ADNOC 'Unlocks' $16B in UAE Manufacturing Opportunities

SUBSCRIBE SEARCH ARTICLES NEWS ADNOC announced that it has 'unlock[ed]' over AED 60 billion ($16.3 billion) in UAE manufacturing opportunities and 'transform[ed]...' how suppliers access and compete for its business. Image by Alona Horkova via iStock

ADNOC announced, in a statement sent to Rigzone this week, that it has “unlock[ed]” over AED 60 billion ($16.3 billion) in UAE manufacturing opportunities and “transform[ed]…” how suppliers access and compete for its business.

“ADNOC … unveiled more than AED 60 billion in local manufacturing opportunities through 2030 alongside a comprehensive transformation of its procurement, supplier registration, and In-Country Value (ICV) frameworks, accelerating the conversion of its business growth into industrial investment, skilled jobs, and stronger supply chains in the UAE,” ADNOC said in its statement.

The company noted that the measures give manufacturers, suppliers, and investors “greater visibility of future demand and a faster, clearer route to compete for ADNOC’s business”.

“They combine opportunities to manufacture over 200 essential products and a broad portfolio of critical spare parts locally with expanded support for industrial investment, simpler qualification requirements and longer-term commercial partnerships,” it added.

ADNOC highlighted in its statement that the manufacturing opportunities span “critical products supporting ADNOC’s projects and operations including rotating equipment and power; electrical, control and automation systems; drilling and completion equipment; chemicals and catalysts; piping, fabrication and heavy equipment; and spare parts and advanced manufacturing”.

Many of the identified products are currently imported, ADNOC pointed out, adding that manufacturing them in the UAE shortens lead times, reduces exposure to global supply disruptions, and strengthens the resilience of ADNOC’s operations.

ADNOC revealed that the company, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) will “collaborate to connect local manufacturing opportunities with the support provided by these entities”.

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“The collaboration brings together visibility of ADNOC’s demand, access to the national industrial database, and financing through the National Industrial Resilience Fund,” ADNOC said.

“Together with long-term procurement opportunities, this approach is designed to help manufacturers turn identified demand into viable industrial investments, supporting the objectives of ‘Make it in the Emirates’,” it added.

ADNOC also highlighted in its statement that it had signed two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and KEZAD Group. The company also announced the expansion of the Local+ program to more than 100 UAE manufacturers. This is up from 70 at its launch in May 2026, ADNOC outlined, noting that the development broadens the range of locally manufactured products available to its projects and supply chain.

“Local+ gives UAE-made products priority in ADNOC’s projects by requiring engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors participating in new tenders to source relevant products from approved manufacturers on the list,” ADNOC said.

“A comprehensive redesign of supplier registration and prequalification was announced, targeting a reduction of up to 80 percent in the time needed to complete the process and become ready to compete for ADNOC opportunities,” the company added.

“The new model halves the number of required documents and removes prequalification requirements for 60 percent of service categories,” it continued.

“A single window brings together registration, qualification and compliance, with requirements tailored to the nature of the work and its level of risk,” it went on to state.

The company highlighted that artificial intelligence will support document verification and the reuse of existing data, “reducing repetitive submissions and administrative processing”.

ADNOC stated that its enhanced ICV model will more closely connect procurement decisions with commercial value and suppliers’ contribution to the UAE economy.

“Under the new model, commercial and ICV offers will be integrated into a single evaluation model,” it said.

“The previous bid-matching approach will be retired, encouraging suppliers to submit their most competitive commercial and ICV offers from the outset. Requirements will be proportionate to contract size and scope,” it added.

“The model also enhances the administration of ICV-related retention payments. Where retention applies, automated calculation and release processes through the ADNOC Supplier Hub will improve transparency, reduce manual follow-up and support suppliers' cash flow as obligations are met,” it continued.

Alongside its ICV and registration enhancements, ADNOC outlined a new commercial approach “built around four strategic shifts: agile, competitive, strategic, and forward-looking”. The company said the approach will advance simpler procurement and faster decision-making, “contracting models aligned with project and market dynamics, targeted commercial negotiations and earlier visibility of ADNOC’s future demand”.

ADNOC highlighted in its statement that, since its launch in 2018, the company’s ICV program “has helped turn the company’s purchasing power into wider economic opportunity”. By the end of 2025, the program had redirected more than AED 307 billion ($83.5 billion) into the UAE economy, according to ADNOC, which said it has also supported the localization of more than 130 products, the development of 95 UAE factories, and employment opportunities for more than 27,500 Emiratis in participating private-sector companies.

“ADNOC’s growth creates a powerful opportunity to deepen the UAE’s industrial strength,” Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, said in the statement.

“Our next phase is about giving manufacturers and investors the confidence to act: clarity on what we need, visibility of when we need it, and a simpler route to compete for our business,” he added.

“We are inviting companies to build capabilities in the UAE that will serve our industry and country for years to come,” he continued.

“Every product we can competitively manufacture here strengthens our ability to deliver. The changes announced today connect that ambition to practical action, from faster supplier registration and more competitive procurement to long-term partnerships that support investment,” he went on to state.

“We want our partners to grow with us, and we want that growth to create lasting value for the UAE,” Al Jaber concluded.

Omar Abdulla Alnuaimi, ADNOC Group Chief, Commercial and In-Country Value, said in the statement, “over the past eight years, ADNOC’s ICV program has converted our demand into lasting value for the UAE, enabling products previously imported to be manufactured locally and strengthening the capabilities of our suppliers and industrial partners”.

“The next chapter is about making the entire journey clearer, simpler and more competitive. We are giving the market earlier visibility of demand, expanding access to opportunities and rewarding companies that invest, localize and deliver measurable value in the UAE,” Alnuaimi added.

A statement posted on ADNOC’s website last month revealed that Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, had chaired a meeting of the Executive Committee of the ADNOC Board of Directors, which was held at the company’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

“During the meeting, His Highness reviewed ADNOC’s efforts to ensure the delivery of reliable energy supplies amid recent developments affecting maritime navigation in the region,” the statement noted.

“His Highness also reviewed ADNOC’s operational and financial performance as it responsibly serves its domestic and global customers,” it added.

“His Highness was additionally briefed on the operations of ADNOC’s global liquefied natural gas (LNG) marketing and trading platform, launched in July, which marks a significant milestone in the sector,” it continued.

The statement highlighted that the platform was targeting 47 million tons per annum (mtpa) of marketable LNG by 2030+, “providing customers with greater diversity in supply sources, enhancing their access to ADNOC’s growing gas portfolio, and contributing to Abu Dhabi as a global hub for the marketing and trading of energy products”.

It went on to state that “His Highness affirmed that ADNOC’s operational flexibility and integration across its value chain are strengthening the company’s ability to serve its customers in an increasingly complex global energy landscape”.

“His Highness directed ADNOC to intensify efforts to reinforce its position as a leading reliable energy provider, connecting production, trading, logistics and market insights in an integrated value chain,” it added.

ADNOC announced, in a statement posted on its site back in July, that it had launched a global LNG marketing and trading platform in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), “combining the marketing activities of ADNOC Gas and XRG with the trading capabilities of ADNOC Trading into an integrated commercial platform”. 

A statement posted on ADNOC’s site back in May highlighted that Al Nahyan had chaired another meeting of the Executive Committee of the ADNOC Board of Directors. During that meeting, Al Nahyan “commended ADNOC for its resilience in maintaining safe operations, while continuing to reliably supply energy to local and international customers” the statement noted.

This statement also highlighted that “His Highness reiterated the important role of ADNOC’s In-Country Value (ICV) program in driving growth and value creation opportunities for local businesses and manufacturers and directed the company to prioritize Made in the Emirates products across its projects and operations”.

Back in May, ADNOC announced in a separate statement on its site the launch of its Industrial Resilience Program.

“The Industrial Resilience Program builds on ADNOC’s hugely successful In-Country Value (ICV) program and encourages ADNOC’s contractors to prioritize local sourcing for high-priority products that can be domestically produced to serve multiple sectors,” that statement said.

“The program will future-proof ADNOC’s value chain and mitigate the company’s exposure to global supply chain disruptions,” it added.

“It will also position Made in the Emirates products as the first choice for ADNOC’s projects, supporting the growth of local manufacturers and the UAE’s industrial base,” it continued.

Also in May, ADNOC confirmed in a statement posted on its site that it was “accelerating growth and delivery of its strategy” with AED 200 billion ($55 billion) in new project awards for 2026-2028.

“The planned project awards reinforce delivery of ADNOC’s five-year capital expenditure (CAPEX) plan approved by its Board of Directors last year and will usher in a new phase of world-scale project execution across its value chain to meet growing global energy demand,” ADNOC said in that statement.

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MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR Andreas Exarheas
Editor | Rigzone