Asset investments for competitive manufacturing in the UAE

UAE

Zaheer Juddy, founder and CEO of AIMS Group of Companies, talks to The Energy Year about the company’s growing manufacturing capabilities in the UAE and generating value and profits through localisation. AIMS is a provider of engineering, analytical and process solutions for the hydrocarbons, power and environmental sectors.

How has AIMS been increasing its manufacturing capabilities?
When we spoke in 2023, we had plans to increase our manufacturing; now, we have advanced into the production phase. Previously, our operations spanned 20,000 square metres, and now we have grown to more than 80,000 square metres in Abu Dhabi and have added 40,000 square metres in Saudi Arabia. We are building assets to be competitive.
We reached the key milestone of being able to manufacture water-cut meters, a technology that measures water output from wells, as part of our AI solution to predict production and assess well health. After acquiring Sentech, a Norwegian company with 18 patents in water analysis, we relocated manufacturing to Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, with plans to open soon in Oman. Our efforts secured ADNOC’s first order, 73 units manufactured with CNC [computer numerical control] machining and electronics calibration systems.
We are currently focused on working with ADNOC, as it keeps us quite busy. As a centralised company based in Abu Dhabi, we use the same logistics, engineering and technical teams to support Saudi Arabia, which is our second-largest market, followed by Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, where we aim to establish a dedicated manufacturing centre. Detailed engineering was previously handled in India or Europe, but is now done in Abu Dhabi.

Has localising production added value to your business?
We are achieving considerable profit margins by localising manufacturing, retaining revenue in the country and fostering a circular economy. The ICV programme has been vital, with ADNOC’s unmatched support driving product approvals, quality improvements and locally made goods.
We compete with global players but benefit from proximity to customers, which enables us to address challenges on-site and minimise delays. We are located near Habshan and one of the world’s largest refineries, and we can help reduce costs and prevent losses of up to an estimated AED 7 million [USD 1.9 million] for a two-day refinery shutdown.

Can you comment on a major project recently executed for ADNOC?
We are participating in ADNOC’s Maximising Ethane Recovery and Monetization project with a contract valued up to AED 100 million [USD 27 million] that was awarded to us due to our in-country manufacturing capabilities. For the first time in UAE history, we manufactured 110 laser-based analysers locally, achieving IECEX explosion-proof certification and shifting production from Europe, the US and Canada to the UAE. Additionally, we produced 12 explosion-proof shelters with advanced engineering and globally aligned quality systems to meet ADNOC and Aramco standards.
We obtained IECEx and ECAS [Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme] certifications and trained local personnel, reducing reliance on external resources. With the manufacturing complete and the factory acceptance test scheduled, we are now focusing on another milestone: developing an explosion-proof solar panel system and importing the required technology.

What are some of the main challenges you face in your projects?
The main challenge does not lie in technical aspects but in sustaining financial growth, including sponsoring and financing in-country value requirements, paying vendors and managing raw material supplies. To address this, we hired a new CFO and adopted Oracle to monitor cash flows and growth.
Compliance is another area that requires systematic oversight. We must ensure we adhere to regulations covering anything from bribery prevention to safety. With Shell’s advice, we implemented the compliance system within Oracle’s ERP platform. Retaining critical staff is also key, and we achieve this by listening to their ideas and turning concepts into practical solutions, ensuring their engagement and success.

What are some of your recent growth achievements?
In 2024, we achieved remarkable growth of 40-42%, a significant increase from our previous 25-30% rate. Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be transformative, with numerous ADNOC projects in sight and the approval of new technologies and vendors expected to boost product development by 50%.

What are your plans for the future?
We are focusing on UAE projects such as Hail and Ghasha and the P5 production enhancement plan, which aims to increase oil production to 5 million boepd, and we are developing environmental solutions for these initiatives.
One key element is an AI-based predictive emissions monitoring system that creates and tunes models based on past operational data to predict emissions, providing a complete emissions overview. We are the only company to have implemented measurements using emissions predictions; we secured 40 out of 130 sources for ADNOC Gas and are now expanding offshore.
Another focus for us is catalysts, which are essential for the operation of refineries, gas plants and water treatment plants. These facilities will remain vital, which presents significant business opportunities. Our goal is to localise catalyst production and chemical blending, ensuring supply for refineries and plants. We have secured space in the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone to establish a chemical blending plant and build a catalyst management system.
Having Shell Catalyst & Technologies as a partner further strengthens our position. They renewed our agreement making us their local partner for technology support and licensing, as well as a reseller for their products. Currently, we hold long-term supply agreements valued at USD 450 million over 3-4 years, with expectations to secure an additional USD 200 million in contracts, potentially reaching USD 1 billion in revenue within the next 3-4 years. With an annual projection of USD 250-300 million, we already have bookings worth USD 425 million.

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