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Making our mark on the Middle East
The Middle East stands at a pivotal moment in its energy evolution, balancing the need to meet growing global demand with a commitment to a sustainable future.
According to the Middle East and Africa 2025 Energy Industry Outlook report, reliance on oil and gas in the Middle East remains high, necessitating substantial investment to drive diversification and modernisation in the energy sector.
This is where Wood’s Digital and AI Hub in the Middle East acts as a strategic catalyst. We directly serve our clients across the region, seamlessly integrating our advisory services, cutting-edge technology partnerships and unparalleled domain expertise. This combination accelerates our clients' journey towards achieving their digital transformation and net-zero goals.
Our regional experts specialise in core digital solutions, including advanced digital asset management, intelligent digital and data operations, smooth systems integration, transformative automation and comprehensive digital decarbonisation strategies.
Through strategic alliances and robust technology partnerships, we co-create innovative, digitally driven solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of our Middle East clients, ensuring we can advise, implement and deliver tangible value.
The Hub’s localised approach enables an intuitive and responsive partnership, effective for clients to access and leverage our full spectrum of domain expertise through our digital solutions – significantly improving time to value.
“Wood has proudly supported the Middle East for over eight decades,” says Arvin Singh, Wood’s Partner - Head of Digital Advisory for the Middle East, Africa and South-East Asia. “We work alongside the region’s leading energy developers to address their most complex challenges and unlock new opportunities. Our deep understanding of the regional landscape allows us to deliver digital solutions that have a meaningful impact. We enable technologies such as AI, cloud, and digital twin to accelerate our clients’ journey toward smarter, more connected operations, laying the foundation for a resilient and future-ready digital economy.”
Wood’s local digital team of experts are on hand to guide Middle Eastern clients through every phase of their digitalisation journey - from advising on the optimal solutions to implementing for measurable success and sustaining long performance. Meet the team driving innovation at our Middle East Digital and AI Hub below.
Arvin Singh, Partner - Head of Digital Advisory for Middle East, Africa and South-East Asia
Arvin Singh is passionate about using digital innovation and intelligence to solve real world challenges and boost performance across the complete asset lifecycle – driving time to value.
From working with global players like ADNOC, Saudi Aramco, Shell, Petronas and Chevron to leading high-impact digital transformation projects, Arvin brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and visionary leadership. A recognised thought leader, Arvin specialises in AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics and is a frequent speaker and published author. The topic he covers range from artificial intelligence and asset performance to operational reliability and digital decarbonisation.
Ashfaq Palejwala, Business Manager Flow Assurance and Energy Transition
Ashfaq leads transformation in flow assurance and energy transition across the Middle East. As Wood’s regional expert in process optimisation, he integrates advanced analytics and digital tools to boost efficiency and sustainability in operations.
With over 35 years of experience across offshore, onshore, upstream, and downstream sectors, Ashfaq is a multidisciplinary systems engineering expert, from feasibility studies to full lifecycle operations.
Ashfaq enjoys applying technology to solve complex engineering challenges and support the energy sector’s shift to a low carbon future.
Colin McIlwraith, Operations Manager – Middle East Asset Life Optimisation
Colin is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, specialising in integrating advanced digital tools into mechanical engineering, pressure systems integrity, and vibration analysis across the oil and gas sector.
His expertise includes digital simulations for fatigue analysis, real time monitoring for vibration diagnostics, and digital project management. As Wood’s principal specialist in static equipment vibration in the Middle East, Colin provides technical leadership and regularly presents on innovation in asset integrity, helping clients enhance safety, reliability, and performance through data-driven engineering solutions.
Mithula Jeyabalasingam, Data and Digital Integration Manager
Mithula helps clients to solve challenges in data management, cybersecurity and remote operations within the energy and materials sectors.
As a Chartered Chemical Engineer with expertise in process simulation, automation and digital technology, Mithula drives our clients' initiatives by integrating partner platforms and in-house solutions, securely integrating high-quality data and transforming the operation and maintenance of assets.
Mithula also applies proprietary technologies to automate safety system testing and develop operator training simulators, enabling smarter, safer and more efficient operations through integrated digital solutions.
Karthik Kamatchi Perumal, Hydrogen Consultant – Middle East and North Africa
Karthik is a seasoned hydrogen and ammonia consultant with over 17 years of experience in process engineering, digital innovation, and energy transition. He brings technical knowledge and digital leadership to complex decarbonisation projects.
He has led gigawatt scale green hydrogen and ammonia projects across the MENA region and designed and deployed dynamic simulation models for real time operator training and plant optimisation across large industrial assets.
Karthik also has experience delivering feasibility studies and cost modelling for low carbon initiatives, using advanced tools to support investor decisions.
Get in touch with Arvin Singh to begin your digital journey with Wood.