First AI-powered walking island rig enters ADNOC Drilling’s fleet months ahead of schedule

June 25, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Abu Dhabi-headquartered ADNOC Drilling, one of the Middle East’s drilling and integrated drilling services (IDS) providers, has taken delivery of its first automated walking island rig running on artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, accelerating autonomous offshore operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

ADNOC Drilling enriches its rig fleet with the first AI-enabled walking island rig; Courtesy of ADNOC Drilling

ADNOC Drilling has confirmed the delivery and acceptance of AD-300, the UAE player’s first AI-enabled, fully automated walking island rig, nearly three months ahead of schedule, enabling earlier revenue generation and accelerating the rollout of the six-rig next-generation program.

The 50-meter-tall AD-300, said to be the height of a 15-storey building and weighing around 2,000 tons, combines advanced automation, digital systems, and hybrid power capability, with the option to connect to the grid, enabling more efficient and lower-emission operations.

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Abdulla Ateya Al Messabi, ADNOC Drilling’s CEO, commented: “The delivery of AD-300 marks a step-change in how we execute large-scale, technology-enabled energy development. By integrating automation, artificial intelligence and robotics at scale, we are enhancing safety, improving efficiency and delivering more consistent, predictable performance.

“As the first of six rigs under this program, AD-300 demonstrates our ability to deliver complex, high-value assets ahead of schedule, accelerating revenue generation while supporting ADNOC’s production capacity expansion and reinforcing the UAE’s leadership in advanced energy solutions.”

The rig’s automated walking capability allows it to move seamlessly between well locations without dismantling, while automation systems, such as automated pipe handling and AI-enabled monitoring, help minimize personnel exposure in complex operating environments.

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AD-300 is the first of six next-generation island rigs under a $1.54 billion contract awarded by ADNOC Offshore in 2024-2025 for deployment offshore on one of ADNOC’s unique artificial islands. This is perceived to represent a fundamental shift in offshore well delivery, enabling faster and more consistent execution.

The early start of operations, together with the phased deployment of the remaining rigs, supports revenue visibility and underpins the UAE driller’s continued growth in the second half of 2026 and into 2027. Integrated data systems are deemed to provide real-time operational insights for performance optimization and predictive maintenance.

Tayba Abdulrahim Al Hashmi, ADNOC Offshore’s CEO, underlined: “At a time when the world needs reliable energy at scale, the UAE stands ready to supply global customers. AD-300 and our next-generation island rigs are accelerating our growth, expanding ADNOC’s production capacity and delivering long-term value for our stakeholders and the nation.”

With AD-301 currently being deployed and the remaining rigs scheduled for delivery through 2027, ADNOC Drilling believes that this is creating one of the most advanced island rig fleets globally and reinforcing its role as a key enabler of ADNOC’s upstream growth ambitions.