Meet Paul Miles, Group Director for Energy Project Services, ABL UAE
The team at ABL Group shares the passion, vision and values for working in energy and the world’s oceans, de-risking and driving the energy transition. We are driven by the idea that the best work is born from professionalism, diligence… and fun. You know ABL Group, but do you know our team?
A glimpse into your day at ABL & what keeps you on your toes?
“Every day at ABL is different! My work varies from client meetings and office-based coordination to site visits, so I’m constantly switching between environments and challenges.
One day I could be deep in project planning, the next I’m out in the field, boots on, assessing operations or supporting clients firsthand. That variety keeps me sharp and makes the role both exciting and rewarding”
What drew you to our industry and what keeps you passionate about it?
The diversity of our industry is what first attracted me – there’s such a broad spectrum of disciplines, technologies, and challenges that no project is ever identical.
What keeps me passionate is the pace of change and the way our industry continues to evolve, particularly with the growing focus on decarbonisation and new forms of energy. Being part of that transformation, and helping clients adapt to it, is both stimulating and meaningful.
Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?
We’ve recently been appointed as Marine Warranty Surveyor on one of the region’s largest and most ambitious energy projects. What makes this project so exciting is its forward-thinking approach to decarbonisation. It integrates multiple low-carbon technologies into one cohesive solution: capturing around 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ each year, producing low-carbon hydrogen to replace traditional fuel gas, and drawing clean power from nuclear and renewable sources on the grid.
In your role leading ABL’s global Energy Project Services, what do you see as the biggest challenges facing the Middle East energy industry?
The Middle East is in a unique and promising position. It has a strong foundation in traditional energy but also the natural resources and capital to become a global leader in renewables – particularly in solar and hydrogen. The challenge lies in achieving that balance: maintaining the reliability and economic importance of traditional energy while advancing new, sustainable technologies like carbon capture and electrification.
The key to long-term success will be collaboration, innovation, and a willingness to adopt new operating models that bridge the two worlds – creating a truly integrated energy ecosystem that supports the journey to net zero by 2050.
Beyond the work, what’s your favourite part about being part of the ABL team in Singapore? Any fun team moments you’d like to share?
The team spirit here in the UAE is second to none. There’s a strong sense of collaboration and mutual respect, everyone is committed, motivated, and genuinely enjoys what they do. That camaraderie drives me to give my best every day and makes even the busiest periods enjoyable. It’s a team that delivers, but also supports each other along the way.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?
If I could change one thing, it would be to accelerate the global pace towards net zero. That doesn’t mean abandoning traditional energy, but rather leveraging its strengths to enable the transition. By improving efficiency, integrating renewables, and applying technologies like carbon capture, we can make the energy sector both sustainable and secure
More about Paul
Position: Group Director, Energy Project Services
Office: Dubai, UAE
Hobbies: Sport – mountain biking, swimming and hiking with my dogs
Favourite book : Touching the Void by Joe Simpson
Paul and the wider ABL Group team are LIVE at ADIPEC 2025 in Abu Dhabi! Visit us on Stand 8539 in Hall 8 (UK Pavilion) to meet and discuss how ABL is helping shape the future of energy. As a trusted independent partner to some of the world’s major offshore developments, we bring decades of technical excellence and on-the-ground expertise – supporting projects across 36+ countries in marine warranty, renewables, engineering, and energy consulting.
Stop by to meet the team and discover how we can help de-risk and drive your next project forward.