A record 75 oil and gas companies target Middle East market

In addition, a number of companies will have their own stand or join partners /agents stands bringing the total number of Scottish companies attending the event to around 75.

The Middle East is a key market for Scotland’s oil and gas sector with international sales rising to £2 billion in 2013. The UAE, in particular, saw an increase in activity during the same period to £1.1 billion, particularly in locations such as Dubai which is being used as a base by many companies operating in and around the country. The region is also ranked top for immediate growth opportunities according to the International Activity of the Scottish Oil and Gas Supply Chain Survey.

The visit has been organised by Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International, Scotland's enterprise agencies international arm.

International sector head for oil and gas at Scottish Enterprise, David Rennie, said: “Despite the global challenges there still remain opportunities for Scotland’s oil and Gas sector to grow. The Middle East is one of them and ADIPEC offers us a great platform to showcase Scotland’s world class skills and expertise. The record attendance on our pavilion this year – 60 per cent of which are visiting Abu Dhabi and ADIPEC for the first time – is a strong reflection of the value and importance our supply chain puts on growing its international activity.

“Scotland has built up a strong relationship with the Middle East region over the years with it now being its second largest export market after the United States. As such, we’ve developed support mechanisms to enable companies to trade with almost all the oil and gas producing countries in the region. In addition, we’ve expanded our Dubai office and opened up a new office in Saudi Arabia signifying our commitment to the UAE and wider GCC regions.”

Themed around Innovation & Sustainability in a New Energy World, ADIPEC expects to attract a record 85,000 visitors during 9 – 12 November.