Arabian Drilling has returned two recalled rigs to service and confirmed the start of its first international offshore contract within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
The Saudi Arabia-based contractor said one offshore rig and one land rig have resumed operations, are fully operational, and are generating revenue. A third land rig was scheduled to start work on 2 March 2026.
The company said the full financial impact of these reactivations is expected to be reflected by the second quarter of 2026.
With the additional land rig returning to service, Arabian Drilling said offshore fleet utilisation will reach 91% and total fleet utilisation will rise to 82%.
One offshore rig recalled in the fourth quarter of 2025 remains to be redeployed. The company said it is scheduled for deployment in early second quarter 2026, which would lift offshore utilisation to 100%.
The three recalled rigs carry remaining contract values totalling about 1.5 billion Saudi riyals ($400 million) and add an average of 20 active rig years to the company’s backlog.
Arabian Drilling also confirmed the start of its first international offshore contract in the GCC. The exploration-focused scope includes an initial allocation of 75 million riyals for preliminary drilling over a five- to seven-month period, with any extension dependent on the results of the exploratory work.
Fahad Albani, CEO of Arabian Drilling, said the rig reactivations and the launch of the GCC offshore contract mark a milestone in the company’s recovery, reflecting operational capability, client trust and team execution across the region.
