean data," he said.

Industrial operators collect significant volumes of information from production equipment, engineering systems and operational facilities, but much of it remains fragmented across different platforms. AVEVA is focusing on integrating these sources into a unified information environment, allowing companies to analyse data more effectively and generate reliable operational insights.

Bou Chaaya also highlighted the importance of developing workforce capabilities alongside technological investment. As AI becomes more widely embedded in industrial operations, engineers and technical specialists will need the skills to interpret its recommendations, verify results and intervene when necessary. He said subject matter experts would become increasingly important in ensuring that AI-generated outputs are accurate and appropriate for complex industrial environments.

For energy companies facing growing demand from data centres and other electricity-intensive industries, the combination of reliable data, skilled personnel and AI-enabled operations could become critical to maintaining supply security.

As the region expands its digital infrastructure, Bou Chaaya expects the energy sector to continue investing in gas, renewable energy and emissions-reduction technologies while accelerating the adoption of AI.

The challenge will be to ensure that the technology driving new electricity demand can also help energy producers operate more efficiently, reliably and sustainably.

Working in confined spaces is by nature hazardous, with potential dangers ranging from reduced oxygen levels and the presence of toxic gases to risk of explosions and access difficulties

Confined spaces can present complex and changing risks. Even when a space is considered safe during the initial assessment, atmospheric conditions, work activities and operational factors can introduce new hazards once work begins.

How can you ensure worker safety when confined space conditions change after entry? And are your teams fully prepared to manage evolving hazards and respond effectively in an emergency?

Practical webinar

Join HSE Review and MSA Safety on Tuesday 17 November at 2pm GST for a practical webinar on 'Managing changing confined space risks: from entry to rescue', exploring how organisations can manage confined space risks throughout the entire confined space safety cycle, from hazard assessment and entry preparation through worker protection, ongoing monitoring, rescue readiness and safe exit. Using practical scenarios and drawing on industry best practices, the session will examine how changing conditions can affect space safety, why continuous risks awareness is essential, and how organisations can strengthen their procedures to protect workers at every stage.

What you'll learn

• Understand how confined space risks can evolve before, during and after entry
• Explore the confined space safety cycle, from initial assessment to safe exit
• Identify atmospheric, physical and operational hazards that can affect worker safety
• Discover practical readiness checks to strengthen confined space risk management
• Learn how proactive risk awareness and behavioural change can build a stronger safety culture

Expert speakers

• Rim Abou Chahine, EMEA segment marketing manager, MSA Safety
• Edward Clapham, segment marketing manager, portable gas detection from MSA Safety

Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to gain valuable insights into managing confined space hazards and ensuring workers are protected from entry through to rescue.

Register now: https://alaincharlestraining.com/webinar2/msa-safety-managing-changing-confined-space-risks-from-entry-to-rescue

The disruption to energy supply through the Strait of Hormuz is spurring governments to reduce dependence on imported oil and gas, according to the tenth edition of DNV's Energy Transition Outlook

Energy-importing countries are scaling clean energy three times faster than energy exporters, as governments seek to reduce reliance on imported oil and gas by expanding domestically produced power.

At the same time, exporting countries outside the Middle East are increasing production to compensate for disrupted supplies, and decarbonising more slowly compared to the rest of the world.

China, India, and Europe have collectively shifted towards non-fossil energy more than three times as fast as the Middle East, North America, and Russia.

Prolonged conflict would permanently reduce fossil-fuel demand

The disruption to the Strait of Hormuz has strengthened incentives for importing countries to diversify supply and reduce their exposure to oil and gas, increasing the long-term risks facing fossil-fuel exporters. DNV’s new forecast sees the Middle East supplying around 40% of global oil production in 2050, compared with 50% in last year’s Outlook.

“Energy security is redrawing the map of the energy transition,” said Ditlev Engel, CEO - Energy Systems at DNV. “Importing regions are accelerating electrification, renewables, and storage to reduce their exposure to the most insecure fossil-fuel markets. Exporters, meanwhile, are responding to today’s shortages by increasing investments and production. The result is a widening divide in the speed and direction of the transition.”

Technology gap widening

The gap is widening between competitive mature technologies and emerging technologies with falling costs accelerating the deployment of solar power, onshore wind, and batteries, while more expensive emerging technologies are losing ground. Solar PV and onshore wind are increasingly displacing fossil fuels from power generation, and installed battery capacity has increased 14-fold over the past five years.

However, technologies essential to decarbonising the hard-to-electrify sectors, such as hydrogen and carbon capture, are falling back due to their high cost and concerns about industrial competitiveness. Stronger policy support will be needed to bridge the cost gap and accelerate deployment.

DNV forecasts that nuclear will maintain its current share of global power generation as electrification accelerates. Installed nuclear capacity is expected to grow by 30% over the next decade and by 170% by 2060, despite high costs and supply-chain risks.

“Driven by solar, wind, and increasingly battery storage, electricity is emerging as the clear winner of the energy transition,” said Sverre Alvik, Director of Energy Transition Research at DNV. “The pace of electrification over the next two decades will be more than twice that of the past two decades. Although importing countries are leading the shift, fossil-fuel exporters are also embracing electrification because it delivers greater efficiency and lower costs.”

AI is significantly boosting electricity demand. DNV forecasts that global data centre electricity consumption will almost triple from around 400 TWh in 2025 to 1,100 TWh in 2030, with growth concentrated initially in North America.

MENA region key takeaways

• The Middle East and North Africa is balancing energy security and transition goals, maintaining oil and gas exports while scaling renewable and low-carbon energy investments.
• Solar is becoming a key growth driver, supported by abundant resources, cost competitiveness, and strong government backing.
• Power demand will grow substantially, driven by economic expansion, electrification, cooling, desalination, and hydrogen production.
• GCC countries are reducing the carbon intensity of hydrocarbons, focusing on electrification, methane reduction, efficiency improvements, and carbon capture.
• Hydrogen is emerging as a major export opportunity, leveraging the region’s energy resources and infrastructure.
• Climate resilience is becoming a business imperative, as heat, water scarcity, and other climate risks increasingly impact economic growth and operations.