Saudi Arabia’s Arabian Drilling is putting serious money where the demand is — offshore. With a $69.3 million investment, the company has taken a big step to keep pace with the surging need for oil and gas well services in the Kingdom and beyond.
It’s not just about more rigs — it’s about being future-ready. And the company’s latest move speaks volumes about how the energy sector is shifting gears.
A New Platform, A Bigger Fleet
The $69 million purchase isn’t just a random splurge. Arabian Drilling has acquired a new self-elevating offshore service platform — a major piece of equipment designed to enhance offshore oil and gas servicing.
And now? Its fleet stands stronger than ever at 62 rigs.
The breakdown looks like this:
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49 land rigs
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11 offshore jack-up rigs
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2 offshore self-elevating service vessels (including the new one)
That’s a serious jump, especially considering 13 of those land rigs were just added in Q1 of 2025.
The new offshore platform is expected to go into operation by mid-2025. The timing is no accident either — Saudi Arabia is doubling down on upstream development, and servicing demand offshore is heating up.
Meeting the Offshore Surge
So why now?
The short answer: growing pressure. Offshore well activity is rising across the Gulf, especially as state-owned players like Saudi Aramco ramp up exploration and production targets.
Arabian Drilling, listed on the Saudi stock exchange (Tadawul), isn’t waiting for the phone to ring. They’re building capacity now, making sure they’re ready to meet the spike in offshore service needs.
A single sentence, because it matters: This isn’t just a business decision — it’s a bet on long-term energy relevance.
The demand is not slowing down, and the upstream segment needs more hands on deck. Literally.
Strategy Behind the Spend
Back in October 2024, Arabian Drilling laid out a game plan. The company made it clear: more capacity, especially offshore, is the goal. And in just six months, they’ve made serious headway.
It’s not just about raw numbers, though. The company is focusing on:
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Faster mobilization of rigs
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Offshore-specific servicing platforms
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Streamlined operational support systems
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Upgraded digital monitoring and safety tools
A rig doesn’t operate in isolation. It needs support crews, tech monitoring, maintenance teams, and logistics. Arabian Drilling’s investment covers all those bases.
You can almost hear the message behind the move: we’re ready for bigger plays.
Arabian Drilling: A Quick Snapshot
If you’re not familiar with the company, here’s a quick look at the key stats:
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Listed Exchange | Tadawul (Saudi Stock Exchange) |
| Fleet Size (as of Q2 2025) | 62 total rigs |
| Land Rigs | 49 |
| Offshore Jack-Up Rigs | 11 |
| Offshore Service Platforms | 2 |
| Recent Investment | SAR 260 million ($69.3 million) |
Founded in 1964, Arabian Drilling has long been a crucial partner to Saudi Aramco. But now, with IPO momentum behind it, the company is looking to grow independently — and aggressively.
It’s already started expanding into more complex, high-return offshore plays, which offer longer contracts and better margins compared to land rigs.
Why Offshore Is Heating Up
Saudi Arabia is in the middle of a massive energy balancing act. On the one hand, they’re leading the global transition push with clean energy and renewables. On the other? They’re not giving up their oil throne anytime soon.
So even as they invest in solar and hydrogen, Aramco and others are pushing upstream production to stay competitive and reliable.
Deep water wells, for example, offer massive production capacity but require specialized servicing — and that’s where Arabian Drilling comes in.
There’s also the issue of reliability. Offshore platforms tend to operate with fewer interruptions, making them a more stable part of the production puzzle.
One small paragraph for balance: Offshore rigs are expensive, but the returns — both in oil and contracts — are worth it.
What’s Next for Arabian Drilling?
Insiders say more offshore investments could be on the horizon. And with government support for upstream activity growing, the company might even explore regional expansion across the Gulf.
Some analysts believe Arabian Drilling could emerge as a dominant force not just in Saudi Arabia, but in neighboring offshore markets like Bahrain, Kuwait, or even the UAE.
For now, though, it’s about shoring up domestic capacity — making sure Saudi Arabia has the right rigs, in the right places, at the right time.
