Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE ranked in the top three positions, confirming the desire of oil companies to expand their operations, either by developing discovered fields or acquiring additional capabilities to increase production capacity. November witnessed clear increases in the pace of acquisitions, as global companies sought to enhance their operational presence in the Middle East, benefiting from the relative market stability, which underscores the rise in deal values compared to previous months despite geopolitical uncertainties. The development deal for the “Bu Haneen Oil Field” in Qatar is one of the most prominent investments that took place in November 2025. It included escalating activities that bolster Qatar’s position on the list of largest oil deals in November 2025, amid a growing trend towards increasing the production capacities of offshore fields. The contract includes infrastructure development, updating production equipment, and ensuring long-term operational sustainability, aligning with Qatar’s plans to increase extraction of reserves exceeding one billion barrels.
The deal signed by “ADNOC Drilling” added strong momentum to regional investment movements, enhancing the UAE’s presence amid ongoing efforts to expand its market presence in the region. The company acquired 80% of “MB Petroleum Services”, allowing it to operate drilling platforms in four Gulf countries. This step is part of a strategy aimed at enhancing operational capabilities, developing drilling services, and providing an integrated infrastructure that supports future investments. The deal includes 21 land rigs, maintenance units, and production services, offering ADNOC Drilling extensive opportunities to build new partnerships and enhance its ability to compete with major companies within the Gulf.
Saudi Aramco signed four contracts with “Arabian Drilling Company”, marking a notable expansion among the largest oil deals in November 2025, given the significant impact of these contracts on the services market. This agreement represents a fundamental step in Aramco’s path to strengthen its capabilities in maintaining and operating major fields and is one of the prominent moves that have cemented Saudi Arabia’s presence among the largest oil deals in November 2025, with the expansion of drilling activities and the increase in investment volumes.
Nigeria allocated massive funding to build a refinery with a capacity of 500,000 barrels per day, making it one of the most ambitious deals in Africa due to its unprecedented investment size. The substantial funding reflects investor confidence in the Nigerian market’s capabilities and is one of the key steps that supported Nigeria’s position in the oil market amid a doubling of investment activities in the refining sector. Nigeria continues to maintain a strong presence through a swap deal between French “TotalEnergies” and “Conwell”, providing it with an additional position due to the deal’s impact on developing deepwater resources.
Egypt made a notable move by extending exploration agreements in the Gulf of Suez and the Nile Delta until 2040, supporting exploration and production projects in marine and land areas. The agreement was signed with Italian company “Eni”, and a new three-dimensional seismic survey campaign will be implemented to identify untapped resources and maximize the geological structure’s benefits, alongside expanding future production and providing opportunities.
The development deal for the “West Qurna 1” field was one of the notable moves, especially with its connection to one of the largest fields worldwide, granting it an important position among the largest oil deals in November 2025, according to the “Energy” site. British company “Wood” won an engineering services contract that includes executing engineering, procurement, and construction work for China’s “PetroChina” to increase production capacities and enhance the field’s infrastructure reliability. This step is part of a broad long-term development program, as Wood continues its expansion after winning decarbonization contracts worth $100 million in May.
