Arabian Drilling and Shelf Drilling sign global offshore alliance

AL KHOBAR AND DUBAI, February 19, 2025 – Arabian Drilling and Shelf Drilling have signed an MoU to work together on international rig deployments to expand their reach and technical capabilities, the companies announced on Tuesday.

Under the agreement, Arabian Drilling will gain access to Shelf Drilling’s international operating platform and customer relationships to source new contracts, and Shelf Drilling will seek to use Arabian Drilling’s jackup rigs to execute certain projects.

“The Alliance gives us a clear path to execute our strategy to develop an international footprint. Shelf Drilling’s expertise and international presence will bring our advanced, high-specification rigs to new markets. We see a strong cultural fit and a common focus on the highest health, safety and environmental standards,” said Ghassan Mirdad, CEO of Arabian Drilling.

Founded and majority-owned by TAQA and SLB, Arabian Drilling is listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange and owns Saudi Arabia’s largest fleet of onshore and offshore rigs. Oslo-listed Shelf Drilling is a shallow-water drilling company that operates across the Middle East, as well as in Southeast Asia, India, West Africa, the Mediterranean and the North Sea.

Photo courtesy Arabian Drilling

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