Britain becomes ‘major engineering hub’ for UAE firm with acquisition of UK subsea player

The UAE-headquartered subsea technologies and engineering provider Unique Group is looking forward to charting new pathways in the global subsea and offshore energy arenas with the strategic acquisition of the UK-based subsea technology and equipment manufacturer, Subsea Innovation.

With a global workforce of over 600 employees across 18 locations, Unique Group claims that the acquisition of Subsea Innovation, which was part of Tekmar Group, transforms the UK into its “major engineering hub,” complementing existing manufacturing locations in South Africa, the Middle East, and the Isle of Wight.

Sahil Gandhi, Chief Executive Officer at Unique Group, commented: “This acquisition underlines our commitment to innovation and engineering expertise. We have ambitious development plans, along with our existing solutions to our wider customer base. Subsea Innovation’s impressive track record, combined with Unique Group’s strengths, positions us to deliver unparalleled solutions in the dynamic landscape of offshore energy and subsea sectors.”

According to the UAE firm, this move elevates its global engineering capabilities, enhances its portfolio, and further strengthens its focus on engineering excellence and technology development in the subsea sphere, which currently includes survey equipment, diving & life support, buoyancy & water weights, unmanned surface vessels (USVs), and lifting & mooring solutions.

Subsea Innovation expertise lies in offshore deck equipment, including launch and recovery systems, engineering consulting, emergency pipeline repair systems, and tailored solutions for subsea and renewable domains. With this at the forefront, Unique Group is convinced that the acquisition, which fits seamlessly with its offerings, will step up its technology growth focus and ability to provide an integrated package for clients.

Dave Thompson, Subsea Innovation’s Managing Director, who will assume the role of Group Engineering Director at Unique Group following the acquisition, highlighted: “We are excited to become a part of Unique Group, and this is a significant leap forward in our journey to redefine industry standards.

“With the combined technical and commercial synergies of Unique Group and Subsea Innovation, we are poised to significantly grow globally and develop new solutions, that can make subsea operations efficient and safer for clients.”

The acquisition of Subsea Innovation follows Unique Group’s USV portfolio expansion with the launch of two new models, developed entirely in-house and designed for surveying operations.