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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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