SAMREF

What SAMREF does

SAMREF (Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd.) is a 50/50 joint venture between Saudi Aramco and ExxonMobil (via Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc.) that operates one of the largest and most modern refineries in the world from a single site in Yanbu Industrial City, Saudi Arabia. Founded in 1981 with commercial operations commencing on November 15, 1984, the refinery processes over 400,000 barrels per day of Arab Medium/Heavy crude oil through an integrated set of process units including crude and vacuum distillation, fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), continuous catalytic reforming (CCR), alkylation, MTBE production, diesel hydrotreating, naphtha treatment, and sulfur recovery. The facility achieves a barrel utilization rate exceeding 80%, meaningfully above comparable refineries globally.

The refinery produces a diversified slate of finished petroleum products—gasoline (35% of production), automotive diesel and heating oil (30%), marine heavy fuel oil (17%), jet fuel (15%), and LPG (3%)—plus petrochemical feedstocks (propylene) and elemental sulfur. SAMREF does not sell directly to end customers; instead, all output is offtaken and marketed globally by its two parent companies through their respective distribution networks, serving downstream petrochemical plants, fuel distributors, industrial buyers, and international refined-product markets. In December 2025, SAMREF signed a Venture Framework Agreement with Aramco and ExxonMobil to evaluate a multi-billion-dollar upgrade that would expand the facility into an integrated petrochemical complex under the parent companies' Liquids-to-Chemicals strategy. The company also operates healthcare services covering approximately 4,500 employees and dependents, has achieved a 90% Saudization rate, and maintains a 9 million man-hours-without-lost-time-injury safety record (as of October 2023).

Name

SAMREF

Legal name

Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd.

Website

https://samref.com.sa

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

SAMREF is a 50/50 joint venture between Aramco and ExxonMobil operating a 400,000+ barrels-per-day refinery in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, producing gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, marine fuel, LPG, and sulfur for global markets through its parents' distribution networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oil Refining

NAICS

Petroleum Refineries (324110), Petroleum Refineries (32411), Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511)

SIC

Petroleum Refining (2911)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydrotreating, Hydroprocessing & Desulfurization (HDS/HDT) (EUALAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sulfur & Acid Gas Feedstocks (Sulfur, Sulfuric Acid, Mercaptans) (EUALAHAH), Steam Cracking & Feedstock Flexibility Services (Cracker optimization, feed switching, co-product recovery) (EUALAHAJ), Refinery & Petrochemical O&M / Maintenance Outsourcing (EUAEAGAG)

Keywords

• Oil refining operations
• Petroleum products manufacturing
• Crude oil processing
• Fuel production
• Petrochemical feedstocks

Headquarters

HQ city

Yanbu Al Sinaiyah

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Refined Petroleum Products Sales: SAMREF generates revenue by refining crude oil and selling the resulting petroleum products. The refinery processes over 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing propane, automotive diesel, marine heavy fuel oil, gasoline, jet fuel, and sulfur. Products are sold through Aramco and ExxonMobil marketing channels to domestic and international customers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SAMREF (Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd.) operates a major oil refinery in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, processing over 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day into refined petroleum products including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, marine fuel oil, LPG, sulfur, and propylene. The company was the first Saudi refinery to incorporate MTBE technology and maintains an over 80% barrel utilization rate.

Product overview

SAMREF (Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd.) operates a world-class petroleum refinery located in Yanbu Industrial City, Saudi Arabia. The refinery, equally owned by Aramco and ExxonMobil, has a processing capacity exceeding 400,000 barrels per day of Arab Heavy crude oil. The integrated refining complex includes multiple processing units: crude oil distillation, vacuum distillation, fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), continuous catalytic reforming (CCR), alkylation, MTBE production, diesel hydrotreating, naphtha treatment, and sulphur recovery. The refinery achieves over 80% conversion rate from each barrel of crude oil into high-value products. The product portfolio includes finished petroleum products (gasoline at 35%, diesel/heating oil at 30%, jet fuel at 15%, marine fuel oil at 17%, and LPG at 3% of production), as well as petrochemical feedstocks (propylene and sulphur). SAMREF also has plans to expand into an integrated petrochemical complex through a Venture Framework Agreement with Aramco and ExxonMobil signed in December 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gasoline Refined motor gasoline produced at the Yanbu refinery for use as automotive fuel, sold through shareholder marketing networks.
• Diesel and Heating Oil Middle distillate fuels produced at the Yanbu refinery for transportation, industrial, and heating applications.
• Jet Fuel Aviation turbine fuel produced at the Yanbu refinery for commercial and military aviation customers.
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) LPG produced at the Yanbu refinery for cooking, heating, and petrochemical feedstock uses.
• Marine Fuel Oil Residual marine fuel produced at the Yanbu refinery for ocean-going vessels and bunker fuel applications.
• Sulphur Recovered elemental sulphur produced as a by-product of refining operations at the Yanbu refinery, sold to industrial users including fertilizer manufacturers.
• Propylene Propylene produced at the Yanbu refinery for use as a petrochemical feedstock by downstream manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Barrel utilization rate exceeds 80%, higher than comparable refineries worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aramco (Saudi Arabian Oil Company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2025Aramco owns 50% of SAMREF as a joint venture partner. In December 2025, Aramco, ExxonMobil, and SAMREF signed a Venture Framework Agreement to evaluate upgrading the SAMREF refinery and expanding into an integrated petrochemical complex. The project aims to increase high-value chemical production, reduce emissions, and enhance Samref's competitiveness.
• ExxonMobil (via Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2025ExxonMobil owns 50% of SAMREF through its subsidiary Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc. In December 2025, the companies signed a Venture Framework Agreement to evaluate upgrading SAMREF into an integrated petrochemical complex. ExxonMobil Product Solutions President Matt Crocker visited SAMREF in May 2026 to review operations and strategic expansion plans.
• ASMO Advanced Logistics Services Co.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2025SAMREF signed an MOU with ASMO Advanced Logistics Services Co. during iktva Forum and Exhibition 2025, in the presence of then-President & CEO Khalid K. Al-Jehairan. The partnership aims to strengthen strategic business partnerships and sustain contribution of local content to the national economy.
• Yanbu MunicipalityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMREF has a strategic partnership with Yanbu Municipality for CSR initiatives including the Yanbu Green initiative (planting 225,000 trees over three years), as well as community development projects like parks and tourist diving beach facilities.
• Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCY/RCJY)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMREF maintains a strategic partnership with the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu through the Namaa CSR initiative. The company participates in annual CSR forums and collaborates on community development projects including park inaugurations and environmental initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SATORP (Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemicals): Saudi Aramco-Total JV refinery in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, operating a 400,000 bpd integrated refining and petrochemical complex. Most structurally comparable peer given shared Saudi Aramco JV ownership, similar scale, integrated chemicals focus, and Saudi location.
• YASREF (Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company): Saudi Aramco-Sinopec 50/50 JV refinery located in Yanbu Industrial City, alongside SAMREF. Processes 430,000 bpd of Arab Heavy crude into refined products. Direct geographic and structural peer.
• SASREF (Saudi Aramco Shell Refinery): Saudi Aramco-Shell JV refinery in Jubail with ~305,000 bpd capacity. Same Aramco JV ownership structure and Saudi refining focus, making it a structurally analogous peer.
• PetroRabigh: Aramco-Sumitomo Chemical JV operating an integrated refining and petrochemicals complex at Rabigh, Saudi Arabia. Comparable JV model and Saudi location with both fuels and chemicals exposure.
• Fujian Refining and Petrochemical Company (FREP): ExxonMobil-Saudi Aramco-Sinopec JV refinery and petrochemical complex in Fujian, China. SAMREF's EVP Suchart Phowatthanasathian previously led this facility, and it shares the same parent DNA and integrated refining-petchem model.
• Motiva Enterprises (Port Arthur Refinery): North America's largest refinery located in Port Arthur, Texas, wholly owned by Aramco (acquired from Shell in 2017). Large-scale, complex-conversion refinery comparable to SAMREF and within the same Aramco family.
• Jazan Refinery (Aramco): Aramco-controlled 400,000 bpd integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Operated by Saudi Aramco (with board member Abdullah Al-Swailem previously leading the project). Direct functional equivalent within the same parent group.

Emerging players

• Sadara Chemical Company: Aramco-Dow JV petrochemical complex in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Heavily integrated with Aramco's downstream strategy; SAMREF's Chairman Dr. Faisal Al-Faqeer was former CEO. Provides reference point for the petrochemical integration SAMREF is now contemplating.

Broad incumbents

• Reliance Industries (Jamnagar Refinery): Operates the world's largest refinery complex at Jamnagar, India, with 1.4 million bpd capacity. World-scale, complex-config refining peer representing the upper bound of refining scale globally.

Regional players

• Kuwait National Petroleum Corporation (KNPC): Operates Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries in Kuwait with combined ~800,000 bpd capacity. Regional Gulf refining peer serving similar export markets and feedstock ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/samrefrecruit
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCU7_ShrPxvzGgSnfxc-rJng
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/samref
• Instagraminstagram.com/samref_ksa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SAMREF