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ROVOP’s new base in Dubai gives the firm its first presence in the Middle East and ensures the firm is ideally placed for future global expansion. The move is in response to a new but growing demand for its fleet – which now comprises 51 ROVs – in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

HFI managing partner Hugh Fraser said: “The Middle East is a fast-paced business environment offering a significant amount of opportunities, but it is also complex in both legal and cultural terms.

“HFI has been operational in the Middle East for almost two decades and understands that getting the initial set-up right is critical to successful expansion.

“We’ve seen time and time again, for example, that selecting an unsuitable local partner or failing to spend enough time on the ground in the set-up stage, can be time consuming and costly further down the line.”

HFI provided ROVOP with a range of consultancy and legal services, including creation of the company structure, putting in place licensing approvals, and helping set up a local partner agreement. It was also able to provide assistance with visas and other employment formalities.

“We are delighted to have supported ROVOP with their expansion into the Middle East and to ensure a successful launch of their new base,” said Hugh.

“Although territories such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar are not regarded as high-profile in subsea terms, there are a number of projects underway and in the pipeline that will make the Middle East a particularly appealing prospect for North Sea firms with a subsea focus.

“We anticipate that more and more Scottish firms with expertise and know-how in this sector will want to look at how they can expand and grow in this region in future.”