The company aims to drive growth through strategic technology agreements, collaborative partnerships, and a strong regional focus.
Dubai: ADNOC Drilling is placing Oman and Kuwait at the heart of its next growth strategy, with management pointing to significant opportunities to increase market share through joint ventures, technology acquisitions, and the expansion of its oilfield services offerings.
During a media roundtable and an exclusive interview, ADNOC Drilling’s Chief Financial Officer, Youssef Salem, highlighted the company’s immediate focus on scaling technology platforms and strengthening its regional presence.
“Our top priority is to continue expanding under Enersol, building on the four deals we’ve completed, which essentially brings more technology into our project portfolio,” he said. “The second priority is to leverage these capabilities to capture more market share in Oman and Kuwait. Everything we do is structured around joint ventures.”
Opportunities in Kuwait and Oman
Management views both countries as offering robust and stable growth prospects, driven by increasing production capacity and expanding drilling activity.
“Kuwait is entering a major expansion phase, with production capacity expected to rise from three to four million barrels per day, alongside new offshore developments and unconventional exploration,” Salem noted. “The country also operates one of the largest onshore rig fleets in the region, with over 200 rigs, making it an excellent growth opportunity.”
Oman presents similar potential, with a well-established upstream sector comprising nearly 100 onshore rigs and multiple national and international operators. “Both markets offer significant expansion opportunities for us,” Salem added.
Technology and AI at the core
ADNOC Drilling continues to embed automation and artificial intelligence across its operations, driving efficiency, faster well delivery, and improved financial performance.
“In 2025, we finished almost 10% ahead of schedule in terms of wells drilled and overall drilling time. Much of this is thanks to technology—autonomous drilling powered by AI allows us to operate more efficiently,” Salem said.
The company’s return on equity reached 35% last year, supported by cost optimization and digital transformation initiatives. “By integrating services, rigs, and digital systems under one platform, we removed traditional complexities, accelerated decision-making, and unlocked significant performance improvements,” he concluded.
