Adipec: Welsh companies look to UAE for energy sector growth

Welsh businesses are eyeing the UAE energy sector as a potential growth opportunity, with some companies already relying on the Middle East for more than half of their sales. A delegation of over 16 Welsh firms is attending Adipec, an energy exhibition in Abu Dhabi, representing sectors including electric energy, maritime vessels, and industrial equipment.

Holyhead Towing, a Welsh company operating in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar, now generates 70 to 75 percent of its revenue from the region. The managing director, Dylan Jones, stated that eight vessels are working in the UAE, primarily supporting the oil and gas sector, and infrastructure projects like land reclamation are significant around Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The Welsh government is aiding participating companies by providing an export visit to help them connect with customers and expand business abroad. Tomoe Valve, another Welsh firm, exports nearly half of its UK factory output to the Middle East, with the UAE being its largest regional market. The company's business development director, Clive Johns, highlighted the large attraction the Middle East has for them, as 50 percent of their capacity is exported from a UK factory to the region.

Tomoe Valve manufactures butterfly valves, primarily used in the oil and gas industry, making the Middle East a natural market.

Clenergy EV, a Welsh company specializing in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, aims to capitalize on the region's growth. Their chief executive, William David, emphasized the importance of finding local partners who can represent the company well. Wales has a rich industrial history that continues to influence its energy businesses, and the company intends to establish its presence in the UAE's expanding transport and property market.