UAE Shakes Up Energy Supply with Local Steel Tubing

ADNOC and Tubacex bring Sentinel Prime tubing to Abu Dhabi, cutting costs and boosting energy self-reliance.

23 May 2025

The United Arab Emirates is pulling key parts of its energy supply chain closer to home. In a landmark deal announced this May, ADNOC, the country’s national oil giant, teamed up with European steel specialist Tubacex to begin local production of Sentinel Prime tubing in Abu Dhabi.

This isn’t just another industrial project. Sentinel Prime tubing is vital for modern drilling operations, and making it domestically could reshape how the UAE powers its energy ambitions. The move is expected to cut lead times, ease logistics snarls, and lower operating costs by bypassing the long and sometimes unreliable shipping routes from overseas.

But ADNOC and Tubacex are not stopping at manufacturing. The deal also includes a cutting-edge research center focused on designing steel tubes tailored to the region’s demanding conditions. Engineers will work on boosting strength and corrosion resistance, both critical upgrades for oilfields under harsh desert and offshore environments.

Officials are hailing the partnership as a turning point. ADNOC says it will meet growing energy demands while also nurturing local industry and expertise. Analysts see it as a smart buffer against global market swings and a bold step toward what many call energy sovereignty.

With demand for advanced drilling materials climbing across the Middle East, the timing looks right. Beyond securing supplies, the project promises to generate skilled jobs, develop homegrown talent, and spark new industries in metal fabrication and quality testing.

For Tubacex, the deal opens doors to one of the world’s most active energy markets. For the UAE, it marks a fresh chapter in reducing import dependence and broadening its industrial muscle.

The scale-up will not happen overnight, and experts caution that full capacity will take time. Still, the move could inspire similar ventures across the Gulf, transforming how oil-producing nations manage their critical supplies in the years to come.