The Environmental Atlas of Abu Dhabi Emirate

Natural Capital

Oil & Natural Gas Resources While the evolution of the unique physical geography of the Emirate is truly ancient, the most significant advances in human development have occurred only very recently, with economic growth and modernisation being propelled by the momentous discovery of oil and gas. These changes have been epic in their scope and impact. Of course, there is more to the oil and gas story than the simple fact that the Emirate became wealthy. Abu Dhabi’s geography and geology not only helped to create significant oil and gas reserves but also made them accessible. However, the development of those reserves was a long, complex and, in the early stages, a frustrating process, and the decisions taken then had immediate and long-term repercussions.

Managing and diversifying the oil and gas economy requires strategic planning and policy-making that looks beyond the present towards a sustainable future. Natural capital in the form of oil and gas is being transformed into economic wealth and social capital, which concurrently should be balanced with the unique environmental assets of the Emirate. Abu Dhabi has commenced a lengthy, transformational journey that will bring still more changes across society as profound as those brought by the original discovery of oil and gas. Within the context of geological time and even of Abu Dhabi’s human history, this time period represents the blink of an eye. However, the beneficial impacts will resonate for generations to come across the Gulf region and the rest of the world.

Photograph Drilling in the Bab oil field in Murban, south ofTarif, Abu Dhabi 1960