The
region's continuing prosperity is mainly due to its massive
oil reserves , with Abu Dhabi possessing 95% of the U.A.E.'s
resources. About 2.4 million barrels are pumped every
day and experts predict that the Emirate - the world's
10th largest oil producer - has reserves for the next
200 years.
Abu
Dhabi also controls the largest share of the U.A.E's gas
reserves, with an increasing amount of natural gas being
processed for export. A huge investment programme is underway
to upgrade both oil refineries and gas processing systems
especially on Das Island, from which liquefied natural
gas is exported.
Historically,
the Emirate owes much of its wealth to pearls from the
Gulf, so it was fitting that the sea also yielded the
U.A.E's next precious commodity -"Black Gold".
Abu Dhabi continues to go from strength to strength, with
the ever increasing number of sky-scrapers dominating
the city's stunning skyline acting as testimony to its
success.
Traders
and businessmen in the Abu Dhabi Emirate had seen difficult
days before the construction of Port Zayed. Finding it
impossible to enter the shallow waters of the Abu Dhabi
beach, the cargo ships used to dock about 8km away from
the coast and unload their shipments on barges and small
dhows which then transported the cargo to the beach.
This
was a labourious and costly job for the importers, exporters
and the shipowners due to the high cost of loading and
unloading and the long periods that ships had to stay
out in the sea, particularly when bad weather delayed
the arrival of barges, and due to slow handling process.
The
history of Mina Zayed (or Port Zayed) is the history of
the UAE Federation. The construction of this Port started
in 1968 in fulfillment of the directives of His Highness
Sh. Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, in his capacity as ruler
of Abu Dhabi Emirate at that time. However, the Port was
officially inaugurated by His Highness Sh. Zayed in 1972
in his capacity as the President of the UAE.
Port
Zayed as the main gate of the Abu Dhabi Emirate to the
outside world extends valuable services to a wide range
of private and public sectors including the shipping lines,
shipping agents, importers, businessmen and other port
users.
The
unique location of the Port with its great potential allows
it to play a major role in the Gulf region and the Middle
East. The total area of the Seaport is 510 hectares in
addition to 1000 square meters being the area of the Free
Port. Port Zayed has presently 21 berths with individual
depths varying between 9.5 and 15 meters, allowing the
arrival of all types of commercial trans-ocean ships.
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