Aramco Overseas Company B.V. (AOC), subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, the national oil company of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is moving its headquarters back to The Hague from Leiden from where it has been functioning since 1984. AOC thus returns to its base, The Hague, from where it began operating in 1952.
“Saudi Aramco has shared a rich history with the Netherlands dating back to over 55 years. AOC wanted to expand its operations and has been considering several locations, within the Netherlands but also outside our borders. We are very pleased that AOC eventually decided to stay in our country and move back to The Hague,” said Patrick Polman, director Gulf region of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA).
“AOC’s decision to return to its original home augurs well for the company, because there are already a large number of oil companies in The Hague. More importantly, we expect the move will also benefit Dutch businesses, as AOC is a major operator with diverse activities spanning the globe,” added Polman.
“Operating from The Hague will bring logistical efficiencies and proximity to our business partners and suppliers, especially oil companies,” said Ahmed Alzayyat, managing director of AOC. “Moreover, The Hague’s service industry enjoys a high reputation and the city is renowned for efficiently catering to expatriates’ needs.” The new AOC headquarters will be located at the Scheveningseweg in The Hague.
AOC operated from The Hague for 30 years before it decided to move its base operations to Leiden in 1984. The Netherlands proved to be an invaluable country with diverse resources that assisted AOC to run its business with the highest efficiency. The excellent transport links meant AOC could import and export its goods freely and effectively through the Rotterdam port, one of the largest ports in the world. The multi-lingual, highly educated workforce made it a relatively cost-effective location, offering administrative support through its Dutch office to the rest of Europe and the Asia-Pacific. The attractive tax benefits have made the Netherlands a very attractive option for any foreign investment company.
About AOC
Aramco Overseas Company B.V. (AOC) is a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), based in Leiden, the Netherlands. AOC operates primarily in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa, providing its affiliates in the Saudi Aramco global oil and gas enterprise with a wide range of services including finance support, supply chain management, technical support services and a variety of administrative support services.
AOC also holds interests in hydrocarbon refining companies in Asia as well as storage and terminal facilities in the Netherlands. AOC operates outside the Netherlands through branch offices in China, Japan, Malaysia and Italy.
About the NFIA:
The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) has been set up for the specific purpose of helping and advising foreign companies who wish to take advantage of the Dutch business environment as a strategic base to cover Europe. It provides information and practical assistance free of charge and on a confidential basis. The NFIA is an operational unit of the EVD, the agency for international business and cooperation, which in turn is part of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.
The NFIA has offices in Europe (HQ in The Hague, London), the US (New York, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, San Mateo), Asia (Tokyo, Osaka, Taipei, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Seoul, New Delhi, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur) and in the Gulf Region (Dubai).
