Oct 14, 2026
Students Shine at International Case Competition in Norway
A team of KFUPM students secured third place in its group at the NHH International Case Competition, held in Bergen, Norway. The competition brought together 12 teams divided into three groups, challenging students from leading universities around the world to develop growth strategies for major global companies.
Organized by the Norwegian School of Economics, this year’s challenge focused on developing a 10-year growth strategy for DOF, a company specializing in offshore shipping, marine services, and offshore energy.
Representing KFUPM, the team included Abdulrahman Yaghmour, an Electrical Engineering student; Mohammed Al Bashrawi and Mohamed Attia, Industrial and Systems Engineering students; and Abdullah Alattas, a Finance student.
The team recommended that DOF diversify from a position of strength, given its dependence on the oil and gas sector, reliance on a limited number of clients, and debt. Their strategy focused on three pillars: scaling the existing business, entering new markets, and financing growth without additional debt. The team developed the plan by analyzing DOF’s business, researching market and industry trends, identifying opportunities, modeling financial outcomes, and stress-testing their recommendations. Each member led a specific area, from company and market analysis to new business development and financial modeling.
The team identified growth opportunities in West Africa and Guyana, longer maintenance contracts, monitoring services for cables and pipelines, and floating wind services, all of which could build on DOF’s existing ships, crews, and expertise. Their strategy projected an increase in EBITDA from USD 850 million to USD 1.14 billion by 2036, with 11 percent of earnings coming from outside the oil and gas sector. It also aimed to reduce DOF’s exposure to future downturns while maintaining leverage within the company’s limit.
The team faced several challenges during the competition, including the limited time available to analyze the case and prepare the presentation, working in an industry that was relatively new to them, and bringing together members from different academic backgrounds. They overcame these challenges by creating a detailed timeline, clearly dividing responsibilities, conducting focused research on the industry, and using their diverse expertise to address the technical, operational, and financial aspects of the case.
The Deanship of Student Affairs and the Beat the Globe program provided financial and logistical support to the team. KFUPM Business School (KBS) also supported the students, with Dr. Ehab Quhush serving as the team’s coach and providing valuable expertise and guidance that enriched their learning and strengthened their preparation for the competition.