Aramcos

Aramcos is an informal term used to refer to the Saudi Aramco corporate group—the Saudi Arabian Oil Company and its network of international subsidiaries, joint ventures, and trading arms. The group is state-owned by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is one of the largest energy organizations in the world, with extensive operations in exploration, production, refining, chemicals, and distribution.

The company traces its origins to the 1933 concession that created the California-Arabian Standard Oil Company (CASOC), which was renamed Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco) in 1944. In 1980 the Saudi government assumed full ownership, and the name Saudi Aramco was adopted in 1988. In 2019 the company conducted a partial public offering on the Tadawul, the Saudi stock exchange, marking a rare instance of a state-controlled behemoth seeking public investment while maintaining majority ownership by the state. Since then, Aramcos have continued to expand their international footprint through subsidiaries and partnerships.

Operations encompass upstream exploration and production, major oilfield development, and downstream activities including refining, petrochemicals, and distribution. Key assets attributed to the Aramcos include large oil fields such as Ghawar (the world’s largest onshore conventional field) and Safaniya (the largest offshore field), along with refining complexes and extensive pipeline networks. The group also maintains international trading, technology, and engineering arms, such as Aramco Overseas Company and Aramco Asia, enabling global supply, logistics, and collaboration.

Strategically, Aramco sustains Saudi Arabia’s role in international energy markets while supporting national policy objectives, including economic diversification and energy security initiatives outlined in Vision 2030. The use of the term Aramcos emphasizes the broader corporate ecosystem beyond the central Saudi Aramco entity.