UAE’s ADNOC: $1.6B in Construction Contracts for Dalma Gas Offshore Facilities

FILE PHOTO: General view of the ADNOC headquarters (L) and Emirates Towers (R) are seen in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, December 23, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: General view of the ADNOC headquarters (L) and Emirates Towers (R) are seen in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, December 23, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo
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UAE’s ADNOC: $1.6B in Construction Contracts for Dalma Gas Offshore Facilities

FILE PHOTO: General view of the ADNOC headquarters (L) and Emirates Towers (R) are seen in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, December 23, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: General view of the ADNOC headquarters (L) and Emirates Towers (R) are seen in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, December 23, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, has said it awarded two contracts for the construction of offshore facilities for the Dalma Gas Development Project located about 190 kilometers northwest of Abu Dhabi city, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

The Dalma project is a key part of the Ghasha ultra-sour gas concession which is central to ADNOC’s strategic objective of enabling gas self-sufficiency for the United Arab Emirates, WAM said.

The two Engineering, Procurement and Construction, EPC, contracts have a total value of over $1.65 billion (AED 6.06 billion) and were awarded to Petrofac Emirates LLC and a joint venture between Petrofac and Sapura Energy Berhad through its subsidiary’s branch office in Abu Dhabi.

Both contracts are expected to be completed in 2022 and will enable the Dalma Gas Development project to produce around 340 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of natural gas.

Seventy percent of the total award value will flow into the UAE’s economy under ADNOC’s In-Country Value, ICV, program, reinforcing ADNOC’s commitment to maximizing value for the UAE as it delivers its 2030 strategy.

Yaser Saeed Almazrouei, Executive Director of ADNOC’s Upstream Directorate, said, "This award marks another important milestone in the development of the Ghasha concession which is an integral component of our strategy to achieve gas self-sufficiency for the UAE.”

“It demonstrates how ADNOC is effectively collaborating with strategic partners that can deploy state-of-the-art technologies and world-class expertise to accelerate the development of Abu Dhabi’s substantial gas resources,” he added.

"Petrofac and Sapura Energy were selected to deliver this crucial project after an extremely competitive and rigorous tender process that ensures that 70 percent of the award value will flow into the UAE’s economy as In-Country Value, stimulating local economic growth and supporting the diversification of the nation’s economy in line with the leadership’s wise directives."

Under the terms of Package A EPC contract, valued at $591 million (AED2.17 billion) and awarded to a joint venture, JV, between Petrofac and Sapura Energy, the JV will execute the engineering, procurement and construction of four offshore wellhead towers, pipelines and umbilicals in Hair Dalma, Satah, and Bu Haseer fields, WAM said.

Under the terms of Package B EPC contract, valued at $1.065 billion (AED3.9 billion) and awarded to Petrofac, the contractor will carry out the engineering, procurement and construction of gas conditioning facilities for gas dehydration, compression and associated utilities in Arzanah Island located 80 kilometers from Abu Dhabi city. The gas will then be sent to Habshan Gas Processing Plant for further processing required to produce sales gas, condensate, and sulfur, it added.

"We are fully committed to supporting continued and sustainable investment in Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas industry through our strategic focus on maximizing local delivery and are pleased that our approach will generate substantial In-Country Value for the local economy,” the news agency quoted George Salibi, Petrofac’s Chief Operating Officer of Engineering and Construction, as saying.

“These latest contract awards build on our existing relationship with ADNOC Group companies and we look forward to delivering this mega project in a safe, successful and sustainable manner,” he said.

Tan Sri Shahril Shamsuddin, President and Group CEO of Sapura Energy, said, "We are committed to delivering the Dalma Gas Development Project with our hallmark technical capabilities in offshore engineering and construction. Our priority is to support ADNOC in unlocking value from their asset."

As part of the selection criteria for the awards, ADNOC carefully considered the extent to which bidders would maximize In-Country Value in the delivery of the project. This is a mechanism integrated into ADNOC’s tender evaluation process and is aimed at nurturing new local and international partnerships and business opportunities, catalyzing socio-economic growth and creating job opportunities for UAE nationals.

The successful bids by Petrofac and Sapura Energy prioritized UAE sources for materials, local suppliers and workforce, resulting in a total spend of over $1.15 billion (AED4.2 billion) which will flow into the UAE’s economy.



China to Boost Exports, Imports in 2026, Seeking ‘Sustainable’ Trade, Official Says

A woman walks in Ritan park one day after a heavy snowfall in Beijing on December 13, 2025. (AFP)
A woman walks in Ritan park one day after a heavy snowfall in Beijing on December 13, 2025. (AFP)
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China to Boost Exports, Imports in 2026, Seeking ‘Sustainable’ Trade, Official Says

A woman walks in Ritan park one day after a heavy snowfall in Beijing on December 13, 2025. (AFP)
A woman walks in Ritan park one day after a heavy snowfall in Beijing on December 13, 2025. (AFP)

China plans to expand exports and imports next year as part of efforts to promote "sustainable" trade, a senior economic official said on Saturday, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

The trillion-dollar trade surplus posted by the world's second-largest economy is stirring tensions with Beijing's trade partners and drawing criticism from the International Monetary Fund and other observers who say its production-focused economic growth model is unsustainable.

"We must adhere to opening up, promote win-win cooperation across multiple sectors, expand exports while also increasing imports to drive sustainable development of foreign trade," Han Wenxiu, deputy director of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, told an economic conference.

China will encourage service exports in 2026, Han said, pledging measures to boost household incomes, raise basic pensions and remove "unreasonable" restrictions in the consumption sector.

He restated the government's call to rein in deflationary price wars, dubbed "involution", where firms engage in excessive, low-return rivalry that erodes profits.

The IMF this week urged Beijing to make the "brave choice" to curb exports and boost consumer demand.

"China is simply too big to generate much (more) growth from exports, and continuing to depend on export-led growth risks furthering global trade tensions," IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told a press conference on Wednesday.

Economists warn that the entrenched imbalance between production and consumption in the Chinese economy threatens its long-term growth for the sake of maintaining a high short-term pace.

Chinese leaders promised on Thursday to keep a "proactive" fiscal policy next year to spur both consumption and investment, with analysts expecting Beijing to target growth of around 5%.


UK Economy Unexpectedly Shrinks in October

People exit the London Underground station at Bank, outside the Bank of England (L) and the Royal Exchange building (back R) in central London on December 12, 2025. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)
People exit the London Underground station at Bank, outside the Bank of England (L) and the Royal Exchange building (back R) in central London on December 12, 2025. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)
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UK Economy Unexpectedly Shrinks in October

People exit the London Underground station at Bank, outside the Bank of England (L) and the Royal Exchange building (back R) in central London on December 12, 2025. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)
People exit the London Underground station at Bank, outside the Bank of England (L) and the Royal Exchange building (back R) in central London on December 12, 2025. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)

Britain's economy unexpectedly contracted again in October, official data showed Friday, dealing a blow to the Labour government's hopes of reviving economic growth.

Gross domestic product fell 0.1 percent in October following a contraction of 0.1 percent in September, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

Analysts had forecast growth of 0.1 percent.

Manufacturing rebounded in the month as carmaker Jaguar Land Rover resumed operations after a cyberattack that had weighed on the UK economy in September, AFP reported.

But analysts noted that businesses and consumers reined in spending ahead of Britain's highly-expected annual budget.

"Business and consumers were braced for tax hikes and the endless speculation and leaks have once again put a brake on the UK economy," said Lindsay James, investment manager at Quilter.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour party raised taxes in last month's budget to slash state debt and fund public services.

At the same time, Britain's economic growth was downgraded from next year until the end of 2029, according to data released alongside the budget.

Finance Minister Rachel Reeves raised taxes on businesses in her inaugural budget last year -- a decision widely blamed for causing weak UK economic growth and rising unemployment.

She returned in November with fresh hikes, this time hitting workers.
Analysts said that Friday's data strengthened expectations that the Bank of England would cut interest rates next week.


Gold Hits Seven-week High on Safe-haven Demand; Silver Notches Peak

FILE PHOTO: A goldsmith works on a gold necklace at a workshop in Ahmedabad, India, October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A goldsmith works on a gold necklace at a workshop in Ahmedabad, India, October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo
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Gold Hits Seven-week High on Safe-haven Demand; Silver Notches Peak

FILE PHOTO: A goldsmith works on a gold necklace at a workshop in Ahmedabad, India, October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A goldsmith works on a gold necklace at a workshop in Ahmedabad, India, October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo

Gold prices rose to a seven-week high on Friday, bolstered by a soft dollar, expectations of interest rate cuts and safe-haven demand prompted by geopolitical turbulence, while silver hit a record high.

Spot gold rose 0.7% to $4,311.73 per ounce by 0945 GMT, its highest level since October 21, and set for a 2.7% weekly gain, Reuters reported.

US gold futures gained 0.7% to $4,343.50.

The dollar hovered near a two-month low, and was on track for a third straight weekly drop, making bullion more affordable for overseas buyers.

Additionally, "the sharp rise in US weekly jobless claims as well as US-Venezuela tensions are underpinning gold and keeping haven demand strong," said Zain Vawda, analyst at MarketPulse by OANDA.

US jobless claims rose by the most in nearly 4-1/2 years last week, reversing the sharp drop seen in the previous week.

The US Federal Reserve trimmed rates by 25 basis points for the third time this year on Wednesday, but indicated caution on additional cuts.

Investors are currently pricing in two rate cuts next year, and next week's US non-farm payrolls report could provide further clues on the Fed's future policy path.

Non-yielding assets such as gold tend to benefit in low-interest-rate environment.

On the geopolitical front, the US is preparing to intercept more ships transporting Venezuelan oil following the seizure of a tanker this week.

Meanwhile, India saw widening gold discounts this week as demand remained subdued despite the wedding season, while high spot prices also dented demand in China.

Spot silver rose 0.5% to $63.87 per ounce, after hitting a new record high of $64.32/oz, and is headed for a 9.5% weekly gain.

Prices have more than doubled this year, supported by strong industrial demand, dwindling inventories and its inclusion on the US critical minerals list.

"Silver is supported by industrial demand amid fears of shortages, a continued tight market, and the speculative frenzy, mostly from retail investors which has helped drive inflows to Silver ETFs," said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.

Elsewhere, platinum was up 0.8% at $1,708.11, while palladium climbed 2.2% to $1,516.95. Both were headed for a weekly rise.