With the acquisition, ADES now operates across 19 countries. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Saudi Arabia-headquartered ADES Holding has completed its acquisition of Shelf Drilling through a cash merger, reinforcing its position as a global leader in offshore drilling

With a combined fleet of 83 offshore units (46 premium units) and 40 onshore rigs, now operating across 19 countries - up from 13 previously - ADES is now one of the broadest and most geographically diversified offshore drilling platforms in the world, with operations now spanning its home market in Saudi Arabia, the GCC, and key growth regions such as Southeast Asia and West Africa.

The enlarged platform will benefit from enhanced commercial reach, improved fleet allocation flexibility, and the consolidation of shared functions across key markets. It is supported by a combined backlog in excess of SAR 34 billion, providing the ability to capture premium market opportunities at scale.

Global marketed jack-up utilisation is currently hovering above 90% prior to the redeployment of several suspended rigs from Saudi Arabia, including the resumption notices received for ADES’ ADM 510 and Shelf’s Harvey H. Ward drilling units. With most of ADES’ existing contracts secured at pre-upturn rates, the combined platform is well positioned to benefit from improving market conditions, allowing natural margin expansion as contracts renew at higher rates.

In line with its strategy, ADES will seek to optimise the combined Group’s capital structure, leveraging the strength of its enlarged balance sheet and robust cash-flow generation.

Dr. Mohamed Farouk, CEO of ADES Holding, said, 'This is a defining moment for ADES. By completing this landmark transaction, we have cemented our position as the world’s leading offshore drilling company, with the scale, fleet quality and geographic reach to serve clients across the world’s most attractive basins. With 123 rigs and a backlog of over SAR 34 billion1 , we have built a powerhouse platform with commercial strength and long-term earnings capacity.

“We are delighted to welcome the Shelf Drilling team into the ADES family as we continue building a unified organisation rooted in safety, performance, innovation and partnership.”

Commenting that the acquisition would directly support Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, he said, “Combining international experience with deep localisation will allow ADES to accelerate knowledge transfer and talent development within the Kingdom, further advancing Saudi Arabia’s long-term energy services capabilities all while generating hard-currency inflows that bolster the national economy.” 

Noritsugu Mifune, CEO of Al Gharbia Pipe Company LLC.

Oil Review Middle East caught up with Noritsugu Mifune, CEO of Al Gharbia Pipe Company LLC at ADIPEC, where he highlighted the company’s encouraging growth prospects

Abu Dhabi-based Al Gharbia Pipe Company (AGPC) is one of the most technologically advanced Longitudinally Submerged Arc Welded (LSAW) Pipe manufacturers in the world, and one of the first large scale manufacturers to embrace Industry 4.0. Established in 2015, it is a joint venture between three partners: ADQ, Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company; Japan’s JFE Steel, the 13th largest steel manufacturer in the world, and Japan’s Marubeni Itochu Steel, provider of commercial and logistical support to some of the world’s largest oil and gas companies.

Noritsugu Mifune notes that the company in October recorded the production milestone of 700,000 MT of steel pipes, of which almost 500,000 tonnes was produced in 2024-2025 alone. Production is mainly destined for the UAE market, which Mifune describes as a “very good and promising market”. He forecasts continuing strong demand given the high level of activity in both the onshore and offshore sector.
Mifune stresses the company’s ability to meet even the most challenging customer requirements, thanks to the deployment of cutting-edge technology and the expertise of its Japanese shareholders. The plant is equipped with the most advanced production and testing technology from Europe and Japan, including a state-of-the-art automated pipe manufacturing line, a 2nd generation JCO pipe forming press, and a Manufacturing Execution System (MES). The company can produce pipes for the harshest environments, such as sour service pipes for H2S, and deep-sea pipes that can withstand depths of up to 3,000m.

The main challenges for the company are cost and delivery, given the current tough international market conditions, with materials needed to be imported from abroad. However, the UAE’s strategic position as a trading hub with excellent port and logistics facilities facilitates trade. Located in KEZAD, Al Gharbia benefits from competitive utility rates, along with good infrastructure and logistics.

“It is a very good place for our business,” Mifune says. “It gives us peace of mind.”

These factors, along with the UAE’s supportive business environment, attractive labour market and strategic location with easy access to Europe, Africa and Asia have contributed to the company’s success, he adds.

While local demand continues to be strong, Al Gharbia is also looking to grow its exports to Europe, Asia and Africa. Last year the company exported 60,000 tonnes to Iraq. It is looking to further grow its capacity, which now stands at up to 360,000 tonnes a year, with production of approximately two kilometres of pipe a day.

Industry 4.0 Digital Leader

Mifune highlights the company’s commitment to innovation and continual development, noting how it leverages Industry 4.0 technologies to improve quality, safety and production. All plant processes are connected through Smart Manufacturing Execution System (MES 4.0) that executes, monitors, tracks and reports operations on the plant floor in real-time. Pipe traceability and real-time data are collected by fully automated Smart Devices using artificial intelligence and machine learning, guaranteeing total quality control and traceability throughout all steps of the manufacturing process.

The company’s efforts have been recognised by the UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, which has certified the company as an Industry 4.0 Digital Leader.

Mifune points out that while oil and gas is currently the focus of production, the company is looking to the future and is already prepared for the production of pipes for hydrogen and CO2, developed with JFE Steel, which are likely to become increasingly important.

Mifune highlights the company’s strong commitment to Emiratisation, as illustrated by its initiatives for the training and development of local talent. The company is involved in training young graduates from local universities and facilitates education exchanges with Japan and other countries. It is something which Mifune is passionate about; he himself has a personal involvement in the company’s training programmes. 

Natural gas and downstream projects remain major growth areas. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

SABEQ’s managing director, Sreenivasa Shenoy, discusses how decarbonisation, advanced materials, and data-driven engineering are redefining performance expectations across the energy value chain

Oil Review Middle East (ORME): Decarbonisation and lifecycle performance are central to today’s energy transition. How is this influencing the selection and qualification of project materials?

Sreenivasa Shenoy (SS): The global drive toward decarbonisation is accelerating the demand for materials that extend service life, minimise fugitive emissions, and reduce maintenance-related carbon impact. We are seeing increased specification of 3LPE, FBE, and PTFE coating systems for pipelines and process lines, alongside a shift toward forged components that deliver higher mechanical strength and dimensional integrity. The focus is no longer only on corrosion resistance — but on overall system reliability and total cost of ownership. This evolution aligns material selection with ESG and operational efficiency goals.

ORME: With digitalisation and AI integration advancing, how do you see these technologies transforming material engineering and procurement practices?

SS: AI and digital twins are already influencing material verification and design optimisation. Predictive analytics can assess coating degradation rates, weld performance, or corrosion under insulation based on real data from field operations. This enables more accurate material selection and lifecycle planning. On the supply side, digital traceability and automated document validation are enhancing compliance with international standards. For suppliers like SABEQ, the ability to provide structured documentation, MTC validation, and integrated QA/QC data will be critical to align with the industry’s digital transformation.

ORME: Where do you see the strongest material demand in the coming project cycles?

SS: Natural gas and downstream industrial projects remain major growth areas. As gas is recognised as a lower-carbon transition fuel, there is continued demand for high-performance piping, valves, and forged fittings suitable for cryogenic and high-pressure applications. We are also observing greater adoption of duplex and nickel alloys in critical service conditions, where temperature and corrosion challenges require advanced metallurgy. In parallel, the need for certified coating solutions and field-applied rehabilitation systems continues to expand.

ORME: What differentiates SABEQ in the current project materials landscape?

SS: Our strength lies in combining technical expertise with process discipline. We engage early in the specification stage, ensuring materials meet project-specific mechanical and corrosion requirements. SABEQ’s integrated approach — from coating qualification and third-party inspection to traceable documentation — helps EPCs and end users mitigate risk. We focus on engineering-led supply, where every product delivered supports design integrity, operational safety, and audit compliance.

The Middle East offshore drilling rig market is undergoing a significant recalibration, says Teresa Wilkie, director – RigLogix at Westwood Global Energy Group

Following a few years of aggressive supply expansion, particularly in Saudi Arabia, the region continues to grapple with the fallout from rig suspensions and shifting investment priorities.
Between 2021 and 2024, the Middle East jackup market saw a dramatic increase in activity. Saudi Aramco’s push to grow its working jackup fleet from the mid-50s to 90 units drove a surge in marketed supply in the region, which peaked at an annual total of 183 units in 2024 – a 31% increase from 2021. This expansion was supported by reactivations, newbuild deliveries, and rig relocations from across the globe.

However, in early 2024, Aramco revised its plans, leading to the suspension or termination of 36 jackups and leaving drilling contractors to reassess their fleet strategies. Many of these rigs have been redeployed, with several regions absorbing the majority of excess capacity such as West Africa, Southeast Asia, China, other parts of the Middle East, as well as Brazil and Mexico to a smaller extent. Drilling contractors have also taken measures to rebalance their fleets and the wider global market, such as moving units to cold stack, selling these assets for non-drilling purposes, or returning bareboat-chartered jackups to their owners.

While Middle Eastern committed utilisation remains relatively high at 89%, actual working utilisation has dropped to 83%, and this supply and demand imbalance is now showing up in pricing.
Global jackup dayrates have dropped by around 17% year-to-date versus the full year figure for 2024, as contractors face intense competition, with more rigs chasing fewer opportunities following the influx of available supply from Saudi Arabia. The result? Lower bids, tighter margins, and a clear shift in operator leverage. Dayrates for contracts fixed in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) this year are sitting around 16% lower on average when compared to contracts fixed in 2023.

Signs of market uptick

Despite the recent disruptions, the Middle East remains a cornerstone of offshore drilling. Qatar and the UAE continue to invest in major offshore gas projects, and Saudi Arabia is still pursuing brownfield revitalisation, albeit at a slower pace. These developments provide a foundation for continued rig demand.

The region’s long-term fundamentals remain strong. Committed utilisation figures shows that future backlog is still healthy, especially now that Saudi Aramco has started calling back some of the remaining idle rigs (with current indications that it could take back six to nine rigs from early 2026) and award activity in the region this year is already higher than it was for the full year of 2024. Meanwhile, the redeployment, cold stacking and retiring of rigs has helped mitigate some of the supply surplus.

Global implications and strategic lessons

The Middle East jackup market is transitioning from a phase of aggressive expansion to one of strategic recalibration. Saudi Aramco’s rig suspensions have reshaped the regional and global landscape, but the absorption of rigs to other markets and continued investment in gas and brownfield projects suggest that the market will remain buoyant.

The redeployment of rigs from Saudi Arabia underscores the importance of fleet flexibility and geographic diversification. Drilling contractors with the ability to quickly reposition assets have fared better, while those heavily exposed to the Middle East have faced greater challenges.