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Oil in the Middle East

The Middle East is renowned for its oil supply. The UAE in particular was dependant on fishing and the pearling industry before Oil was discovered in the 1950’s. Since 1962 Abu Dhabi became the first of the emirates to export oil and it’s since then the country’s society and economy have been transformed. The late Sheikh Zayed oversaw the development of all the emirates and directed oil revenues into healthcare, education and the national infrastructure. Today the oil industry has attracted a large influx of foreign workers and with expatriates make up three quarters of the population. Alongside Oil, Abu Dhabi has a growing business sector and its tourist industry have helped fuel the construction boom.