Exterran, an AED 11.4 billion oil and gas equipment and services company headquartered in Houston, Texas USA is boosting its presence at the Dubai Airport Freezone more than 200 per cent in anticipation of growth in the Mideast region.
Exterran, involved in critical process, desalination, supplying of oil and gas equipment and services in Hamriya and Sharjah in the UAE and Oman, Iraq, Africa and Pakistan has registered steady growth since a team of five people came on a visit to Dubai in 2004.
The company offers customers a world of energy solutions through a comprehensive products and services portfolio with operations in nearly 30 countries worldwide.
Norrie McKay, Exterran President said Exterran is a new company with the combined strengths of and rich industry experience of Hanover and Universal Compression. Exterran is focused on delivering the Total Solutions for oil and gas production and processing facilities in every major hydrocarbon region around the globe.”
Mr. Nasser Al Madani, Assistant Director General of Dubai Airport Free Zone, congratulated Exterran on their success, positive outlook and their confidence in the strong potential of the UAE and the region for growth. “We are delighted that your company has expressed satisfaction at the facilities on offer at Dubai Airport Free Zone and the high quality of service that we offer our tenants.”
Mr. Al Madani added that “Undertaking an expansion programme when other businesses are downsizing and delaying their projects due to the world economic crisis really is a vote of confidence for the growth potential of this region.”
“In 2007, we decided to set up our offices in Dubai Airport Free Zone as our headquarters for the Eastern Hemisphere which occupied 693 sq.m. Confident of the tremendous growth in the GCC and Middle East we are now in the process of out fitting the whole floor of 4W occupying 1,350 sqm. Of office space for our engineering team,” said Mr. William Sayre, Director of Marketing & Business Development of Exterran.
“Dubai is an excellent and convenient hub in the region which allows us easy access to our clients in the Middle East and Africa. Dubai Airport Free Zone has good infrastructure and an easy transit point for our staff in travelling to the region.”
He added, “We have always seen Dubai as a frontier with a good growth potential. One of our biggest projects at the moment is in Iraq which we acquired from a local company in Sharjah.”
Mr. Sayre said Exterran now has 3,300 employees working in its Hamriya water evaporation facility and pre-fabrication plant. In Sharjah, he said the company has a gas plant.
Commenting on the effect of the global economic downturn, Mr. Sayre said “There have been a lot of projects delayed due to the downturn in our business in the US. But in the Middle East I feel that the region will stay in the growth curve and the business will come around.”
He added in the last eight months there has been a lot of inquiries and very strong business opportunities. “Business comes in cycles and I feel our customers are slowly moving forward. We are now getting closer to our customers.”
Mr. Hendrik Landstein, Exterran’s Financial Director for the Eastern Hemisphere said employee morale at Exterran in Dubai Airport Free Zone was at an all time high. “Dubai Airport Freezone is a pleasant place to have an office. Everything is within easy reach. Facilities like food courts, banks, coffee shops modern offices, postal service, immigration and customs counters and good infrastructure with no power outages all combine to make it an attractive office location.”
