Through a partnership with Al Masaood Bergum (AMB) Construction, part of the Mohammed Bin Masaood Group of companies, AMB Hertel has been formed to operate in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

The relationship with the Mohammed Bin Masaood Group was one which came about through Hertel’s acquisition of Dutch marine outfitters CKT, which already had links to the Middle East firm.

All three operations are being established by Hertel’s Middle East director, Mark Williamson, working alongside existing AMB staff, to initially work on projects and to establish itself as a provider of maintenance services. The expansion will focus on the thriving oil, gas and petrochemical industries.

The Middle East expansion project follows the establishment of material supply operations in Shanghai and the acquisition of German company Montagewerk of Leipzig (MWL), the most strategic and significant acquisition ever undertaken by the Dutch-owned Hertel group.

Hertel, which has its UK headquarters in Middlesbrough, is already working on an engineering, consulting, supply and installation of thermal insulation project for Oman Methanol Ltd, in Oman, with an average of 100 employees on site.

Mark Williamson, Hertel’s Middle East director, said: “The Middle East represents the most strategically-important area of development for the Hertel Group and, as well as establishing ourselves in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, we have further plans to expand in this region.

“This is an exciting time as we move into this vibrant economy, with oil and gas prices at a high and a massive potential for Hertel to grow as a worldwide group.”