(Adds details on contracts)
ABU DHABI, June 7 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates'National Drilling Company has signed contracts worth $543million to buy 14 new rigs, state news agency WAM reported onSunday.
One offshore and one onshore rig, worth $203 million, willbe built in the UAE, WAM said, quoting the company's chiefexecutive Abdullah Saeed al-Suwaidi.
The onshore rig deal was signed with National Oilwell Varco, while the offshore one went to Lamprell.
A third deal was signed with China Petroleum Technology &Development Corporation for 12 rigs, Suwaidi said.
The new contracts are part of the UAE company's expansionplans and also the result of growing demand from its customers,it said. (Reporting by Maha El Dahan; editing by Jason Neely and JaneMerriman)
