Middle East burying head in the sand on decommissioning
The Middle East is yet to fully plan for its decommissioning future
Decommissioning globally is set to expand rapidly as decades-old infrastructure comes to the end of its productive life. While the Middle East has largely escaped the wave of decommissioning that has hit the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico, this could soon be about to change. The Gulf is now one of the most prominent future hot spots in the industry. By 2038, more than 1,000 structures and 3,000 wells will be more than 30 years old, a report on offshore decommissioning by the Boston Consulting Group identified. The international push for countries to transition to a low-carbon economy may also hasten the need for decommissioning and the introduction of standards and legislation. The UAE, Saudi
Also in this section
24 March 2026
It is an unusual story of out with the new and in with the old, as America First Refining shows the US going back to trusted energy security developments
23 March 2026
A complex and sometimes contradictory web of factors that include unpredictable oil prices, the globalisation of LNG markets, the expansion of Middle Eastern sovereign capital and the growth of datacentre demand will shape the energy landscape beyond 2026
23 March 2026
The Strait of Hormuz crisis highlights how key waterways can become global chokepoints
20 March 2026
Attacks on key oil and LNG assets across the Gulf mean a prolonged supply disruption, with damage to Qatar’s export capacity undermining confidence in the global gas system
