BP's plans for a stronger relationship with the Middle East were taken a stage further last night as Tony Hayward, its embattled chief executive, made a surprise visit to Abu Dhabi.
Mr Hayward was seen at a hotel in the capital, fuelling speculation that he was seeking to encourage investors from the emirate to buy shares in the oil company. A spokesman for BP would not say who Mr Hayward met.
"He is visiting some of our most important partners," the spokesman said. "It is a normal week's work for the chief executive of a major oil company. The deal with our partner the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company [ADNOC] is up for renewal and they're probably talking about that."
BP's interest in seeking strategic investors in the Middle East was revealed on Sunday in The National. The spokesman said Mr Hayward would meet any potential investors while in the Middle East if asked.
"This is not part of him travelling the world with a begging bowl asking for equity contributions. We are not preparing an equity offering but we're keen that people appreciate the value in BP. If investing institutions want to talk to him, I'm sure he'd agree to meet them."
BP said Mr Hayward was on a scheduled visit to the region and that he had spent the morning in Azerbaijan, where he met the president Ilham Aliyev.
He declined to comment when asked the purpose of the trip. "I'm just visiting, I'm here for a couple of days," he told Bloomberg.
fkane@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5