Adnoc Drilling, the Middle East's largest drilling company, has appointed Abdulla Al Messabi as its new chief executive. Abdulrahman Al Seiari, the company’s current chief executive, will retire at the end of the year following more than 45 years at Adnoc and Adnoc Drilling.

ADNOC Drilling Company PJSC (“ADNOC Drilling” or the “Company”) (ADX symbol: ADNOCDRILL / ISIN: AEA007301012) announced today that the Board of Directors has appointed Abdulla Ateya Al Messabi as the new ADNOC Drilling Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

A $30bn takeover of Australia’s second largest oil and gas company, Santos, by Middle East giant Adnoc faces a fight to clear a raft of regulatory hurdles, with Jim Chalmers saying he faced a “big decision” amid concerns over energy security and a national ­interest test.

Abu Dhabi’s main oil company is evaluating whether it can buy some of BP Plc’s key assets should the embattled British firm decide to break itself up or come under pressure to divest more units, according to people with knowledge of the matter.