As of November 2019, the UAE holds the sixth-largest proven reserves of oil in the world at 105 billion barrels. Most of these reserves are located in Abu Dhabi.
ADNOC is one of the world's largest energy companies measured by both reserves and production. ADNOC has 16 subsidiary companies in upstream, midstream, and downstream stages of production. ADNOC develops both onshore and offshore gas fields. The company operates two oil refineries, Ruwais Refinery and Umm Al Nar. ADNOC exports natural gas in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in addition to producing supplies for local electricity and water utilities, to other domestic industries including petrochemicals plants, and for re-injection into reservoirs.
In May 2026, ADNOC announced it would accelerate the West‑East Pipeline project, doubling its oil export capacity through the port of Fujairah in order to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The expanded pipeline is expected to become operational by 2027.
Major investments were made in ADNOC in 2019 by US asset managers BlackRock and KKR and Italian investment firm Eni. The US firms acquired about 40% of ADNOC's pipeline assets for about $4 billion, while Eni SpA took a 20% stake in Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company for over $3 billion. Austria's OMV also invested about $2.8 billion, for about 15% of ADNOC's refining business, in partnership with Eni. KKR furthered its investment in 2025 by taking a minority stake in the subsidiary ADNOC Gas Pipeline Assets.
Read the full text
Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, GIC, completed a deal with ADNOC in May 2019 that gives GIC a 6% share in ADNOC's pipeline infrastructure. The deal was valued at $600 million.
Headquarters
ADNOC Headquarters is a skyscraper office complex located in Abu Dhabi. The building incorporates energy efficiency and sustainable engineering technologies, such as a double skin façade, photovoltaic glazing, and LED exterior lighting. Designed by HOK and opened in 2001, the overall building complex consists of an office tower with more than 65 floors, a corniche club, a crisis management center, a heritage museum, and other support facilities.
Abu Dhabi Marathon
ADNOC is the title sponsor of the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon held annually in mid-December. The marathon usually begins and ends at the ADNOC Group headquarters, situated on the iconic Corniche Road in Abu Dhabi City.
Exploration and production of oil and gas
ADNOC Onshore
ADNOC Onshore works onshore and in shallow coastal water. It is previously known as Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations, ADCO. ADNOC Onshore operates primarily in Abu Dhabi. The company was originally known as Petroleum Development (Trucial Coast). It received its first concession on January 11, 1939, but did not begin geological operations until after World War II. The first commercially viable oil discovery was made at Bab in 1960. In 1962, the company was renamed the Abu Dhabi Petroleum Company. Exports began to flow from the Jebel Dhanna terminal on December 14, 1963. Abu Dhabi's government acquired 25% equity in the company in 1973 and increased its stake to 60% in 1974. The company started using the name Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations, ADCO, in 1978. ADNOC Onshore's primary exports are from the Jebel Dhanna and Fujairah terminals. ADNOC have a 60% share, the remaining 40% is split (CNPC (8%), BP (10%), Total (10%), Inpex (5%), CEFC (4%) and GS Energy of South Korea (3%)). In December 2018 ADNOC transferred China Energy's stake in onshore to China ZhenHua Oil Company, awarding the company a 4% stake.
ADNOC Offshore
ADNOC Offshore is the largest offshore oil producer in Abu Dhabi. It is ADNOC's dedicated offshore arm and is responsible for the development and delivery of oil and gas resources in Abu Dhabi waters. It was formed through the consolidation of two of ADNOC's upstream oil and gas companies: Abu Dhabi Marine Area Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO) and Zakum Development Company (ZADCO). With reorganisation, and the expiry of the 65-year-old ADMA concessions, the offshore concessions are now split by fields. ADNOC 60% then the 40% is split into Upper Zakum (Exxon / INPEX), (minor fields Umm Al Dalk, Satah (Inpex 40%)), Lower Zakum (TotalEnergies, ENI, ONGC, INPEX), Umm Shaif and Nasr (Total, ENI), Sarb and Umm Lulu (CEPSA, OMV).
ADNOC Drilling
ADNOC Drilling is ADNOC's oldest subsidiary. It was previously known as National Drilling Company, NDC. ADNOC Drilling is the largest drilling company in the Middle East. It drills for oil both onshore and offshore in Abu Dhabi. ADNOC currently has a 95% equity in ADNOC Drilling after energy services giant Baker Hughes, acquired a 5% stake (valued around $11 billion or AED40.4 billion) in 2018.
In September 2021, ADNOC Drilling announced its intention to list another 11% of shares in the company on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) through an Initial Public Offering (IPO). On October 3, 2021, the company went public on the Abu Dhabi bourse, and became the most successful listing of all time in the emirate, jumping 30% on its first-ever day of trading.
Al Yasat Petroleum
Al Yasat Petroleum is ADNOC's youngest operating company. It is the first joint venture between ADNOC and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), established in 2014. Tayba Al Hashemi is the current CEO of Al Yasat Petroleum. Al Yasat's role is to explore oil and gas potential within the company's mandated concession areas and to develop prospective locations on behalf of the company's shareholders. ADNOC is the majority shareholder and owns 60% of the company, with CNPC owning the remaining 40%.
Al Dhafra Petroleum
Al Dhafra Petroleum is an upstream company that is focused on unlocking undeveloped oil and gas potential in the UAE. Its shareholders are ADNOC, which owns 60% of the company, with Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) and GS Energy owning the remaining 40%.
ADNOC Sour Gas
ADNOC Sour Gas is a joint $10 billion venture between ADNOC and Occidental Petroleum that is expected to extract at least one billion cubic feet of ultra-sour gas per day. On a daily basis, the project is also expected to produce 504 million cubic feet of natural gas, 33,000 barrels of condensates, and thousands of tons of natural gas liquids, and thousands of tons of sulphur granules. The Project is located in the Shah gas field about 210 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi. Half of this field's production will be used to service domestic demand in the UAE and minimize the need for gas imports. ADNOC Sour Gas is 60% owned by ADNOC with the remaining equity held by Occidental. It is previously known as Abu Dhabi Gas Development Company Limited (Al Hosn Gas).
Marketing and distribution
ADNOC Logistics & Services
ADNOC Logistics & Services was formed by merging ESNAAD, IRSHAD, and ADNATCO. ADNOC Logistics & Services is 100% owned by ADNOC. The new company has a workforce of about 4,000 people.
In August 2020, Chinese company Wanhua partnered with ADNOC Logistics and Services to create AW Shipping Ltd., which owns and operates product tankers and a flotilla of very large gas carriers (VLGCs). AW Shipping delivers liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from ADNOC and other global suppliers to Wanhua's sites in China and globally. In November 2018, a 10-year contract for (LPG) supply was forged between the companies.
ADNOC Distribution
ADNOC Distribution (ADNOCDIS:UH) operates hundreds of service stations across the UAE, provides bunkering services at Zayed Port, aviation fuel services at most of the country's airports, and sells its own brand of lubricants throughout the Gulf region. In September 2020 ADNOC completed "the largest block placement of a publicly listed" company in the Gulf region valued at $1 billion. The placement, which was aimed at institutional investors, increased the subsidiary's free float to 20%.
Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline LLC
Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline LLC (ADCOP) owns a 406-kilometre (252 mi) pipeline that carries crude oil from an ADNOC Onshore collection center in Abu Dhabi to the Fujairah oil export terminal, which provides access to international shipping routes.
