Gulf NOCs build overseas footprints
The Middle East’s powerful clutch of national oil companies are turning their attentions outwards, with new acquisitions taking them into previously uncharted territory
Mideast Gulf NOCs are accelerating overseas expansions strategies, forming partnerships and buying into promising upstream and downstream assets that meet domestic mandates to sustain growth—both in hydrocarbons and cleaner energies. QatarEnergy (QE), the Gulf’s major gas exporter, is now active in North America, South America and Africa. It has acquired significant holdings in Namibia’s play-opening offshore basins as well as in Suriname—another frontier offshore upstream opportunity garnering global attention. In the UAE, Adnoc, which is also eyeing stakes in African developments, closed the acquisition of a 24.9% shareholding in Austria-headquartered integrated energy company OMV at the e
Also in this section
9 January 2026
The Latin American producer’s crude prospects rely on a multi-pronged approach where even the relatively easy wins will take considerable time, effort and cost
9 January 2026
While many forecasters are reasserting the importance of oil and gas, petrostates should be under no illusion things are changing, and faster than they might think
8 January 2026
Indonesia and Malaysia are at the dawn of breathtaking digital capabilities. Their energy infrastructure must keep up with their ambitions
8 January 2026
The next five years will be critical for the North Sea, and it will be policy not geology that will decide the basin’s future
