Abu Dhabi Oil 1922 – 2022 (Part 2) | Arabian Gulf Digital Archive

1970s – United in growth

While Abu Dhabi’s economic fortunes were clearly on the rise in the 1960s, it was the changes of the 1970s that created the United Arab Emirates, setting it on a trajectory of wealth and modernity under the leadership of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and first President of the United Arab Emirates.

Newspaper article on the discovery of high quality oil, 22 January 1970. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan signing a new oil agreement, 5 February 1970. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on four Emirates requesting to join the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, 16 April 1970. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on Abu Dhabi and four Arab states contributing to the enhancement of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, 30 April 1970. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Extract from an oil concession agreement with Pan Ocean Oil Corporation, in Arabic and English, signed by the Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and for the company by Angus Mackenzie and Peter Banker, 7 June 1970. © Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England

Newspaper article on the Ruler of Abu Dhabi signing a new oil agreement, 18 June 1970. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on Abu Dhabi taking part in the Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries for the first time, 15 June 1970. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on the issuance of a decree regarding the organization of the Department of Petroleum Affairs and Industry and its mandate, 20 August 1970. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Airgram regarding the prospect of a new frozen Liquefied Petroleum Gas facility to be built on Das Island by Abu Dhabi Marine Areas (ADMA), 18 November 1970. Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration of Maryland USA

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, inspecting petroleum facilities on Das Island, accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan, 1970. © WAM

Agreement between Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi Petroleum Company Limited, 5 February 1971. © BP plc

Newspaper article reporting a major celebration held in Jebel Dhanna marking the export of the 100th ton of oil, 13 May 1971. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Emiri Decree no. 18 issued by Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, regarding the appointment of Abdulla Ismail as Undersecretary for the Ministry of Petroleum Affairs and Industry, 7 July 1971. Source: UAE National Library and Archives

Newspaper article on the allocation of 20 million dinars as capital investment for the National Petroleum Company, 29 July 1971. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on the increase of oil exports, 19 August 1971. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on the exploration of 6 new oilfields, 30 September 1971. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on the discovery of a new oilfield, 21 October 1971. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Establishment of the Abu Dhabi National Petroleum Company, 27 November 1971. © Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England

Meeting of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) Council of Ministers in Abu Dhabi, 9 December 1971. © Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England

Airgram regarding a report entitled ‘Abu Dhabi: From Retrenchment to Expansion', enclosing the Digest of Trade Statistics 1971, the Estimate of 1971 Oil Revenue, the Planning Board 1971 annual program and the List of Officials, 10 March 1971. Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration of Maryland USA

Statement from Abu Dhabi Petroleum Company Limited regarding its production in October 1972. © Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England

‘Information on the oil companies operating in Abu Dhabi’ prepared by John Burnett, British Department of Trade and Industry, Petroleum Division, London, 26 January 1973. © Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his inspection tour of the first refueling station in Abu Dhabi, accompanied by Dr. Mana Saeed Al Otaiba, 11 March 1973. © WAM

Foundation stone for Abu Dhabi oil refinery project laid by Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, 17 April 1973. © Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan shaking hands with Dr. Mana Saeed Al Otaiba after laying the foundation stone of the first oil refinery on Umm Al Nar Island, 15 April 1973. © UAE National Library and Archives

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan laying the foundation stone for the oil refinery on Umm Al Nar Island, Abu Dhabi, 15 April 1973. © UAE National Library and Archives

Law no. (6) of 1973 amending the law of incorporation of Abu Dhabi Petroleum Company Limited no. (7) of 1971, issued by Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE President, 16 July 1973. Source: UAE National Library and Archives

Press cutting from BP Shield International regarding the agreement signed for the formation of the Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company, June 1973. © BP plc

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan arriving for the opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company Limited’s LNG plant on Das Island, 3 December 1973. © BP plc

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan inaugurating the construction of the Natural Gas Liquefaction facility, 4 December 1973. © UAE National Library and Archives

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan inaugurating the construction of the Natural Gas Lliquefaction facility, 4 December 1973. © UAE National Library and Archives

Letter from Abu Dhabi Petroleum Company to the British Middle East Department, London regarding the 1974 Participation Agreement between the Government of Abu Dhabi and ADPC Limited, 26 September 1974. © Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England

Newspaper article on the establishment of an oil transport company, the acquisition of maritime transport and facilities for storage, 16 January 1975. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on setting a unified strategy for oil exporting countries, and the UAE taking part in the Algiers Conference via a large economic, political and oil expert delegation, 21 January 1975. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on setting a unified strategy for oil exporting countries, and the OPEC summit seeking to define relations between oil producing and oil consuming countries, and providing support to developing countries, 4 March 1975. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan signing a sale agreement worth 1M ton of petrol to India, 5 March 1975. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum opening the Arab Petroleum Conference in Dubai, 10 March 1975. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Basic notes on oil companies operating in Abu Dhabi prepared by Peter Dow, Commercial Department, British Embassy, Abu Dhabi, May 1975. © Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan inaugurating the oil refinery at Umm Al Nar, in the presence of Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan, 27 April 1976. © UAE National Library and Archives

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan taking an inspection tour at the oil refinery in Umm Al Nar following its inauguration, accompanied by Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan, 27 April 1976. © UAE National Library and Archives

Newspaper article on Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan inaugurating the Umm Al Nar refinery in a large ceremony, and issuing a decision to reduce the prices of oil products, 28 April 1976. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on the increase of oil prices, and larger aid allocations for developing countries, 18 December 1976. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on the Saudi Minister of Petroleum’s visit to the UAE to undertake discussions on the oil sector, 14 January 1977. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE President, at the opening of the Gas Liquefaction Plant on Das Island, in the presence of the members of the Federal Supreme Council, 1977. © UAE National Library and Archives

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, during his tour of the Natural Gas Liquefaction Plant on Das Island following its inauguration, accompanied by Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, and Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, 4 October 1977. © BP plc

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in a hard hat during the inauguration of the Natural Gas Liquefaction plant on Das Island, 4 October 1977. © BP plc

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan during the inauguration of the Natural Gas Liquefaction plant on Das Island, 4 October 1977. © BP plc

Establishment of Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations (ADCO), an operating company for major on-shore oilfields, 20 September 1978. © Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England

1980s – 2022

Abu Dhabi powered into the 21st century as a major oil producer with established petrochemical industries, and a business hub with oil-financed overseas investments. Despite the fluctuations in global oil trade, these sectors will remain the central pillars of the emirate’s economy for the foreseeable future. While diversifying its economy through investment in new industries, Abu Dhabi will continue its legacy of oil and gas production, aligning with a long-term vision of growth and synergies in multiple sectors. This has allowed the emirate to carve out a high-profile and sustainable niche within the global economy.

Newspaper article on increasing the capital investment of ADNOC from AED 200 million to AED 7500 million, 9 January 1981. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan arriving to Arzanah Island, to inaugurate the Arzanah Oilfield and installations, 27 January 1981. © WAM

Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan during his inspection tour of the large oil refinery in Ruwais, 10 January 1981. © WAM

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum inspecting the blueprints for oil projects on Dalma Island, 2 April 1981. © WAM

Newspaper article on Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan inaugurating 3 massive industrial projects in Ruwais, 10 March 1982. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan inaugurating the refinery in Al Ruwais, in the presence of the Rulers of the Emirates, 1982. © UAE National Library and Archives

Newspaper article about Ministers of the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, discussing how to alleviate the impact of the war price on OPEC, 23 February 1983. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about a new discovery of natural gas and crude oil in the concession area of Abu Dhabi Company for On-Shore Petroleum Operations (ADCO), 5 April 1985. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Sheikh Mohammad Bin Butti Al Hamed inaugurating the gas field project in Bu Hasa, accompanied by Suheil Fares Al Mazroui, 13 December 1988. © WAM

Sheikh Sultan Bin Suroor Al Dhaheri unveiling the plaque commemorating the 25th anniversary of the first shipment of Abu Dhabi onshore crude oil exported from Jebel Dhanna, 14 December 1988. © WAM

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan receiving a British traveler at Qasr Al Jarf, speaking about the impact of oil discovery on the life of Bedouins, 1995. © UAE National Library and Archives

Newspaper article on the 45th anniversary of the first oil shipment exported from Abu Dhabi, 25 July 2007. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan chairing the meeting of the Supreme Council on Petrol, and the discovery of 2 billion barrels of crude in Abu Dhabi, 23 November 2020. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan attending the signing of an investment agreement between ADNOC and Borealis valued at AED 22 billion for the expansion of the Borouge complex in Ruwais, 16 November 2021. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on the launch of a strategic partnership between ADNOC and TAQA, 18 February 2021. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article on Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum attending the signing of a strategic gas sales agreement between ADNOC and DUSUP, 10 September 2022. © Al Ittihad Newspaper