Zirku Island Island

Hours: Not open to the public

Admission: Access restricted - no public access; operations are privately run by oil companies

Zirku Island is an island in the Persian Gulf belonging to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, that is used as a petroleum production and storage facility. The island is an industrial installation rather than a public recreational site.

There are no tourist amenities; the island contains processing infrastructure, storage tanks, piers, and accommodation for staff engaged in oil and gas operations. Site movement is controlled and visits require company or government permission.

Developed in the late 20th century as part of Abu Dhabi’s offshore oil and gas infrastructure, the island has been used continuously for hydrocarbon operations and logistical support. It functions as part of the emirate’s energy production network.

Located off the coast of Abu Dhabi in the Persian Gulf, the island lies within Abu Dhabi’s maritime territory and is served by marine transport and helicopter links to the mainland.

• Access: Access is restricted and the island functions primarily as an industrial oil and gas facility rather than a public destination.
• Transport: Facilities include marine berths and helicopter transfer infrastructure to support offshore operations.

Zirku is not open to the public. The only legal access is through company-chartered vessels or helicopter transfers arranged by Abu Dhabi’s oil operators; no tourist services run to the island.

• Visitors cannot land or tour the island - it is an industrial facility with strict security.
• A good viewpoint is from the deck of authorized boats passing the shipping lanes or from specific coastal observation points on the mainland, where binoculars reveal the island's storage tanks and platforms.