The three-day Saudi Arabia International Oil & Gas Exhibition (SAOGE) witnessed more than SR5 billion worth of business deals and alliances between companies.

This was announced by Dhahran International Exhibition Company, which organized the event.

The show, inaugurated by the Eastern Province governor on Monday, wrapped up on Wednesday.

It attracted more than 10,000 visitors.

Mohammed Alibrahim, public relations director of the organizing company, said a number of businessmen, officials, diplomats and interested members of the oil and gas sector attended the event.

Around 200 national and international oil firms and major operating companies from 25 countries took part in the show.

In addition to local organizations, he said companies came from the US, Britain, Turkey, Russia, Japan, China, Taiwan, Italy, Indonesia, India, Germany, France, Egypt, Denmark, Belgium and the UAE. Officials from Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Finland were also present.

SAOGE sees great demand from global companies, who promote their presence at the heart of the industry, he said.

The Eastern Province provides the best platform for business opportunities in the energy sector, covering more than 33 percent of Saudi Arabia’s total area.It is the largest province in the Kingdom and the perfect strategic gateway for international trade, said the director.

SAOGE was launched in November 2008 as the premier event for the oil and gas Industry in Saudi Arabia, he said.

It was launched with the aim of meeting the requirements of the largest oil producing country in the world to host its own focused oil and gas show a service, he said.

Saudi Arabia ranks as one of the world’s 20 largest economies and is the largest economy in the MENA region.