Arabian Drilling, Saudi Arabia’s largest drilling contractor by fleet size, has signed a contract with a new GCC client for drilling work in Oman, according to Splash247. The deal, agreed with Masirah Oil and Northern Offshore, covers two firm wells plus two optional wells and marks the company’s entry into a new GCC market, the outlet reported.
Contract Scope and Timetable
Splash247 reported that Arabian Drilling did not disclose which jackup rig will be used for the campaign. The contract value was also not disclosed, but the company said the value is less than 5% of total revenue as per the audited financial statements for 2025. Operations are expected to commence before the end of the third quarter of 2026.
| Contract element | Detail as reported by Splash247 |
|---|---|
| Client | Masirah Oil and Northern Offshore |
| Location | Oman |
| Firm wells | 2 |
| Optional wells | 2 |
| Contract value | Undisclosed; below 5% of 2025 audited total revenue |
| Operations start | Before end of Q3 2026 |
| Rig | Jackup rig; identity not revealed |
The two optional wells expand the potential scope beyond the initial firm programme, though Splash247 did not state the value of either well tranche or the Omani field involved.
GCC Expansion Strategy
The Oman agreement follows the successful early completion of Arabian Drilling’s first international offshore drilling contract and the redeployment of the jackup rig to another GCC country, according to Splash247. The company said the new contract is in line with its long-term growth objectives.
As Saudi Arabia’s largest drilling contractor by fleet size, Arabian Drilling is broadening its client base across the Gulf region. Splash247 noted that the new contract marks the company’s entry into a new GCC market, although it did not identify which jackup rig will be deployed or name the previous GCC country involved in the redeployment.
“As we continue to expand our regional presence, we remain focused on delivering sustainable growth, creating long-term value for our shareholders, and supporting the evolving needs of the energy sector across the region,” said Fahad Albani, CEO of Arabian Drilling, according to Splash247.
Resumption of Suspended Saudi Operations
The international expansion comes alongside a domestic restart. Earlier this month, Arabian Drilling resumed operations on the remaining suspended offshore rigs in Saudi Arabia, Splash247 reported. The Saudi driller had suspended operations on several offshore rigs in the Gulf back in March due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Splash247 did not specify how many rigs were suspended or how many have now resumed. The new Omani contract and the Saudi restart together show Arabian Drilling working on two fronts: expanding into a new GCC country while returning previously halted capacity to service in Saudi Arabia.
For commodity market participants tracking upstream activity in the Middle East, the developments reported by Splash247 indicate continued demand for jackup drilling capacity in the GCC. Arabian Drilling’s Omani programme is scheduled to begin before the end of the third quarter of 2026, while its Saudi resumption is already under way this month, according to the report.
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