From the vast Ghawar field pumping 3.8 million barrels daily to Qatar's North Field holding nearly a thousand trillion cubic feet of gas, the Middle East is a global energy titan whose staggering statistics reveal a region in dynamic transformation.
Key Takeaways
- Saudi Arabia's average daily crude oil production in 2022 was 11.13 million barrels per day, representing 12.4% of global output.
- United Arab Emirates' crude oil production reached 3.42 million barrels per day in 2022, up 8.4% from 2021.
- Iraq produced 4.35 million barrels of crude oil per day in 2022, making it the second-largest producer in OPEC.
- Qatar's natural gas production reached 177 billion cubic meters in 2022, leading the world.
- Saudi Arabia's gas production was 122 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- UAE produced 71 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2022.
- Saudi Arabia holds 8.54 trillion cubic meters of proven natural gas reserves as of 2022.
- Iran possesses 33.99 trillion cubic meters of natural gas reserves, second globally in 2022.
- Qatar's reserves stand at 23.87 trillion cubic meters, mostly in North Field.
- Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura refinery has a capacity of 550,000 bpd.
- UAE's Ruwais refinery complex capacity exceeds 800,000 bpd after expansion.
- Iraq's Basra refinery runs at 150,000 bpd capacity utilization 70% in 2023.
- Saudi Arabia targets 50% renewable energy by 2030, adding 58.7 GW capacity.
- UAE's Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park reached 2.4 GW by 2023, targeting 5 GW by 2030.
- Qatar plans 4 GW solar capacity by 2030, with Al Kharsaah 800 MW operational.
Major Middle East oil and gas producers maintain significant output while expanding into renewables.
Crude Oil Production
- Saudi Arabia's average daily crude oil production in 2022 was 11.13 million barrels per day, representing 12.4% of global output.
- United Arab Emirates' crude oil production reached 3.42 million barrels per day in 2022, up 8.4% from 2021.
- Iraq produced 4.35 million barrels of crude oil per day in 2022, making it the second-largest producer in OPEC.
- Iran's crude oil output averaged 3.10 million barrels per day in 2022 despite sanctions.
- Kuwait's daily crude oil production stood at 2.65 million barrels in 2022.
- Qatar's crude oil production was 1.81 million barrels per day in 2022.
- Oman's crude oil output reached 0.78 million barrels per day in 2022.
- Saudi Arabia's January 2024 crude oil production was 9.04 million barrels per day under OPEC+ cuts.
- UAE increased crude oil production to 3.24 million bpd in Q1 2024.
- Iraq's crude oil production hit 4.5 million bpd in 2023 before cuts.
- Iran's 2023 average crude production was 3.98 million bpd including condensates.
- Kuwait produced 2.59 million bpd of crude in 2023.
- Saudi Aramco's maximum sustainable capacity is 12 million bpd as of 2023.
- ADNOC plans to reach 5 million bpd crude production by 2027.
- Iraq's oil production grew 12% year-on-year in 2023 to 4.4 million bpd.
- Qatar Petroleum's crude output stabilized at 1.3 million bpd in 2023.
- Oman's PDO fields produced 0.72 million bpd in 2023.
- Saudi Arabia's 2023 crude production averaged 9.65 million bpd.
- UAE's Murban crude grade averaged 3.2 million bpd in 2023.
- Iran's South Pars condensate production contributed 1.2 million bpd in 2023.
- Kuwait Oil Company's Burgan field produced over 1 million bpd in 2023.
- Bahrain's crude production was 0.2 million bpd in 2022.
- Yemen's crude output dropped to 0.05 million bpd in 2022 due to conflict.
- Algeria's Middle East-adjacent production was 0.91 million bpd in 2022 (OPEC member).
- Libya's production recovered to 1.2 million bpd in 2023 (regional context).
- Saudi Ghawar field produces 3.8 million bpd, world's largest.
- UAE's Upper Zakum field output exceeds 1 million bpd.
- Iraq's Rumaila field produced 1.5 million bpd in 2023.
- Iran's Ahvaz field averages 0.9 million bpd.
- Qatar's Dukhan field contributes 0.3 million bpd to crude.
Crude Oil Production Interpretation
While Saudi Arabia remains the undeniable heavyweight champion of global oil, deftly calibrating the world's supply with a mere nod to OPEC+, its ambitious neighbors like the UAE and Iraq are eagerly flexing their own considerable muscles, ensuring the region's grip on the energy market remains as tight as ever.
Energy Consumption and Economic Impact
- Saudi Arabia's primary energy consumption was 3,962 Mtoe in 2022.
- UAE per capita energy consumption 11.5 toe in 2022, among highest globally.
- Iran's total energy demand 1,800 Mtoe in 2022.
- Qatar's electricity consumption grew 5% to 45 TWh in 2022.
- Saudi oil revenues contributed 40% to GDP in 2022, $300 billion.
- Middle East electricity demand up 4.2% to 1,200 TWh in 2022.
- Oman's industrial energy use 40% of total, mostly gas.
- Kuwait's energy subsidies cost $20 billion annually pre-reform.
- Iraq's power outages average 12 hours/day, demand 25 GW vs 20 GW supply.
- UAE's Vision 2050 targets 50% clean energy in consumption mix.
- Saudi per capita oil consumption 14 barrels/year.
- Iran's gas consumption 250 bcm in 2022, 70% power generation.
- Middle East oil demand 8.5 mb/d in 2023, 30% global growth.
- Qatar LNG imports by Asia drove $50 billion export revenue 2023.
- Saudi Aramco dividends $97 billion in 2023 from energy sales.
- UAE industrial sector consumes 45% of electricity.
- Oman's LNG exports 11 mtpa, consumption 20 bcm domestic.
- Kuwait power demand peaks at 18 GW summer 2023.
- Iraq gas flaring wastes 18 bcm/year, enough for 10% power needs.
- Saudi Vision 2030 diversifies economy, energy 25% GDP target.
- UAE's net-zero 2050 cuts energy intensity 45% by 2030.
Energy Consumption and Economic Impact Interpretation
In the Middle East's energy landscape, nations juggle massive fossil fuel wealth and notorious inefficiencies with ambitious, if not existential, green pledges, painting a picture of an industry sprinting both to feed its colossal appetite and to invent a new diet.
Natural Gas Production
- Qatar's natural gas production reached 177 billion cubic meters in 2022, leading the world.
- Saudi Arabia's gas production was 122 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- UAE produced 71 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2022.
- Iran's gas output hit 256 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Oman produced 41 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2022.
- Kuwait's gas production was 18 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Iraq produced 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2022.
- North Field East in Qatar to add 32 billion cubic meters annual LNG by 2026.
- Iran's South Pars field produced 750 million cubic meters per day in 2023.
- Saudi Aramco's Jafurah shale gas field has potential for 226 trillion cubic feet recoverable.
- UAE's ADNOC Gas produced 60 billion cubic meters in 2023.
- Oman's Khazzan-Makarem fields produced 1 billion cubic feet per day in 2023.
- Qatar LNG exports reached 77 million tonnes in 2022.
- Iran's daily gas production exceeded 1 billion cubic meters in 2023.
- Kuwait's Burgan gas project to add 300 million cubic feet per day by 2025.
- Iraq's Khor Mor field produced 450 million cubic feet per day in 2023.
- Saudi Arabia flared 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas in 2022.
- UAE's Ruwais LNG project planned for 9.6 million tonnes per annum.
- Oman's Qalhat LNG exported 3.7 million tonnes in 2023.
- Qatar's North Field South to produce 16 million tonnes LNG annually from 2026.
- Iran's Kangan gas processing plant handles 33 million cubic meters per day.
- Bahrain's Awali field gas production supports 0.5 bcf/d.
- Yemen's Marib gas field produced 0.2 bcf/d before disruptions.
- Saudi Arabia's Master Gas System processes 105 billion cubic meters annually.
- UAE's Bab integrated gas project produces 2.5 bcf/d.
Natural Gas Production Interpretation
Qatar may reign supreme for now in liquefied natural gas exports, but the Middle East’s energy landscape is a high-stakes chessboard where Iran holds the raw production crown, Saudi Arabia sits on a massive shale future, and everyone else is aggressively moving their pieces to secure a bigger slice of the global gas pie.
Oil and Gas Reserves
- Saudi Arabia holds 8.54 trillion cubic meters of proven natural gas reserves as of 2022.
- Iran possesses 33.99 trillion cubic meters of natural gas reserves, second globally in 2022.
- Qatar's reserves stand at 23.87 trillion cubic meters, mostly in North Field.
- UAE has 6.09 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves in 2022.
- Oman holds 0.63 trillion cubic meters of gas reserves.
- Kuwait's proven gas reserves are 1.78 trillion cubic meters in 2022.
- Iraq has 3.73 trillion cubic meters of natural gas reserves.
- Saudi Arabia's proven oil reserves are 267.0 billion barrels as of end-2022.
- Iran's oil reserves total 208.6 billion barrels.
- Iraq's proven crude oil reserves are 145.0 billion barrels in 2022.
- UAE oil reserves measured 111.0 billion barrels end-2022.
- Kuwait holds 101.5 billion barrels of oil reserves.
- Qatar's oil reserves are 25.2 billion barrels.
- Oman's oil reserves stand at 5.4 billion barrels as of 2022.
- Saudi Jafurah unconventional gas reserves estimated at 226 trillion cubic feet.
- ADNOC discovered 1.5 billion barrels oil equivalent in UAE onshore in 2023.
- Iraq's new oil discoveries added 5 billion barrels in 2023.
- Iran's Kish gas field reserves estimated at 60 trillion cubic feet.
- Qatar North Field total gas reserves over 900 trillion cubic feet shared with Iran.
- Kuwait's Burgan field holds 70 billion barrels recoverable oil.
- Oman's Block 60 reserves estimated 1 tcf gas.
- Saudi Arabia's total hydrocarbons reserves equivalent to 543 billion BOE.
- UAE's total gas reserves including condensates 215 tcf.
- Iraq's total oil reserves 211 billion barrels including probable.
- Iran's total gas reserves 1,200 tcf including probable.
- Bahrain's oil reserves 0.124 billion barrels, gas 3.25 tcf.
- Yemen's oil reserves 3 billion barrels, gas 17 tcf.
Oil and Gas Reserves Interpretation
While Saudi Arabia flexes its massive oil wealth, Iran and Qatar quietly sit on a geological poker hand of natural gas so vast it could reshape the global energy game, proving that in the Middle East, the real power often lies not just in the black gold, but in the invisible fuel of the future.
Refining and Petrochemicals
- Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura refinery has a capacity of 550,000 bpd.
- UAE's Ruwais refinery complex capacity exceeds 800,000 bpd after expansion.
- Iraq's Basra refinery runs at 150,000 bpd capacity utilization 70% in 2023.
- Iran's Abadan refinery capacity is 400,000 bpd, oldest in Middle East.
- Kuwait's Al-Zour refinery, largest in Middle East, 615,000 bpd capacity.
- Qatar's Laffan refinery II processes 288,000 bpd.
- Oman's Sohar refinery capacity 200,000 bpd post-upgrade.
- Middle East total refining capacity reached 9.2 million bpd in 2023.
- Saudi Aramco's SATORP Jubail refinery 400,000 bpd.
- UAE's ADNOC's TA'ZIZ petrochemicals hub to produce 4.6 mtpa.
- Iran's Bandar Abbas refinery adds 300,000 bpd capacity.
- Kuwait Petrochemicals Complex (KPC) ethylene capacity 1 mtpa.
- Qatar Petrochemicals (QAPCO) produces 850,000 tpa polyethylene.
- Oman's Liwa Plastics Industries complex 1.2 mtpa ethylene.
- Saudi Basic Industries Company (SABIC) produces 60 mtpa petrochemicals globally, 70% Middle East based.
- Borouge (ADNOC-Borealis) UAE petrochemicals 4.5 mtpa capacity.
- Iraq's Karbala refinery under construction 150,000 bpd.
- Iran's Persian Gulf Star refinery 360,000 bpd largest single-train.
- Saudi YASREF Yanbu refinery 400,000 bpd.
- UAE Jebel Ali refinery 120,000 bpd.
- Bahrain's Bapco Modernization Project boosts to 267,000 bpd.
- Qatar's Ras Laffan petrochemicals expansion 1.5 mtpa.
- Oman's Duqm refinery 230,000 bpd operational 2023.
- Middle East ethylene capacity 25 mtpa in 2023.
- SABIC Yanbu 2 mtpa ethylene.
- UAE's Ruwais Derivatives Park 5.5 mtpa petrochemicals.
Refining and Petrochemicals Interpretation
While the Middle East's refining might flexes in the millions of barrels per day, its real petrochemical punch proves it's not just moving oil but transforming it, one intricate molecule at a time.
Renewables and Sustainability
- Saudi Arabia targets 50% renewable energy by 2030, adding 58.7 GW capacity.
- UAE's Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park reached 2.4 GW by 2023, targeting 5 GW by 2030.
- Qatar plans 4 GW solar capacity by 2030, with Al Kharsaah 800 MW operational.
- Oman's renewables target 30% by 2030, IDAR 500 MW solar.
- Jordan's renewables share 30% of electricity in 2023, Quweira solar 103 MW.
- Egypt's Benban solar park 1.8 GW, largest in Africa/Middle East.
- Saudi NEOM Green Hydrogen project 4 GW renewables powering 650 tonnes H2/day.
- UAE's Noor Abu Dhabi solar plant 1.2 GW.
- Iran's Chabahar solar projects 4 GW planned by 2030.
- Israel's Sorek B desalination powered by 250 MW solar.
- Kuwait's Shagaya renewables park 15 GW target by 2030, phase 1 110 MW.
- Bahrain's 200 MW solar tender awarded in 2023.
- Iraq's 3 GW renewables target by 2030, first 500 MW solar planned.
- Saudi ACWA Power's Sakaka solar 300 MW.
- UAE Masdar's 2 GW Al Dhafra solar, world's largest.
- Qatar's 1.8 GW wind-solar hybrid with Iberdrola.
- Oman's Amin wind farm 50 MW.
- Middle East solar PV capacity grew 40% to 14 GW in 2023.
- Saudi Red Sea project 4.2 GW renewables.
- UAE's Sweihan solar 1.17 GW.
- Iran's 1 GW solar installed by 2023.
- Jordan's Tafila wind farm 117 MW.
- Egypt's wind capacity 1.4 GW in Gulf of Suez.
- Saudi Dumat Al Jandal wind farm 400 MW.
- Middle East green hydrogen projects total 100 GW electrolysers planned.
- UAE Barakah nuclear 5.6 GW operational, low-carbon.
Renewables and Sustainability Interpretation
The Middle East, having mastered the art of extracting wealth from below the ground, is now conducting a dazzling and serious encore by mastering the art of harvesting wealth from the relentless sun above it.
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