Int’l Conference Kicks Off in Dubai to Address Challenges Facing Gas, Hydrogen Industry

The three-day event will feature an influential strategic conference and technical sessions and an industry leading exhibition. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The three-day event will feature an influential strategic conference and technical sessions and an industry leading exhibition. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Int’l Conference Kicks Off in Dubai to Address Challenges Facing Gas, Hydrogen Industry

The three-day event will feature an influential strategic conference and technical sessions and an industry leading exhibition. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The three-day event will feature an influential strategic conference and technical sessions and an industry leading exhibition. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Gastech, the world’s foremost exhibition and conference supporting the gas, Liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen and energy industry, kicked off in Dubai on September 21, bringing together 15,000 global industry professionals.

The three-day event is scheduled to address the challenges facing the industry.

It will feature an influential strategic conference and technical sessions and an industry leading exhibition, enabling the gas, LNG, hydrogen, and energy industry to engage face-to-face with the challenges of environmental agendas, leveraging technology and new means of working to match changing market requirements.

Dr. Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, will deliver the official ministerial welcome address.

As part of Gastech 2021’s opening ceremony, a ministerial panel will share insights into the role of natural gas in the energy transition, the hydrogen economy and what actions are needed to meet the growing demand for energy and cleaner fuels.

Among the participants are Suhail Mohamed al-Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eng. Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Petroleum, Dr. Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Arifin Tasrif, Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, and Mohammad Barkindo Sanusi, Secretary-General of OPEC.

“Gastech 2021’s Strategic Conference will address the hard facts about the transition to net-zero carbon emissions,” Christopher Hudson, President of DMG events, organizers of Gastech, explained.

It will also tackle the “enormous challenge the industry, regulators and end users will have to embrace to meet the commitments of the Paris Accord on climate change mitigation and support the industry leadership in drawing up the road map to a carbon neutral and sustainable future,” he added.

Gastech’s exhibition will also showcase the latest digital technology and solutions that will positively impact gas, LNG, hydrogen, and energy industry operations for years to come, Hudson stated.

Key topics to be discussed include decarbonization and emissions management, financing and project investment, adapting business models in a post-COVID world.

Participants will also discuss the integrated energy suppliers, gas and LNG supply and demand dynamics, the potential for hydrogen to play a key role during the energy transition, diversification of the future workforce, trading, contracting and pricing, as well as EPC and project progress/updates and climate policies and the role for gas.

Taking place simultaneously, the Gastech Technical Conference features five learning streams – Hydrogen, Marine, EPC and Project, Processing and AI and Technology.



Türkiye TPAO, Shell Sign Deal to Carry out Exploration Work offshore Bulgaria

A Shell logo is seen at a gas station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 12, 2018. (Reuters)
A Shell logo is seen at a gas station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 12, 2018. (Reuters)
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Türkiye TPAO, Shell Sign Deal to Carry out Exploration Work offshore Bulgaria

A Shell logo is seen at a gas station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 12, 2018. (Reuters)
A Shell logo is seen at a gas station in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 12, 2018. (Reuters)

Türkiye Petrolleri (TPAO) has signed a partnership agreement with Shell to carry out exploration work in Bulgaria's maritime zone, the Turkish energy ministry and British oil major said on Wednesday.

European Union member Bulgaria, which had been totally dependent on Russian gas until 2022, has been seeking to diversify its gas supplies and find cheaper sources, Reuters reported.

TPAO and Shell will jointly explore the Khan Tervel block, located near Türkiye's Sakarya gas field, and will hold a five-year licence in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.

Shell will continue as operator of the block, while TPAO will take a 33% interest in the licence, a Shell spokesperson said.

Since the start of this year, TPAO has signed energy cooperation agreements with ExxonMobil, Chevron and BP for possible exploration work in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

In April, Shell signed a contract with Bulgaria's government to allow the oil major to explore 4,000 square metres in the block.


Saudia Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City

udia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions - SPA
udia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions - SPA
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Saudia Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City

udia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions - SPA
udia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions - SPA

Saudia Airlines has signed a five-year strategic partnership with Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City, becoming the official premier partner exclusively in the airline category.

As part of the partnership, Saudia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-class attractions. The collaboration also brings the spirit of Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City to the skies through special aircraft branding across Saudia’s fleet, SPA reported. 

Chief Marketing Officer of Saudia Group Khaled Tash said in a press release: "Saudia is committed to supporting national development projects as part of its contribution to Vision 2030, aligned with our strategy to bring the world to the Kingdom. Partnerships of this scale with national partners play a key role in positioning Saudi Arabia as a leading global destination for entertainment and tourism."

Park President of Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City Brian Machamer added: "Our partnership with Saudia not only reflects a shared ambition to connect the Kingdom to the world through world-class entertainment experiences, but strengthens our ability to attract visitors from around the world and realize our vision of setting a new global benchmark for immersive, world-class theme park entertainment and reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s growing presence on the global tourism stage."

Six Flags Qiddiya City sets a new benchmark for exceptional entertainment regionally and globally. Spanning six iconic themed lands, the theme park takes visitors on an immersive journey across 28 rides and attractions designed to world-class standards. Beyond the scale and diversity of its offerings, Six Flags Qiddiya City stands out for pushing the boundaries of engineering and entertainment, featuring five exclusive, record-breaking rides that have redefined global benchmarks. Leading these innovations is Falcons Flight, the roller coaster that has captured global attention as the fastest, tallest, and longest in the world.

Aquarabia Qiddiya City delivers a distinctive aquatic entertainment experience, offering 22 rides and water attractions, along with a man-made river designed for both relaxation and family-friendly water fun. For guests seeking privacy and elevated comfort, Aquarabia features 91 luxury cabanas, positioning the destination as a fully integrated leisure offering that redefines water-based entertainment to the highest international standards.

Located in the Tuwaiq Mountains near Riyadh, Qiddiya City is an emerging destination bringing together entertainment, sports, and culture. Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City form part of its entertainment offering.


Moody’s Establishes Regional HQ in Riyadh, Deepening Presence in Region

(FILES) Signage for Moody's Corporation is displayed at their headquarters at 7 World Trade Center on March 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
(FILES) Signage for Moody's Corporation is displayed at their headquarters at 7 World Trade Center on March 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
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Moody’s Establishes Regional HQ in Riyadh, Deepening Presence in Region

(FILES) Signage for Moody's Corporation is displayed at their headquarters at 7 World Trade Center on March 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
(FILES) Signage for Moody's Corporation is displayed at their headquarters at 7 World Trade Center on March 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

Moody’s Corporation announced that it has established its regional headquarters in Riyadh, reflecting ongoing commitment to support the development of the Kingdom’s capital markets and economy.

“This investment aligns to the Kingdom's Vision 2030 initiative and underscores its dynamism and growth,” Moody’s said in a statement this week.

The new regional headquarters marks an expansion of Moody’s presence in Saudi Arabia, where the company first opened an office in 2018, and reflects its longstanding commitment to the Middle East.

“The headquarters will strengthen Moody’s engagement with Saudi institutions and enable broader access to Moody’s decision grade data, analytics and insights,” said the statement.

“Our decision to establish a regional headquarters in Riyadh reflects our confidence in Saudi Arabia’s strong economic momentum, as well as our commitment to helping domestic and international investors unlock opportunities with our expertise and insights,” said President and Chief Executive Officer of Moody’s Rob Fauber.

“We are well positioned to provide the analytical capabilities and market intelligence that investors and institutions need to navigate evolving markets across the Middle East,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Mahmoud Totonji will lead the regional headquarters as General Manager.