Announcements
ADNOC announces three new oil discoveries
Abu Dhabi, May 19, 2022 (WAM) – Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) on Thursday announced three oil discoveries that will add more than 650 million barrels of oil to the country’s hydrocarbon reserves.In a statement, the Abu Dhabi-based group said the 500 million barrels of oil were discovered at Bu Hasa, Abu Dhabi’s biggest onshore field, with a crude oil production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd). The second oil find was in Abu Dhabi’s Onshore Block 3, operated by Occidental, with around 100 million barrels of oil in place.“In the third discovery, around 50 million barrels of light and sweet Murban-quality crude were found in Al Dhafra Petroleum Concession,” according to the Adnoc statement.
Adnoc produces almost all of the UAE’s oil and is spending billions of dollars on multiple development projects as it aims to expand its crude output capacity to five million barrels per day (bpd) by 2030, up from the existing four million bpd.
Energy analysts and market experts said these additional reserves will be ‘a sizeable boost’ to the UAE’s hydrocarbon reserves base standing well above 111 billion barrels of oil and 289 trillion standard cf of natural gas.
Earlier this year, Adnoc had announced a sizeable gas discovery in the Offshore Block 2 exploration concession operated by Italy’s Eni. Adnoc had said that the interim results from the block’s first exploration well indicated between 1.5 trillion and 2 trillion cubic feet of raw gas in place in multiple good quality reservoirs of the Jurassic exploration targets.
In December last, there was confirmation of a discovery of up to one billion barrels of oil equivalent (BBOE) at Onshore Block 4 Exploration Concession, which is operated by the Japanese combine INPEX/JODCO (Japan Oil Development Company). The oil discoveries were disclosed at the Adnoc board of directors meeting chaired by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office.
During the meeting, held at Adnoc headquarters in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled reviewed Adnoc’s performance and strategic targets and commended the company’s expanded approach to strategic partnerships, which have helped lead to new discoveries of oil, including a new find at Bu Hasa, Abu Dhabi’s biggest onshore field with a crude oil production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (mbpd).
“The 500 million barrels of oil discovered from an exploration well in the Bu Hasa field has unlocked a new formation within the field, offering substantial additional premium-grade Murban oil resources. Bu Hasa is part of the Adnoc Onshore Concession and is operated by Adnoc Onshore,” according to the statement issued by Adnoc.
In Abu Dhabi’s Onshore Block 3, operated by Occidental, around 100 million barrels of oil in place were discovered, marking the second oil find in this concession. Occidental was awarded the exploration rights for Onshore Block 3 in early 2019.
“Around 50 million barrels of light and sweet Murban-quality crude was also discovered in the Al Dhafra Petroleum Concession, operated by Al Dhafra Petroleum, a joint venture between Adnoc, the Korea National Oil Company (KNOC) and GS Energy,” the statement said.
Indian travellers planning a holiday in Abu Dhabi can now have the cost of their UAE entry visa covered under a new tourism initiative.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has launched a limited-time programme for eligible Indian passport holders who book qualifying Abu Dhabi holiday packages through participating travel companies and online travel agencies.
The offer is available until October 31, 2026, during an initial pilot that will support up to 20,000 visas.
However, the offer comes with specific booking requirements. Travellers must book a package that includes both a return flight from India and at least three consecutive nights at an Abu Dhabi hotel.
Who is eligible for the free UAE visa offer?
The programme is aimed at Indian passport holders travelling from India to Abu Dhabi.
To qualify, travellers must book through a participating travel partner or online travel agency. The holiday package must include:
- A minimum three-night stay at an Abu Dhabi hotel
- A return flight from India
- Booking through an eligible participating travel partner or OTA
The visa benefit cannot be claimed through an independent application. It is tied to qualifying holiday bookings made through the programme’s participating partners.
When is the Abu Dhabi free visa offer available?
The initiative runs from:
August 1 to October 31, 2026
DCT Abu Dhabi says the pilot programme will initially support up to 20,000 visas.
For eligible bookings, the tourism authority will cover the full cost of the UAE entry visa, potentially reducing the upfront expense for Indian visitors planning a trip to the emirate.
How does the visa fee waiver work?
Travel partners participating in the scheme have two ways to process the visa arrangements.
One option is to work with a DCT-appointed destination management company (DMC). In this case, DCT Abu Dhabi will pay the visa costs directly.
Travel companies can also use their existing DMC partners. Under this arrangement, DCT Abu Dhabi will reimburse Dh285 for each visa issued under the programme.
For travellers, the key point is that the benefit is handled through the participating travel partner rather than by applying for reimbursement independently.
Why is Abu Dhabi targeting Indian travellers?
India continues to be an important international source market for Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector.
According to DCT Abu Dhabi, the new programme is part of wider efforts to make the destination more accessible to Indian visitors while strengthening relationships with travel companies and improving connectivity between India and Abu Dhabi.
The initiative also aims to encourage visitors to spend more time in the emirate exploring its hotels, cultural attractions, entertainment options and natural landscapes.
Is the UAE visa completely free for all Indian tourists?
No.
The offer does not mean that every Indian passport holder automatically receives a free UAE tourist visa.
The visa fee is covered only when travellers meet the programme’s conditions and book through a participating travel partner or online travel agency.
The booking must include at least three consecutive hotel nights in Abu Dhabi and a return flight from India.
Travellers should therefore check with their chosen travel provider before booking to confirm that the package and visa arrangement qualify for the offer.
Abu Dhabi holiday offer:
Who: Eligible Indian passport holders travelling from India
Destination: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Offer period: August 1–October 31, 2026
Hotel requirement: Minimum three consecutive nights
Flight requirement: Return flight from India
Booking requirement: Participating travel partner or OTA
Visa cost: Covered by DCT Abu Dhabi for eligible bookings
Pilot capacity: Up to 20,000 visas
Independent applications: Not eligible for the programme
For Indian travellers already considering an Abu Dhabi getaway, the initiative could make an eligible holiday package more affordable, but checking the participating travel provider and meeting all the booking conditions will be essential.
Indian tourists can get UAE visa fees waived for Abu Dhabi: Who qualifies
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