Asab Airfield

Primarily economic and logistical. The airfield was originally built to serve the remote Asab oil and gas fields. Over time, the extensive development and improvement of the UAE's highway infrastructure, particularly the nearby E65 road, made ground transportation for personnel and cargo more efficient and cost-effective. The operational costs of maintaining a private airfield likely became unjustifiable compared to the convenience of a 2-3 hour drive from Abu Dhabi.

The airfield is closed and abandoned. The physical infrastructure, including the single asphalt runway (approximately 1,830 meters / 6,000 feet), a parallel taxiway, and an apron, remains visible but is in a state of decay. The runway is clearly marked with large 'X's at both ends and in the middle, indicating it is permanently closed to all air traffic. The surface shows signs of weathering and encroachment by desert sand. The site is unused and has not been redeveloped for other purposes; it simply sits dormant next to the active Asab gas processing plant.

Asab Airfield was a private airstrip constructed to support the significant oil and gas operations in the Asab area, which are managed by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Its primary role was to provide direct, rapid air access to this remote desert location for key personnel, including engineers, technicians, and executives, as well as for the transport of urgent, high-value equipment and documents. The airfield would have typically handled small to medium-sized turboprop and business jet aircraft chartered or owned by the oil companies operating in the field.

There are no known or published plans to reopen Asab Airfield. Given that its original purpose has been superseded by efficient ground transportation, there is no current operational or economic case for its reactivation. The high cost of bringing the airfield back to modern aviation standards, combined with the lack of demand, makes its reopening highly improbable. The land may eventually be repurposed for the expansion of the adjacent industrial facilities if the need arises.