Abraj Energy to provide third drilling rig at Kuwait's Wafra Joint Operation
Muscat-listed Abraj Energy Services said it has received a variation order request to provide a third drilling rig and related services from Wafra Joint Operation (WJO) in Kuwait.
The expected revenue from this contract is nearly 20 million Omani rials over three years, the company said in a bourse filing.
The rig is expected to start operation in the second quarter of 2026.
The joint operation covers an area of 5,000 square kilometers in the Partitioned Zone between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, according to the WJO profile on the social media platform LinkedIn.
The natural resources contained therein are equally shared by both countries, and is operated jointly by Kuwait Gulf Oil Company (KGOC), representing Kuwait and Saudi Arabian Chevron (SAC) representing Saudi Arabia.
(Writing by P Deol; Editing by Anoop Menon)
(anoop.menon@lseg.com)
Subscribe to our Projects' PULSE newsletter that brings you trustworthy news, updates and insights on project activities, developments, and partnerships across sectors in the Middle East and Africa.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
10 hours ago
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia pavilion commemorates 70th anniversary of Saudi Japanese diplomatic relations
Osaka, Japan — The Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka celebrates the 70th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Japan. On June 7, 1955, the two nations established formal diplomatic ties – a historic milestone that laid the foundation for a long-standing partnership. The relationship has evolved over the decades into a multifaceted alliance that promotes cultural exchange and diplomatic cooperation, with a significant economic impact for both countries. Most recently, in February 2025, the two nations signed a Memorandum for Establishing a Strategic Partnership Council, which would be chaired by the leaders of both nations. In the last decade, bilateral trade has grown significantly, from $33.4 billion to $41 billion, with trade volumes now surpassing $41 billion. At Expo 2025 in Osaka, the Saudi Arabia Pavilion is hosting hundreds of business events to foster trade and investment relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan, featuring presentations led by the Ministry of Investment and the Ministry of Commerce, as well as events focused on the opportunities presented by Vision 2030. Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Japan and Commissioner General of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion, said, 'The Saudi-Japanese relationship has grown from strength to strength over seven decades. It runs deeper than just economic partners. It is a testament to the depth of diversity in the relationship we have. Together, with the strength of our history behind us, and the momentum of our present, we are poised to define the future.' 'With Expo 2025 underway in Osaka and the next Expo in Riyadh in 2030, our two nations are at the forefront of global exchange, showcasing the latest innovations, sustainable technologies, and helping shape tomorrow's multilateralism,' Dr. Ghazi concluded. As Saudi Arabia and Japan look to the future, the ongoing Expo 2025 Osaka aims to increase Japanese visitation to Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom aims to attract 30,000 Japanese visitors annually in the lead up to Expo 2030 Riyadh. This forms part of the broader Saudi Arabia–Japan Vision 2030 Strategy, which includes over 80 projects involved across nine sectors: food and agricultural security, media and entertainment, medical care, high-quality infrastructure, finance and investment, competitive industries, energy, SMEs, sport, education, and culture. Cultural exchange has also blossomed as Saudi Arabia emerges as the hub in the Middle East for Japanese culture through its home-grown Manga Studios, which are on display in August at the Saudi Arabia Pavilion. along with the enthusiastic support of over 700,000 visitors to the Saudi Arabia Pavilion since April 13th2025. The Saudi Arabia Pavilion hosts over 700 events across the Expo 2025 Osaka program, including daily performances and live shows. The site offers an exciting visitor journey through seven immersive rooms. Additionally, Saudi Arabia will host its National Day on September 23rd with a full array of events and presentations. Media Contact: Email: Media@ Website & Social Media Handles: Instagram: @ksaexpo2025 X: @KSAExpo2025_ YouTube: @KSAExpo2025 LinkedIn: Saudi Arabia at Expo Facebook: KSA Expo 2025 TikTok: @ksaexpo LINE: KSA 大阪万博2025 Website:
Khaleej Times
12 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
From Jordan to UAE: How startup provides energy access to refugees
A Dubai-based technology start-up is helping power refugee camps in Jordan. Smart Eye Global is supporting the Azraq Refugee Camp, which faced severe electricity shortages, with a smart system that increased the electricity access from eight hours to 24 hours daily for over 1,000 residents. Energy waste was reduced by 47 percent, saving aid agencies over $50,000 annually in fuel costs. 'We implemented an advanced AI-powered Smart Energy Management System (EMS) to transform energy access and efficiency in the camp,' said Omar Asaad, co-founder and chairperson of Smart Eye Global. 'Environmentally, the system cut CO₂ emissions by 97.2 tonnes per year, equivalent to planting 2,500 trees. Socially, the impact included improved health and food safety, reduced tensions through fair energy distribution, and the creation of over 30 technical jobs for youth within the camp.' The EMS featured smart meters for real-time consumption monitoring and a dynamic load control to prioritise essential appliances like lighting and refrigeration. It also had a 'fair-share algorithm' to ensure equitable energy distribution across households. The system was integrated with solar-diesel hybrid technology to reduce dependency on costly diesel generators. Smart Eye has also partnered with the World Food Programme (WFP), to install smart solar systems in 350 refugee homes in Northern Jordan. The company also has an ongoing smart water project across 40 public schools in the area that uses sensors and AI to detect leaks and optimise usage, aiming to cut water waste by up to 35 percent and improve hygiene for over 10,000 students. Coming to the UAE Originally founded in Jordan, Smart Eye Global was selected as part of Cohort 9 of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) Innovation Accelerator program earlier this year. This enabled the group to shift to the UAE and scale its impact. 'We chose to set up an office here because the UAE is a strategic hub for clean technology, investment, and global partnerships,' said Omar. 'There is also a growing demand for smart energy solutions among manufacturers, real estate developers, and government entities.' He added that the company is also seeing 'strong opportunities' in the education and green building sectors, where we aim to support retrofitting efforts in schools, universities, and residential complexes. 'The UAE also offers a scalable platform to expand across the Gulf, thanks to its robust innovation ecosystem and sustainability goals,' he said. Pilot projects In the UAE, the company is working on providing AI-powered EMS and sustainability solutions that help industrial, commercial, and residential sectors cut energy waste and reduce carbon emissions in a smart, cost-effective way. 'We have already carried out successful pilot projects in the UAE, including energy audits and EMS deployments for industrial partners like IFFCO, where we helped improve operational efficiency,' he said. 'With support from MBRIF, we are planning to retrofit over 10 educational and commercial buildings with our EMS in 2025. We also aim to support public-private partnerships that enhance grid resilience and lower energy costs across the UAE.' In addition to this, the company is also working on some regional projects. In Oman, the group is part of the Omantel Innovation Labs accelerator and is preparing to launch their first energy efficiency pilots in industrial zones and smart buildings. 'We are also working with NGOs and local governments to deploy modular solar and EMS systems in underserved regions, especially in East and West Africa,' he said. 'These solutions will help provide 24/7 electricity to off-grid schools and health centers.'
Gulf Business
19 hours ago
- Gulf Business
Executive education: Accenture's Abir Habbal on preparing AI-savvy leaders
Image: Supplied The AI revolution isn't coming — it's already here. But for most business leaders, bridging the gap between AI hype and actionable strategy remains a challenge. Enter the Generative AI Scholars Programme, a joint initiative by Accenture and Stanford University, now being rolled out across the Middle East. In this interview, Abir Habbal, Data and AI Strategy & Consulting lead at Accenture in the Middle East, explains what makes this programme more than just another executive course. From bite-sized modules grounded in Stanford's academic legacy to real-world applications tailored for the region's ambitious digital visions, this programme is designed to turn C-suite curiosity into capability. Habbal also shares why the UAE and Saudi Arabia are ideal launchpads, highlights the top misconceptions around AI adoption, and offers a glimpse into the real business impact already emerging from this new generation of AI-savvy leaders. In your view, what role can executive education like this play in accelerating the region's digital transformation — and what's still needed to close the gap between ambition and impact? Executive education programmes are instrumental in accelerating the Middle East's AI transformation by comprehensively equipping leaders for the AI era. They are crucial for building AI-literate leadership, empowering decision-makers across the GCC to not only understand AI's potential but also to strategically apply it within their organisations. This involves a fundamental shift in mindset: moving from viewing AI purely as an IT function to recognsing it as a catalyst for business model transformation and sustainable growth. By fostering AI fluency, these programmes bridge the communication gap between the c-suite and technical teams, enabling more productive dialogues and streamlined decision-making, which is vital for the region's ambitious national AI strategies. However, to fully close the gap between this ambition and tangible impact, several critical elements are still needed. Beyond leadership, there must be a broader investment in role-based AI training across all levels of the workforce, ensuring everyone understands how AI integrates into their daily tasks and contributes to organisational goals. Furthermore, the emphasis on responsible AI must be woven into the fabric of every initiative, with clear governance models addressing data privacy, bias, and transparency from inception, as this builds crucial trust for widespread adoption. Ultimately, sustained success hinges on a commitment to scaling what works, fostering a culture of continuous learning and experimentation, and aligning AI innovation directly with national economic diversification and digital transformation priorities across the region. There's growing awareness of AI across industries — but a notable gap when it comes to implementation. What are the most common misconceptions or barriers you see among business leaders trying to adopt AI? Despite high awareness, a significant gap exists between AI understanding and real-world implementation among business leaders. Accenture's research highlights that while 84 per cent of c-suite executives believe they must leverage AI to achieve their growth objectives, only 15 per cent feel their organization is truly ready to scale it. The most common misconceptions and barriers include: Uncertainty about where to start: The rapidly evolving AI landscape makes it challenging to differentiate hype from achievable business value. Lack of leadership alignment: If c-suite leaders (CIO, CFO, CHRO) don't operate from a shared understanding, AI initiatives often stall at the pilot stage. Organisational unreadiness: Many businesses lack the foundational data infrastructure, skilled talent, or robust governance frameworks needed for responsible AI scaling. As Accenture's research indicates, 70-80 per cent of AI initiatives never move beyond the pilot phase, and while many focus on technical capabilities, successful AI implementation is predominantly a people and process challenge. Misconception of AI as purely an IT initiative: Leaders often fail to see AI as a core strategic imperative for growth, innovation, and competitiveness, viewing it simply as a technological tool rather than a catalyst for business model transformation. Risk avoidance over responsible risk-taking: Concerns around ethics, trust, and governance, while valid, can lead to a paralysis of innovation if not balanced with a strategy of embracing innovation with built-in guardrails and responsible AI practices from day one. Lack of clarity on ROI: A significant barrier is establishing ROI on identified opportunities and making a business case for scaling initiatives, which are often perceived as more challenging than technical limitations Can you walk us through what makes this programme distinct from other executive education offerings — particularly in how it blends Stanford's academic insights with real-world application? The programme includes easily digestible, bite-sized modules, industry spotlights, case studies, and reflection activities, ensuring participants not only grasp complex concepts like technical fundamentals, foundation models, and prompt engineering but also develop the generative AI strategy and technology know-how for real-world application. This approach aims to spark reinvention agendas that can profoundly transform businesses, enabling leaders to drive innovation and navigate the digital economy effectively. Why was the Middle East chosen as the next region for the rollout of this programme, and how has the regional business landscape influenced its evolution or delivery? The Middle East, specifically Saudi Arabia and the UAE have emerged as prime focus for the rollout of programmes like the Generative AI Scholars Program due to the country visions and their unparalleled ambition and strategic commitment to becoming global leaders in AI. This region is not merely adopting AI; it's actively leading its development and integration into national visions. Both nations are making substantial financial commitments to AI infrastructure, research centers, and digital ecosystems. This includes significant government-backed AI R&D funds, free zones offering incentives for AI businesses, and partnerships with global cloud technology organisations. The region is not just investing in technology but also in building a modern digital core, which Accenture sees as essential for continuous reinvention and for organisations to rapidly seize every opportunity presented by AI. Recognisng that technology adoption requires human capital, these nations are heavily investing in developing AI fluency across their workforces, from top leadership to technical teams. We are working with MCIT Saudi Arabia in an Accenture artificial intelligence training programme organised by the Accenture LearnVantage Academy. These programmes directly address human capital requirements by equipping senior officials and business leaders with the mindset and skills needed to lead with AI responsibly. As the programme moves from theory to action, what kind of real-world business outcomes are participants expected to achieve? Can you share any early examples from previous rollouts globally? The expected real-world business outcomes are centered on driving measurable value and competitive advantage. Accenture identifies these outcomes as broader and more strategic than just cost savings. Participants are expected to achieve: Enhanced decision-making: AI tools help leadership teams make faster, more informed decisions, leading to improved strategic agility. Increased employee productivity and empowerment: By leveraging AI, leaders can free up time for their teams to focus on high-impact work rather than being buried in manual analysis or reporting. This contributes to a positive human-AI relationship, which Accenture believes is a key priority for leaders. Tangible business impact: Strategies informed by AI insights are expected to translate into winning new business, improving customer satisfaction, and accelerating the launch of initiatives. Accenture's AI Achievers report indicates that 63 per cent of high-performing companies say they've already achieved measurable ROI from their AI investments within three years. Accelerated organistional agility: AI helps organisations react faster to market changes, or spot opportunities we would've missed before, fostering a state of continuous reinvention. Business model transformation: Rather than just incremental gains, organizations are expected to achieve step-change improvements in revenue, efficiency, and customer experience by integrating AI effectively, as leaders rethink how digital systems are designed, how people work, and how they create products and interact with customers. Innovation at scale: The programme aims to unlock creativity and accelerate progress, sector by sector, by empowering people to reimagine what's possible with AI.
