During his keynote address at the opening of the 30th International Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition in Turkmenistan, His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) and Dragon Oil, highlighted the strong ties between the United Arab Emirates and Turkmenistan, especially under the esteemed leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Al Tayer stated, “In line with the visionary guidance of our leaders, the UAE has become a global beacon of progress and sustainability, reaffirming our steadfast commitment to innovation, sustainability, and mutual growth with Turkmenistan.”
Attendance
The conference saw the participation of several distinguished attendees, including Baiter Amanov, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan; Orkhan Zeynalov, Deputy Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan; Ahmed Al Hamli, UAE Ambassador to Turkmenistan; Andrea Steiger, President of the International Gas Union; Valery Ducroux, Executive Director of the Global Gas Center; and members of Dragon Oil’s Board of Directors, including Ahmed Al Muhairbi, Engineer Qusay Al Shard, Engineer Ahmed Sharaf, and Engineer Abdul Karim Al Mazmi, the company’s CEO.
A Significant Milestone
Al Tayer began his speech by underscoring that this event marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between the two nations, celebrating three decades of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Turkmenistan and 25 years of partnership between Dragon Oil and Turkmenistan. This partnership has been characterized by “mutual trust, innovation, and a shared ambition for a brighter and more sustainable future.”
He emphasized that this important gathering not only commemorates three decades of diplomatic relations but also celebrates our shared values, enduring friendship, and ambitious cooperation that looks to the future. “At Dragon Oil, we take pride in our fruitful and long-standing partnership with the friendly nation of Turkmenistan. This journey has been marked by mutual trust, pioneering innovation, and a shared aspiration to create a brighter and more sustainable future. Our partnership extends beyond a mere commercial relationship; it is a story woven by dedicated individuals to embody progress and noble aims.”
Sustainability
Al Tayer reaffirmed that sustainability is central to Dragon Oil’s strategy, highlighting that artificial intelligence is an integral part of the company’s operations.
He added, “Since signing the production sharing agreement in Cheleken in 1999, Dragon Oil has invested over $11 billion in Turkmenistan, increasing our production from three million barrels to 468 million barrels over 25 years of reliable and safe operations since 2000.”
Currently, our operations extend to Egypt and Iraq, in addition to Turkmenistan, where recent expansions and ongoing strategic investments ensure sustainable growth.
Since 2012, we have made significant investments in Iraq and Egypt, acquiring 100% stakes in BP’s operations in the Gulf of Suez and managing key production facilities.
These strategic investments have bolstered strong growth and expanded our operations globally, with our workforce increasing to 4,760 employees, including 2,200 in Turkmenistan, 93% of whom are Turkmen citizens.