UAE, Upper Zakum Field
June 2026
Source: ADNOC / Industry Reports
ADNOC Offshore has selected contractors for multiple major EPCI packages under its Upper Zakum offshore expansion, pushing the over $10 billion project into full-scale construction. The expansion targets up to 1.5 million bopd at one of the world's largest offshore fields. Scope covers wellhead facilities, utility systems, water injection, offshore pipelines, and brownfield integration across artificial islands. Strategic partners ExxonMobil and INPEX remain involved.
Separately, Saudi Aramco advanced $1.7 billion in offshore development contracts, underscoring a Gulf-wide investment cycle.
Workforce Implications The Upper Zakum expansion requires substantial mobilisation of subsea construction and installation specialists, pipeline engineers, and commissioning teams. ADNOC's ICV programme mandates over 80% of contract value flows back into the UAE, reinforcing demand for nationalised roles in project management and HSE.
Specialist expatriate positions — deepwater pipeline installation, heavy-lift marine operations, AI-enabled drilling — face heightened competition as multiple Gulf mega-projects overlap on the 2026–2028 timeline.