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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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