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Arabian Drilling, said to be Saudi Arabia’s largest onshore and offshore drilling contractor by fleet size, has been cleared to bring its remaining suspended offshore rigs back into operation, putting its offshore fleet on track to reach 100% utilization by the end of the third quarter of 2026.
The Saudi offshore drilling player has received notice of resumption of operations for remaining suspended offshore rigs, reflecting the continued recovery in offshore market activity, as illustrated by ADES, which also recently secured the go-ahead to restore all temporarily suspended offshore rig operations in Saudi Arabia.
Arabian Drilling expects the rigs’ return to work to enable offshore fleet utilization to reach 100% by the end of the quarter, demonstrating the company’s operational readiness, disciplined execution, and ability to effectively respond to market demand.
Fahad Albani , Chief Executive Officer of Arabian Drilling, commented: “The return of these rigs is a significant milestone for Arabian Drilling and reinforces our confidence in the outlook for the offshore segment.
“As our activity continues to improve, we remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety, operational performance and service quality, while delivering sustainable growth and long-term value for all our stakeholders.”
This green light comes a month after Arabian Drilling confirmed notice of resumption of operations for three previously suspended offshore rigs.
The suspensions, announced earlier in 2026 , were implemented as a precautionary measure in response to regional conditions in the Middle East.