"MEAD": $10.5 billion in gas projects under preparation in Kuwait, Oman, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia
Mideast reported that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has gas processing projects under preparation valued at no less than $10.5 billion, distributed among Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Libya, and Algeria, at various stages of development.
It is anticipated that the coming phase will see additional awards for gas processing line projects, sulfur recovery units, natural gas liquids (NGL) extraction facilities, gas compression stations, and pipeline infrastructure, particularly projects supporting integration with the petrochemical sector, reducing gas flaring, and enhancing local supplies.
The magazine concluded that regional capital expenditure on gas processing projects is poised to remain at strong levels for the remainder of the current decade, as national oil companies strive to meet rising domestic demand, support industrial development, and improve gas network efficiency.
It noted that national oil companies in the region are accelerating their investments in gas processing projects and related infrastructure amid rising regional demand and governments’ shift toward supporting industrial growth and promoting less emission-intensive energy sources. It pointed out that Kuwait is among the countries in the region with gas processing projects under development in the coming years.
The publication highlighted that the region recorded significant spending on gas processing projects in 2026, exceeding capital expenditures implemented since the beginning of the year and surpassing levels recorded in any other year since at least 2015. It clarified that planned or ongoing billion-dollar projects reflect the scale of investments flowing into the region’s gas processing infrastructure.
It added that the MENA region is witnessing a rising wave of investments in this sector, driven by rapid population growth, increased reliance on electricity, expansion of industrial bases, and rising demand from gas-intensive sectors such as petrochemicals, fertilizers, and metals.
According to the magazine, current investments are not limited to increasing gas production but extend to developing processing and purification capacities. As some fields age, the share of supplies requiring more complex processing operations increases, including sour gas, tight gas, and associated gas.
It further stated that these developments necessitate an expansion in gas processing, sulfur recovery, and liquids processing and blending operations. At the same time, national oil companies aim to achieve greater value addition through the production of ethane, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and condensates, thereby supporting chemical industries and export markets.
In Saudi Arabia, Aramco continues to develop gas and related liquids infrastructure for the $100 billion Jafurah unconventional gas development project, alongside targeted expansions to enhance the Kingdom’s main gas network.
In the UAE, ADNOC is expanding its sour gas processing capacities and developing infrastructure linked to downstream sectors. Meanwhile, QatarEnergy is expanding its gas processing and condensate and NGL extraction infrastructure. In the Sultanate of Oman, part of the investment focus is on developing gas processing, compression capabilities, and network upgrades.
It noted that ADNOC Gas was the largest investor in the public sector this year, following final investment decisions for the second and third phases of the Rich Gas Development Program, valued at $8.2 billion.
“Mide” covered the expansion of the Al-Fadili gas treatment plant in Saudi Arabia, where Aramco spent $7.7 billion in 2024 to award engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts for the project. In the Sultanate of Oman, it noted that Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is moving forward with a project to expand the Bara gas plant in the Dhofar Governorate.
“Mide” predicted that Aramco will continue to award additional contracts under the Shadqam and Al-Uthmaniyah gas compression projects, including the Shadqam gas compression package and two major pipeline packages.
In Oman, the state-owned energy group OQ is planning to build a natural gas liquids (NGL) facility in Siyah Nahida in the central part of the Sultanate, aimed at extracting condensates and transporting them to Duqm on the Arabian Sea coast for refining and export. The company is currently evaluating bids from qualified contractors, with the main contract expected to be awarded by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, in the UAE, ADNOC Gas is expected to return to the forefront of investors in the sector upon taking the final investment decision (FID) on the $8 billion project to develop the Quba gas field in the Bab field.
