logo
ADNOC Distribution earnings top $1bln for second year

ADNOC Distribution earnings top $1bln for second year

Zawya29-04-2025

Adnoc Distribution announced that its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) surpassed US$1 billion for the second consecutive year, reflecting the strength of its operational foundations and its steady path to delivering strong shareholder returns. The company aims to generate a return on investment exceeding 6 percent.
Bader Saeed Al Lamki, Chief Executive Officer of Adnoc Distribution, said in a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the company maintains a robust financial position, enabling it to explore new investment opportunities outside its three current markets in a way that creates added value for shareholders and maximises returns.
Al Lamki noted that the company has maintained steady growth since its listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in 2019, expanding its operations from the domestic market to promising regional markets including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Republic of Egypt.
He stated that Adnoc Distribution currently operates 900 service stations and plans to increase this number to 1,000 by 2028. He emphasised the company's commitment to enhancing non-fuel services such as Adnoc Oasis convenience stores, car wash stations and vehicle inspection centres. Recently, the company opened new inspection centres in shopping malls, in line with the UAE's Year of the Community initiative, to provide greater convenience for customers.
As part of its efforts to promote sustainable mobility, Al Lamki highlighted that the company currently operates approximately 200 electric vehicle charging points across the UAE and aims to increase this number to 500 high-power chargers by 2028. Adnoc Distribution's chargers are among the fastest available, capable of charging a battery from 20 to 80 percent in a short time.
The CEO affirmed that the company continues to enhance customer experience by leveraging artificial intelligence and its smart Adnoc app, which offers home delivery services in partnership with strategic partners including the UAE-based platform Noon.
Al Lamki said the company currently operates in three major markets characterised by high population density, developed infrastructure and growing energy demand, with further growth opportunities ahead. He noted that Adnoc Distribution operates 100 service stations in Saudi Arabia and 244 stations in Egypt, where the company has also commenced lubricants manufacturing as part of its ongoing expansion in the Egyptian market.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Delta warns new tariffs could force it to stop buying foreign-made aeroplanes, impacting millions of customers
Delta warns new tariffs could force it to stop buying foreign-made aeroplanes, impacting millions of customers

Al Etihad

time33 minutes ago

  • Al Etihad

Delta warns new tariffs could force it to stop buying foreign-made aeroplanes, impacting millions of customers

5 June 2025 21:29 WASHINGTON (REUTERS)Delta Air Lines warned that new tariffs on imported aeroplanes and parts could force the airline to stop buying foreign-made planes, impacting millions of customers. The Atlanta-based carrier told the US Commerce Department in comments seen by Reuters Thursday that in 2023 and 2024 it took delivery of 47 Airbus aircraft produced in Canada, Germany and France. If the carrier had not been able to take delivery of those planes because of tariffs, it would have forced flight cancellations impacting 10 million customers. Delta said a "similar impact could be expected going forward" if the Trump administration imposes new tariffs.

Virtual companions, chatbot-therapists: Is AI replacing human connections?
Virtual companions, chatbot-therapists: Is AI replacing human connections?

Khaleej Times

timean hour ago

  • Khaleej Times

Virtual companions, chatbot-therapists: Is AI replacing human connections?

I was listening to the radio on my way to work when a well-known RJ on one of the channels here in the UAE mentioned how she couldn't sleep the previous night, so she chatted with ChatGPT until she finally drifted off. The point of mentioning this isn't to debate insomnia remedies (as the show did), but to highlight something deeper — our growing emotional and cognitive reliance on digital solutions. While social media platforms offer 'free' services quietly shaping our behaviours, the market constantly convinces us we need the latest smartphone, algorithms trap us in filter bubbles, feeding us only what aligns with our existing views. And now, artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and virtual companions are being designed to fulfill human desires, companionship, validation, and even therapy. Yet as a society, we are experiencing a disconnect like never before. The question is no longer just whether technology is replacing human connection, but how much of our emotional lives we are willing to outsource. As loneliness surges, so do our efforts to fight it. It's instinct. With digital platforms around us so much of the time, we naturally turn to it. A 46-year-old woman living in a family-friendly neighbourhood shared her struggle with loneliness on social media. People had plenty of solutions, including making an AI friend. A growing number of AI-powered virtual companions are now available online, offering round-the-clock support without fear of judgment. These digital assistants have become a valuable resource for individuals hesitant to share their emotions and concerns with others due to social anxiety or fear of criticism. These services aren't just for early adopters anymore, they are going mainstream fast. Among them, Replika has gained significant attention and popularity. Marketed as 'the AI Companion who cares, always here to listen and talk, always on your side', the app's reassuring message has resonated with users. Several reputable news outlets have featured the program as well. Social media apps promote connectivity, but studies show that regular users frequently experience loneliness, indicating that the sense of connection may be superficial. The benefits of AI characters come with significant risks, particularly for adolescents. Emotional dependency on AI can erode real-world social interactions and coping skills, potentially isolating users from familial and communal networks. AI remembers every detail of the conversation and gives the illusion of being a sincere friend, says Dr Jihene Mrabet, a psychologist with academic expertise in AI. She elaborates that these mental health applications are capable of diagnosing psychological issues and even providing coaching advice. 'However, the concern is always about to what extent one can rely on these chatbots, since we don't know who is behind the technology, what their understanding of human psychology is, or how confidentiality is maintained in such interactions. We do not even know if the designers have proper guardrails,' Dr Jihene explains. A Florida mother, Megan Garcia, is holding AI accountable for her 14-year-old son's death. In a lawsuit against the company, Garcia alleges deeply personal AI exchanges contributed to her son's suicide. She's demanding accountability to shield other families from similar devastation. As we increasingly turn to AI for companionship, we must ask: Are we creating a world where technology replaces human connection. And if so, at what cost? Developers, policymakers, and mental health experts must collaborate to enforce ethical safeguards, especially for vulnerable users.

UAE helped US regulators frame digital asset policy, Circle president says
UAE helped US regulators frame digital asset policy, Circle president says

The National

timean hour ago

  • The National

UAE helped US regulators frame digital asset policy, Circle president says

Stablecoin issuer Circle Internet Group says the UAE has played a vital role in helping US regulators frame digital asset policies, reflecting the growing influence of the Emirates in the global technology stage. The company, which manages the world's second-biggest stablecoin, USDC, raised more than $1 billion at its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, reflecting the legitimacy of digital assets and the growing attention they attract from regulators, its president Heath Tarbert told The National. The listing valued the New York City-based Circle at around $6.8 billion after it priced its IPO at $31 per share, well above the projected top range of $27 and $28, making it one of the most prominent crypto firms that has tapped into equity markets. With the emergence of digital asset providers in the markets, regulation becomes more magnified especially in the US, which has banked on fellow forward-looking and tech-oriented nations such as the UAE for policies that would be a standard globally, said Mr Tarbert, who also served as assistant secretary of the US Treasury and chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. "While people do look to the US, it has been looking elsewhere as well for ideas, given the importance of digital assets and trying to get it right, and they've looked no further than the UAE," he said in an interview. "I would commend … particularly the financial services authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for being at the forefront of this because they've actually helped inform US policymakers … there's a real realisation that stablecoins in particular can do a lot for our financial system." Cryptocurrencies in general are notoriously driven by trends and political developments. US President Donald Trump, arguably the world's biggest backer of crypto, gave an unprecedented boost to the sector – most notably Bitcoin – which scaled multiple highs early in his second term. "Politics can play a role in anything, but it's ultimately fundamental technology that will prevail," Mr Tarbert said, noting that Mr Trump "seeing the importance" of crypto "can also help the US continue to be a leader in technology". A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency that is pegged to a fiat currency and tends to be less volatile, unlike Bitcoin and the like, for which swings are influenced by simple factors such as tweets and hype. Unlike legacy financial institutions that require paperwork, approvals and physical branches, stablecoins only require an internet connection and a digital wallet. This removes barriers and allows anyone, anywhere, to send, receive and store money without needing a bank. AE Coin, the first regulated digital currency in the UAE, was granted final approval by local authorities and is scheduled to be launched 'soon'. In April, Abu Dhabi entities IHC, ADQ and First Abu Dhabi Bank plan to launch a dirham-backed stablecoin, which will be fully regulated by the UAE Central Bank, aimed at easing payment solutions. Tether, whose USDT is the world's biggest stablecoin, in August received the go-ahead to develop a stablecoin in the UAE. And Circle, which last year incorporated a unit in Abu Dhabi, partnered with Binance in December to incorporate USDC into products that can be used locally. Mr Tarbert said stablecoins will allow users to move in and out of digital assets, in addition to being a store of value globally, helping secure their finances. In particular, the UAE, a major source of remittance outflows, can benefit from their secure nature, he added. "People want to hold things like dollars in particular, but also euros and other currencies in their wallets safely and securely," he said. "The UAE is a major remittance corridor in the world … [stablecoins will provide] that fulcrum between east and west, north and south."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store