ADNOC Signs Deals Worth $4.6 Billion

An ADNOC facility in the UAE. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
An ADNOC facility in the UAE. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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ADNOC Signs Deals Worth $4.6 Billion

An ADNOC facility in the UAE. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
An ADNOC facility in the UAE. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has signed agreements with at least 23 leading domestic and international companies for manufacturing opportunities across multiple industrial products valued at 17 billion dirhams ($4.63 billion).

“The agreements outline the intention of the companies to manufacture these products in the UAE, supporting the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative,” according to ADNOC.

ADNOC noted that deals awarded are “a part of the 70 billion drihams ($19 billion) worth of products in ADNOC’s procurement pipeline that the company identified for domestic manufacturing in July 2022”.

The company has been encouraging the private sector to capitalize on the commercial opportunities for domestic manufacturing across its value chain through its In-Country Value (ICV) program, as it expands and decarbonizes its operations.

Saleh Al Hashimi, ADNOC’s director for commercial and in-country value, said the company “is creating long-term domestic manufacturing opportunities from its procurement pipeline to enhance the UAE’s industrial base and strengthen the resilience of its supply chains”.

“These agreements reinforce our role as a critical engine for the UAE’s industrial growth and they offer significant potential to further stimulate economic diversification and create more skilled job opportunities for UAE nationals,” said Al Hashimi.

“We look forward to working with these companies to deliver on these important agreements and drive more sustainable value to the UAE.”

Last year, the energy company signed agreements for local manufacturing commitments worth over 25 billion dirhams ($6.8 billion) with UAE and international companies.

It continues to use a transparent approach in announcing its production forecasts as part of its In-Country Value program, said ADNOC.

The approach confirms ADNOC’s efforts to motivate investors and suppliers to establish manufacturing capabilities in the UAE and contribute to the expansion of the existing ones.

As part of a new five-year plan, ADNOC aims to channel 175 billion dirhams ($48 billion) back into the Emirates' economy through its ICV program.



Dubai Forum Highlights 7 Key Developments the World Will Witness in the Future

Participants attend the opening session of the Dubai Future Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Participants attend the opening session of the Dubai Future Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Dubai Forum Highlights 7 Key Developments the World Will Witness in the Future

Participants attend the opening session of the Dubai Future Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Participants attend the opening session of the Dubai Future Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Participants at the Dubai Future Forum 2024 identified seven transformative developments that will reshape humanity’s future: the shift in evaluating growth, the dominance of solar energy, a return to the moon, the creation of a genomic bank, brain-computer implants for healthy individuals, the rise of alternative education, and AI’s integration into corporate boardrooms.

Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, emphasized the need to plan for the future and seize emerging opportunities.

In his keynote, he called for leveraging innovation, policy, and technology to enhance quality of life and foster global collaboration, reflecting the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Belhoul questioned the continued reliance on GDP as a measure of national progress, noting its inability to account for well-being and environmental impact. He welcomed the UN’s ongoing revision of its framework to incorporate these dimensions, signaling a major shift in evaluating growth.

On renewable energy, Belhoul pointed to solar power’s vast potential, stressing that global solar capacity, which stood at 220 gigawatts in 2022, is expected to double by 2025. In this context, he underlined the importance of natural resources in advancing sustainability and energy security.

Humanity is also set to return to the moon, with NASA planning a lunar mission after a 50-year hiatus. Belhoul expressed optimism about the new knowledge this mission could yield given recent technological advancements.

Moreover, the establishment of a genomic bank with over one million samples is expected next year, paving the way for personalized healthcare and disease prevention. While he hailed this as a scientific milestone, Belhoul urged caution over its ethical aspects.

In education, he stressed that a shift toward personalized learning is evident, with five million students projected to study outside traditional schools by next year. This reflects the growing role of technology in tailoring education to individual needs, he said.

Belhoul also discussed brain-computer implants, predicting that the first implant in a healthy person could happen within a year, raising profound questions about humanity’s relationship with technology. Additionally, he foresaw the appointment of the first AI-powered board member at a Fortune 500 company, sparking debates about AI’s role in leadership.

Belhoul urged policymakers and innovators to address these trends responsibly to ensure that technological advances align with human values and boost global well-being.