The first oil discovery in the Emirate was made in 1958 in Umm Shaif field, some 150 kilometres northwest of the city of Abu Dhabi. The first oil shipment was exported off the island to the world market on 4th July 1962 through Das Island, about 180km from the Abu Dhabi shoreline. Zakum, which is just 55 kilometres from Umm Shaif, is today one of the largest offshore oil fields in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

[Originally published in Abu Dhabi Week vol 2 issue 19]