Samina Mullick, managing director and partner at Al Kulaib International Trading, talks to The Energy Year about the company’s growing portfolio of capabilities and its progress towards launching operations in Saudi Arabia in 2026. Al Kulaib International Trading is a Kuwaiti contracting company specialising in oil and gas and power projects.
What factors influenced your entry into the Saudi market, and how is your Kuwait base supporting this expansion?
We built our foundation in Kuwait fifty years ago, and today, we bring that legacy to Saudi Arabia with renewed purpose and unstoppable resolve. For five decades, we have been known for taking on the most challenging projects tendered by KNPC and KOC.
Now, with our team already working in Saudi Arabia with co-ordination, logistics and HSE compliance support from Kuwait headquarters, we are laying the groundwork for our branch to be fully operational in early 2026 – anchored in the Eastern Province. We are pursuing a low-risk, high-readiness model until we fully transition into a Saudi-led operation under our next generation of leadership.
How is Al Kulaib adapting its expertise to the needs of the Saudi market and aligning with Vision 2030?
Vision 2030 resonates deeply with us because it mirrors our pursuit of transformation. Al Kulaib is aligning itself with the programme by hiring locals and focusing on sustainable procurement.
In Kuwait, we are known for rescuing broken timelines and overcoming project fatigue in oil and gas shutdowns and critical infrastructure projects. In Saudi Arabia, we won’t just replicate – we will reinvent. We are adapting our engineering methodologies, workforce development practices and quality systems to local expectations.
In my ongoing training in the MIT xPRO COO course, I am gaining knowledge on digital twins, predictive safety systems and systems thinking, all concepts that we will embed into our Saudi execution model.
What sectors are you targeting in Saudi Arabia, and are you pursuing partnerships to enhance your offerings?
We are targeting upstream and downstream oil and gas services, scaffolding and industrial maintenance, EPC support, modular fabrication and emerging energy platforms such as hydrogen and clean utilities.
Collaboration is a pillar of our growth. We are building alliances with Saudi firms and engaging with international partners for technologies in hydrogen, automation and modular EPC systems.
Aramco is more than a client to target. The company has a culture of excellence that we deeply respect and aim to be a part of. Earning Aramco’s trust will be a key milestone, and we are focusing our processes, protocols and partnerships to achieve that.
Are you pursuing any specific certifications or approvals?
Certifications aren’t just paperwork, they are promises. That is why we are investing heavily in quality, safety and process certifications tailored to the Saudi operational environment. We already meet the standards of KNPC, KOC and major EPCs in Kuwait. Next, we will seek approval from Aramco’s General Engineering Services Plus programme, as well as certifications from SABIC and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu.
Our HSEQ unit is already setting audits and pre-qualification protocols in motion. By Q4 2025, we expect to have ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certifications in Saudi Arabia, and to initiate SAP Ariba vendor onboarding with Aramco.
What is your long-term vision in Saudi Arabia, and what is the investment approach you have planned?
Saudi Arabia is not just growing; it is leading. With global attention from world leaders and top international companies, the country’s future is full of promise. In this context, we are investing in more than infrastructure. We are investing in business continuity and the community. From building an operations hub and modular yard to launching a training centre for Saudi youth, we are committed to long-term job and value creation.
This next chapter in the company’s story will be carried forward by my sons, Maher Ali Mullick and Othman Mullick. They represent the future of Al Kulaib in Saudi Arabia. To succeed, you need more than capabilities. You also need character, culture and consistency, and that’s what Al Kulaib brings: a family-led company with a heart for people, a head for business and eyes on every detail.
