01
Market entry & partner sourcing
Considered routes into the GCC — without the cost or risk of standing up an entity before the case is proven.
— Boutique GCC Advisory · Bahrain · Riyadh · Dublin
Building networks.
Bridging markets.
A boutique GCC advisory practice. Considered counsel on market entry, fractional executive leadership, regional business development, and supply-chain alignment — delivered partner-by-partner.
— What we do
The Aontas
difference.
Aontas — Gaelic for unity, alliance. The name is a deliberate one.
We are not a placement agency. We are not an outsourced sales floor. We are a practice — small, senior, regionally rooted — operating in the GCC on behalf of clients who would rather not.
Engagements are scoped with care, measured by outcomes, and delivered by name. No anonymous bench. No templated decks. We take on work where we can change the answer, and we turn down the rest.
Where permanent presence in the region makes sense, we will tell you so. Where it does not, we will tell you that, too.
— What we deliver
A boutique
practice.
Six disciplines, one alliance. Engagements typically begin with a one-week scoping conversation — pro bono and obligation-free.
02
Fractional CEO, CFO & COO
Senior executives on a fractional cadence. The seniority a serious mandate deserves, without a full-time hire.
03
Regional business development
In-region pipeline build, partner sourcing, and channel strategy. Local representation by name, not bench.
04
Supply-chain alignment & ICV / IKTVA
Network design, cost-to-serve reduction, and localisation compliance that holds up under audit.
05
Warehousing & logistics networks
Facility setup, layout design, dangerous-goods compliance, and storage automation across the region.
06
Specialist oilfield chemistry
Bespoke chemistry through SMART Chem partnership — the technology behind $500M+ in commercialised value.
— Where we've delivered
Selected
engagements.
Mandates and projects led, jointly led, or delivered through partners. We disclose only what clients permit; representative briefs are summarised below.
Tasnee
NESR
SMART Chem
Tasnee
NESR
SMART Chem
Saudi AramcoSupply Chain · ICV
Localised supply base for downstream chemicals
Re-architected the regional supply base across three product families, lifting localisation scoring while compressing lead-times by 22%.
SABICSourcing · BD
Specialty additives — Eastern Province
Sourced and qualified an in-region partner for a specialty additives line, replacing a long-haul European route.
SMART Chem · SLBSpecialty · Logistics
Production-chemical commercialisation pathway
Designed the operational and logistics envelope for a novel production chemical from lab to first deployment.
— Track record
- €23M
- Letter of Intent secured · Turkey
- SAR 25M+
- New revenue · single year · oilfield chemicals
- $500M+
- Commercialised value · novel chemical technologies
- 50+
- Patents · 100+ journal papers
— Strength in alliance
The brand is named for unity — Aontas, in Gaelic. Every engagement is partner-led, jointly scoped, and quietly delivered.
Click anywhere on the canvas to grow a new tree.
— How we help
Leadership,
by name.
Senior partners deliver senior work. Each mandate is led, in person, by the partner whose name appears below — not subcontracted, not staffed off a bench.
01
Brian O'Halloran
Managing Director · MSc · MCIPS
Brian is the Owner and Managing Director of Aontas Advisory — an executive leader and independent advisor with over thirty years of international experience.
Based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he holds deep regional expertise from across the Gulf, with senior roles in manufacturing, procurement, logistics, supply-chain management, and regional business development across Ireland, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.
Recent commercial impact includes a Letter of Intent for a €23m project in Turkey and SAR 25m in new revenue in a single year in oilfield chemicals. Clients have included Saudi Aramco and SABIC.
02
Dr. Ayman R. Al-Nakhli
CEO, SMART Chemical Company · Bespoke Chemistry Partner
Dr. Al-Nakhli founded SMART Chemical Company to support the oil and gas industry through specialty chemistry. Aontas Advisory partners with SMART Chem on operational delivery, supply chain, and logistics.
Previously at Saudi Aramco's Advanced Research Centre, he developed and commercialised novel technologies that generated $500M+ in value. He is credited with 50+ patents and 100+ journal papers, and has received two World Oil Awards for Best Production Chemical.
03
Hafiz Fawad Ismail
Fractional CFO
Hafiz is a seasoned finance professional with extensive experience across FP&A, M&A advisory, deal structuring, and corporate turnaround. Based in Dammam, he has worked closely with business owners and investors across the GCC on complex transactions.
As a Fractional CFO, he brings senior financial leadership to growing businesses without the overhead of a full-time hire — particularly suited to owner-managed businesses preparing for a transaction, restructuring, or their next stage of growth.
04
Yazan Darwish
Supply Chain & Logistics
Yazan is a Senior Supply Chain and Logistics executive working with clients to unlock efficiencies, reduce cost-to-serve, and build resilient regional networks.
Based in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia with 15+ years across Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals, Mining, and Healthcare. Advisory scope includes warehouse layout design, network design, dangerous-goods handling compliance, and storage automation.
— Start a conversation
Tell us about
the brief.
We will tell you, plainly, whether Aontas is the right alliance for it — and if it is, who at the firm will lead it.
- Office
- Yateem Centre Complex Shop No. 39, Building 111 Road 385, Block 304 Kingdom of Bahrain
- Telephone
- +973 3778 2200
- hello@aontas-advisory.com
- Hours
- Sun – Thu 09:00 – 18:00 AST By appointment beyond.