Ruwais Diyab gas development has reached a major construction milestone, advancing Abu Dhabi’s first large-scale unconventional gas project towards commercial production. ADNOC took the final investment decision (FID) on November 2, 2026, at ADIPEC. The development will introduce new gas-processing facilities and pipeline infrastructure to strengthen the United Arab Emirates’ energy supply.
The project will initially deliver 345 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of raw gas from 2029. Furthermore, ADNOC plans to sustain production over a 25-year period, with potential capacity reaching one billion standard cubic feet daily. However, the company has not disclosed the project’s total investment value.
The investment decision advances years of technical studies, field testing and subsurface analysis. Consequently, the development moves towards a larger-scale construction and production program designed to unlock Abu Dhabi’s unconventional gas resources.
Ruwais Diyab Gas Development advances infrastructure construction
The development will establish an integrated production, processing and transportation system. Specifically, ADNOC plans to process extracted gas on site before connecting the facilities to the UAE’s gas network. New pipeline infrastructure will transport the additional volumes into the existing national supply system.
ADNOC Onshore leads the development under a design-build-operate (DBO) model. This approach integrates engineering, construction and operational responsibilities to reduce development risks. Moreover, the company has incorporated advanced subsurface expertise and artificial intelligence-enabled drilling and completion technologies.
These technologies will support well development and improve the efficiency of unconventional gas extraction. In addition, integrated project delivery capabilities will coordinate the development’s technical and construction activities.
The infrastructure will also strengthen ADNOC’s wider gas value chain. In particular, additional production will support ADNOC Gas as it serves domestic and international customers. The project therefore links upstream development with downstream processing and gas distribution.
ADNOC’s wider gas infrastructure expansion also includes major offshore construction works. In a separate development, L&T Energy Hydrocarbon Offshore secured a $1.75 billion ultra-mega EPCIC contract from ADNOC Offshore to deliver new offshore facilities and upgrade existing infrastructure.
Ruwais Diyab Gas Development supports UAE energy security
The development forms part of ADNOC’s strategy to expand gas production and strengthen domestic energy availability. The UAE holds approximately 298 trillion standard cubic feet of conventional gas reserves. Additionally, the country possesses an estimated 160 trillion standard cubic feet of unconventional gas resources.
ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said the investment advances the company’s integrated global gas growth strategy. He also highlighted its contribution to energy security and industrial expansion.
The project will support growing energy requirements across industrial facilities and emerging artificial intelligence infrastructure. Meanwhile, additional gas supplies will strengthen the UAE’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) ambitions.
The concession’s development builds on a partnership established in 2018. TotalEnergies initially held a 40% interest before transferring 30% to ADNOC in 2023. Consequently, ADNOC now operates the concession with a 90% stake, while TotalEnergies retains 10%.
Ruwais Diyab also provides a platform for future unconventional gas expansion. Although the initial development targets 345 mmscfd, ADNOC identifies potential capacity of one billion standard cubic feet daily. The company has not specified a timeline for reaching that future production level.
Project Fact Sheet
Name: Ruwais Diyab Unconventional Gas Development.
Type: Large-scale unconventional natural gas development.
Location: Ruwais Diyab concession, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Owner: ADNOC.
Operator: ADNOC.
Total investment: Not disclosed.
Final investment decision: November 2, 2026.
Initial production capacity: 345 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd).
Potential future production capacity: Up to 1 billion standard cubic feet per day.
First production target: 2029.
Production period: 25 years.
Gas processing: On-site processing facilities.
Pipeline infrastructure: New connections to the UAE gas network.
Delivery model: Design-build-operate (DBO).
Development technologies: AI-enabled drilling, well-completion technologies and advanced subsurface analysis.
Project objective: Strengthen domestic gas supply, industrial development and LNG export capacity.
Concession ownership: ADNOC 90%; TotalEnergies 10%.
Development status: Final investment decision taken; advancing towards full-scale development.
Project Team
Owner: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
Operator: ADNOC.
Development and delivery lead: ADNOC Onshore.
Minority concession partner: TotalEnergies.
Technology partner: Enersol, ADNOC Drilling’s joint venture with Alpha Dhabi.
Unconventional drilling partner: Turnwell, ADNOC Drilling’s joint venture with SLB and Patterson-UTI.
Gas processing and customer supply partner: ADNOC Gas.
Engineering, construction and operations delivery model: ADNOC Onshore under the DBO framework.
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