NORTH-EAST engineering skills are being exported to the Middle East.

Teesside's Nortech Group has joined up with Dhabi Contracting LLC, to form a new business delivering a range of engineering services to industry in the United Arab Emirates.

Dhabi Nortech will provide Engineering Design (Engineering House) and Project Management Consultant (PMC) for UAE’s oil & gas, process, petrochemical, chemical, infrastructure and energy sectors.

The new venture, which is based in Abu Dhabi, has already secured its first contract. It has been engaged by Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Ltd (GASCO) to deliver a flare system upgrade project at one of its major onshore gas processing facilities.

Bryan Bunn, Managing Director of Wynyard-based Nortech Group, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to apply our established engineering services expertise to the vibrant and growing United Arab Emirates.

"Our UK operations are continuing to grow, after visiting the UAE and meeting with local industry we felt we could successfully replicate our operations in the region and increase the footprint of our business. The initial success we have achieved by securing the contract with GASCO will be an excellent springboard for ambitions to build a presence in the market.”

He added: “We are very proud to enter into this venture with Dhabi Consulting LLC, which is extremely well respected in the UAE and has exceptionally strong brand recognition. Dhabi’s presence and track record offers exceptional credibility to the partnership and a solid basis for future growth and success.”

Sami Edwards, General Manager of Dhabi Contracting, said: “The UAE is one of the world’s largest energy markets and our partnership with Nortech forms a strong bond between two very well respected companies, both specialists in their sector. UK expertise is widely recognised for its quality in the region and through combining the strengths of both companies we foresee great success for Dhabi Nortech, supporting a number of clients across all sectors in the UAE and the wider Middle East.”