Michael Quentin Morton

The book sheds lights on the discovery and development of offshore oil fields in the UAE, and monitors the emergence of offshore oil industry from its early beginnings until modern operations, and the accompanying human stories. The author states that the discovery of oil came at the right time for the Trucial Coast as it brought a new source of wealth that replaced the old one, pearl.This wealth has exceeded all expectations and promptly turned the UAE into modern cities and regional commercial centers. The author notes that much has been written about the search for onshore oil, but offshore oil has not received enough attention from writers, in spite of the fact that modern oil industry has reached the high seas in less than a century, and it has its own characteristics and challenges. Moreover, it has contributed greatly to the UAE economy. The book consists of eight chapters enhanced by a large number of photos, drawings, maps, appendices, terminology and references.