ADNOC’s AI Strategy 2025: A Blueprint for the Future of Energy
From Projects to Enterprise Scale: ADNOC’s 2025 AI Adoption
ADNOC has accelerated its AI strategy from successful pilot programs to comprehensive, enterprise-wide deployment, establishing AI as a core pillar for operational and financial performance.
- Between 2021 and 2024, ADNOC focused on validating AI’s value by deploying over 30 distinct solutions, which generated $500 million in value in 2023 alone and proved the technology’s effectiveness through projects like the RoboWell autonomous well control system and AI-enabled operations at the SARB field.
- Starting in 2025, the strategy shifted to scaling these capabilities across the entire value chain, marked by a landmark $340 million contract for the ENERGYai agentic AI platform and the launch of the AiPSO production optimization system, signaling a move toward fully integrated and autonomous operations.
- This progression demonstrates a clear transition from proving individual use cases, such as the AR360 reservoir tool, to implementing large-scale platforms that optimize entire systems, like the AI-powered smart port solution that reduced vessel service time from 3 hours to 45 seconds.
Investment Analysis: The Financial Engine of ADNOC’s AI Transformation
ADNOC is backing its AI ambitions with substantial, targeted capital investments, moving beyond initial funding to multi-billion-dollar commitments that embed AI across its infrastructure and supply chain.
Table: ADNOC’s Strategic Investments in AI and Technology (2024-2025)
| Partner / Project | Time Frame | Details and Strategic Purpose | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE Supply Chain | H2 2025 | Awarded contracts worth AED 54 billion ($14.7 billion) to UAE suppliers, directing capital to local industrial and energy sectors to support technology and AI ecosystem growth. | ADNOC awards contracts worth AED54bn to UAE … |
| General Utilities Plant | Nov 2, 2025 | A $600 million (AED 2.2 billion) project to upgrade the power and water generation plant in Ruwais, incorporating AI to enhance operational efficiency. | ENACT Rallies Global Leaders to Power the AI Era with … |
| Well Digitalization Program | Nov 5, 2024 | Awarded a $920 million contract to expand an AI-powered well digitalization program to over 2,000 wells, enabling remote monitoring and control to enhance efficiency. | Adnoc signs $920m deal to expand AI programme to 2,000 wells |
| RIQ | Sep 3, 2025 | Entered a $500 million agreement with AI-native reinsurance platform RIQ to improve operational resilience and risk management using AI-powered insurance solutions. | ADNOC and RIQ announce $500m AI-powered … |
| US Investment Expansion | Jun 17, 2025 | Announced plans to increase its US energy investments six-fold to $440 billion over ten years, identifying AI as a primary investment opportunity. | AI is a once-in-a-generation investment opportunity, says … |
| ADNOC Drilling | Jul 3, 2024 | Awarded a $733 million contract for three new AI-enabled ‘island’ drilling rigs for operations at the offshore Zakum field. | ADNOC Drilling wins $733M deal for AI-enabled … |
| AIQ Restructuring | May 1, 2024 | Restructured its AIQ joint venture with G42 and Presight AI, a transaction that valued AIQ at over $1.4 billion. | ADNOC, G42 and Presight Partner to Accelerate AI … |
| AIQ | Mar 11, 2025 | Awarded a $340 million contract to its joint venture AIQ for the large-scale deployment of the ENERGYai platform across its upstream operations. | AIQ secures $340m contract to deploy agentic AI across … |
| Decarbonization Projects | Jan 5, 2023 | Allocated $15 billion for decarbonization and lower-carbon projects, with a significant portion leveraging AI for carbon capture and energy efficiency. | UAE’s ADNOC allocates $15 bn to decarbonisation projects |
Partnership Ecosystem: ADNOC’s Alliances Driving AI Innovation
ADNOC has constructed a powerful partnership ecosystem that combines its vast operational data with the capabilities of global technology leaders and specialized AI firms.
Table: ADNOC’s Key AI and Technology Partnerships (2021-2025)
| Partner / Project | Time Frame | Details and Strategic Purpose | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| BlueMarvel AI | Nov 12, 2025 | Signed a Memorandum of Understanding to use BlueMarvel’s AI-driven software to improve operational reliability and efficiency in the Middle East. | ADNOC and BlueMarvel AI sign MOU to advance … |
| Gecko Robotics | Nov 5, 2025 | Expanded its collaboration with three agreements to deploy robotics and AI for asset integrity, projecting over $300 million in savings. | ADNOC expands AI and robotics collaboration |
| SLB, Cognite | Nov 3, 2025 | Launched the AiPSO platform to enhance upstream productivity, with plans to expand from eight to 25 fields by 2027. | ADNOC and SLB Launch Transformative AI-Powered … |
| Microsoft, Masdar, XRG | Nov 2, 2025 | Formed an alliance to co-develop AI agents and deliver clean energy solutions for Microsoft’s data centers, advancing the “Energy for AI” strategy. | ADNOC, Masdar, XRG and Microsoft to Advance AI for … |
| Innovez One | Sep 10, 2025 | Deployed an AI-powered Smart Port Solution that reduced vessel service time from 3 hours to 45 seconds. | ADNOC L&S Deploys Artificial Intelligence to Optimize … |
| AIQ, SLB | Aug 7, 2025 | Partnered to develop agentic AI solutions for automating complex tasks in subsurface operations, including geology and seismic exploration. | AIQ and SLB to Advance Development and Deployment of … |
| Inpex, ExxonMobil | May 22, 2025 | Agreed on an AI-driven expansion plan for the Upper Zakum oil field, integrating AI for remote operations and connecting to the UAE’s clean energy grid. | ADNOC, Inpex and ExxonMobil agree AI-driven expansion … |
| Noon | Apr 24, 2025 | ADNOC Distribution partnered with e-commerce firm Noon to leverage AI for transforming last-mile logistics and quick-commerce delivery. | ADNOC Distribution And Noon Forge Strategic Partnership … |
| e& | Feb 12, 2025 | Collaborated to deploy the energy sector’s largest private 5G network, providing foundational infrastructure for AI-powered applications. | ADNOC and e& to Deploy the Energy Sector’s Largest Private … |
| AIQ, CORVA, Baker Hughes | Dec 5, 2024 | Launched an initiative to optimize Rate of Penetration (ROP) in drilling using advanced AI, targeting enhanced performance across ADNOC’s fields. | AIQ, ADNOC, Baker Hughes and CORVA Announce AI- … |
| Jereh | Nov 5, 2024 | Awarded a $920 million contract for an AI-driven well digitalization program across three major onshore fields. | Jereh Lands $920 Million ADNOC Contract of AI-Driven … |
| Halliburton | Oct 26, 2023 | Successfully implemented the RoboWell AI solution for gas-lifted wells, enabling autonomous operations that reduced gas lift consumption by 30%. | World’s first AI-enabled technology successfully … |
| IBM, SAP | Aug 23, 2022 | Collaborated to deploy an AI solution for improved geomodelling of hydrocarbon reservoirs, enhancing the ability to construct digital twins. | ADNOC using AI for better geomodelling of hydrocarbon … |
Geographic Focus: How ADNOC Is Centering Its AI Strategy in the UAE
ADNOC is executing its AI strategy with a primary focus on its domestic operations in the UAE, while simultaneously building a global presence through strategic international partnerships and investments.
- From 2021 to 2024, activities were concentrated within the UAE, with projects like the $920 million well digitalization program for the Bab, Bu Hasa, and South East fields and the AI-enabled operations at the offshore SARB field.
- In 2025, the UAE remains the core operational theater, reinforced by a $14.7 billion contract award to UAE suppliers and the AI-driven expansion of the Upper Zakum field, ensuring that technology development directly supports domestic assets.
- The strategy expanded globally in 2025 through the alliance with US-based Microsoft to power its global data centers and the plan to grow US energy investments to $440 billion, indicating a new phase of international strategic positioning.
Technology Maturity: ADNOC’s Path From Predictive AI to Autonomous Operations
ADNOC’s AI technology stack has matured from predictive analytics and project-level tools to commercially deployed, autonomous systems that operate at an enterprise scale.
- The period between 2021 and 2024 established the technological foundation, with the deployment of tools like AR360 for reservoir analysis and RoboWell for autonomous well control, which validated the business case for AI in specific operational contexts.
- The launch of Neuron 5 in 2024 marked a step towards autonomous monitoring, using AI to predict equipment failures, which was a precursor to more complex, system-wide solutions.
- In 2025, the technology reached a new level of maturity with the $340 million contract for ENERGYai, the energy sector’s first agentic AI platform, designed to automate complex decision-making and optimize the entire value chain, confirming a shift from predictive to autonomous AI.
SWOT Analysis: ADNOC’s Strategic Position in AI
Table: SWOT Analysis of ADNOC’s AI Strategy
| SWOT Category | 2021 – 2023 | 2024 – 2025 | What Changed / Resolved / Validated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Proven value generation with $500 million from 30+ AI tools in 2023. Successful deployments of point solutions like RoboWell. | Large-scale financial commitments, including a $340M contract for ENERGYai. A dual “AI for Energy” and “Energy for AI” strategy, exemplified by the Microsoft alliance. | The strategy evolved from proving ROI on individual projects to executing a fully funded, enterprise-wide transformation with a clear, dual-pronged business model. |
| Weaknesses | Reliance on external partners like Halliburton and SLB for specialized AI development. Fragmented deployment of multiple distinct tools. | High capital dependency for large-scale rollouts like the $920M well digitalization. Execution complexity in integrating disparate systems into unified platforms like AiPSO. | The challenge shifted from managing pilots to the systemic risk of integrating large, complex platforms, although the creation of AIQ internalizes and de-risks development. |
| Opportunities | Internal optimization of production efficiency and emissions reduction in core hydrocarbon operations. | Becoming a critical energy provider for the AI industry via the “Energy for AI” strategy with Microsoft. Licensing proprietary AI platforms like ENERGYai to create new revenue streams. | The opportunity expanded from internal cost-saving and efficiency gains to external market creation and establishing new business models at the intersection of energy and AI. |
| Threats | Risk of failed pilots and inability to prove ROI on initial technology investments. Competition from other energy majors initiating digital pilots. | The exponential pace of AI advancement requiring continuous, large-scale investment. The potential for AI’s energy demand to outstrip the supply of clean power. | The threat evolved from project-level execution risk to macro-level strategic risk related to keeping pace with technology and managing the second-order effects of AI’s growth. |
2026 Outlook: ADNOC’s Pivot to Powering the Global AI Economy
ADNOC’s most critical strategic action in the year ahead will be the execution of its “Energy for AI” strategy, transforming its partnership with Microsoft into tangible clean energy infrastructure projects for data centers.
- The strategic alliance with Microsoft, Masdar, and XRG is the primary vehicle for this pivot, establishing a direct link between ADNOC’s energy production and the infrastructure needs of the global AI industry.
- The stated industry need for $4 trillion in annual energy investment to meet AI demand, as highlighted by ADNOC’s CEO, confirms this is a central strategic priority and signals intent to lead in this high-growth market.
- The continued rollout of the AiPSO platform to 25 fields by 2027 and ADNOC Drilling’s pursuit of a $5 billion revenue target for 2026 are key operational milestones that depend on the successful scaling of AI to validate this dual strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main goal of ADNOC’s AI strategy between 2021 and 2024?
Between 2021 and 2024, ADNOC’s primary goal was to validate the value of AI through pilot programs. They deployed over 30 distinct AI solutions, such as the RoboWell autonomous well control system, which successfully generated $500 million in value in 2023 and proved the technology’s effectiveness in specific operational contexts.
How is ADNOC’s AI strategy changing in 2025?
Starting in 2025, ADNOC’s strategy is shifting from small-scale pilots to comprehensive, enterprise-wide deployment. This is marked by significant investments in large-scale platforms like the $340 million ENERGYai agentic AI platform and the AiPSO production optimization system, aiming to integrate AI across the entire value chain for fully autonomous operations.
What is the “Energy for AI” strategy and who is ADNOC partnering with to achieve it?
The “Energy for AI” strategy is ADNOC’s plan to become a critical energy provider for the power-intensive global AI industry. To achieve this, ADNOC has formed a strategic alliance with Microsoft, Masdar, and XRG to co-develop and deliver clean energy solutions specifically for Microsoft’s data centers.
What are some of the key financial commitments ADNOC has made to its AI and technology initiatives?
ADNOC has backed its strategy with substantial capital. Notable investments include a $14.7 billion (AED 54 billion) contract award to UAE suppliers to support the local tech ecosystem, a $920 million contract for an AI-powered well digitalization program, and a $340 million contract for its AIQ joint venture to deploy the ENERGYai platform.
How has ADNOC’s use of AI matured over time?
ADNOC’s AI technology has matured from predictive analytics tools to fully autonomous systems. Initially, they used tools like AR360 for analysis and RoboWell for specific autonomous tasks. This evolved with the launch of platforms like AiPSO for system-wide optimization, and culminated in the deployment of ENERGYai, an agentic AI platform capable of automating complex, chain-wide decision-making.
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