Das Island is an island in the Persian Gulf

Persian Gulf

The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...

 near Qatar

Qatar

Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...

. It is part of the emirate

Emirate

An emirate is a political territory that is ruled by a dynastic Muslim monarch styled emir.-Etymology:Etymologically emirate or amirate is the quality, dignity, office or territorial competence of any emir ....

 of Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...

, United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...

 but lies well offshore, about 100 miles (160.9 km) north-west of the mainland. It covers approximately 0.75 miles (1.2 km) by 1.5 miles (2.4 km), and is almost rectangular in shape.

Das Island is inhabited by oil and gas industry personnel. It exports crude oil and liquefied natural gas

Liquefied natural gas

Liquefied natural gas or LNG is natural gas that has been converted temporarily to liquid form for ease of storage or transport....

 by tankers as far as Japan and Europe. Oil production began after prospecting during 1956-1960 by the major Abu Dhabi operating companies. Local exporting companies include ADMA-OPCO (oil), and ADGAS (LNG). Number of personnel on Das Island is between 6,000 (normal) and 12,000 (during major overhauls and shutdowns).

There is a small airport, ICAO: OMAS at 25° 8' 46N 52° 52' 25E which is 12 feet above MSL. Runway 33/15 is 3537 feet by 98 feet. No reported fuel.

Das Island was formerly a noted breeding site for turtle

Turtle

Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...

s and seabird

Seabird

Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...

s. Despite oil and gas production, turtles still feed safely in the area and Das Island has remained an important landfall for migrant birds. There are few traces of ancient inhabitants on Das Island apart from some pieces of Islam

Islam

Islam . The most common are and .   : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...

ic pottery

Pottery

Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...

. The island was also used as a place of refuge during storms by fishermen and pearl divers.