The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is a state-owned oil company and a diversified energy group wholly owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is one of the world's largest energy companies by reserves and production, operating across the entire hydrocarbon value chain, including exploration, production, refining, and petrochemicals.
ADNOC was established on November 11, 1971, by Abu Dhabi Law No. 7/1971. The company was created to solve the problem of absent national stewardship over the emirate's oil wealth, which was previously controlled by foreign-led concessions. The principal visionary, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, sought a national entity to ensure oil revenues funded national development, infrastructure, schools, and hospitals for the newly unified state.
The company's mechanism involves retaining at least a 60% interest in its oil and gas concessions, which are typically granted to ADNOC and selected international partners. It operates through a complex structure of over a dozen subsidiary companies, such as ADNOC Gas Processing and ADNOC Distribution, covering upstream, midstream, and downstream operations. The company's management is answerable to the UAE's Supreme Petroleum Council, which guides the emirate's petroleum policy.
ADNOC is connected to the global energy market and is a key player in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). It is also connected to the UAE's renewable energy sector through its minority stake in Masdar, a government-owned clean energy company.
Recently, ADNOC has undergone significant strategic changes, including a major corporate restructuring and commercialization initiated in 2016. The company has been progressively opening up to international investors, such as listing ADNOC Distribution on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) in 2017. In a shift toward the energy transition, ADNOC accelerated its net-zero ambition to 2045 and committed to zero methane emissions by 2030, allocating an initial $23 billion to advance lower-carbon solutions. It is also proactively building infrastructure, such as pipelines to the port of Fujairah, to bypass the critical Strait of Hormuz chokepoint and ensure supply continuity.