IOCs Remain Committed To Abu Dhabi Growth Plans Despite Conflict

21 Aug 2026 Issue: 69 / 34 By: Jamie Ingram

Adnoc has expanded and deepened its partnerships with IOCs over the last decade, and these relationships are central to its ambitious growth plans. Despite the Hormuz conflict, IOCs continue to invest in Abu Dhabi’s upstream, and Adnoc’s investment in strengthening resilience bolsters investor confidence.

Since the start of the Middle East crisis, Adnoc has made a concerted effort to reassure clients that it is investing to strengthen resilience and flexibility to remain a reliable supplier. The company’s shipping arm has been bolstered, Hormuz-bypass pipeline capacity is being expanded and new overseas strategic stockpiles will be built. The message of resilience also has another intended audience; the IOCs that are central to Adnoc’s growth plans.

Over the last decade, Adnoc has radically revamped its international partner base, capitalizing on the expiry of two multi-decade concessions to renew and expand its roster of partners (MEES, 13 November 2015). It also held its first ever upstream licensing rounds in 2018 and 2019, bringing in yet more new partners (MEES, 3 May 2019). (CONTINUED - 1671 WORDS)