Sharjah National Oil Corporation
Corporate brand
UnclaimedThe government-owned oil and gas corporation of the Emirate of Sharjah, operating upstream fields, gas processing, LPG, condensate, gas storage and related energy infrastructure.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Sharjah National Oil Corporation, commonly known as SNOC, is the wholly government-owned oil and gas corporation of the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Established by Emiri decree in 2010, it was created to manage Sharjah’s hydrocarbon assets and to assume operating responsibility for facilities that had previously been developed and operated under international concession arrangements. SNOC’s activities are concentrated within Sharjah and cover exploration, development, production, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas, gas condensate and liquefied petroleum gas. The corporation operates the Sajaa assets, a major onshore hydrocarbon complex in Sharjah. These assets include the Sajaa, Kahaif, Mahani and Hedebah gas and condensate fields; the Moveyeid field, which has been used for underground gas storage since 2017; the Sajaa gas and LPG processing complex; marine and offshore loading infrastructure; condensate and LPG storage facilities; and pipeline connections serving customers in Sharjah and other parts of the Northern Emirates. Gas sales historically supplied the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority and later customers in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. SNOC’s operational inheritance dates to the late 1970s, when Sharjah granted Amoco a large onshore exploration concession. The Sajaa field was discovered in 1980, followed by the Moveyeid field in 1981 and the Kahaif field in 1992. Early development established gas processing, condensate export and LPG recovery capabilities, making Sajaa a central part of Sharjah’s energy infrastructure. BP assumed the operating role after its 1999 merger with Amoco. During the BP-operated period, the fields and processing facilities were upgraded through advanced well-intervention, compression and LPG-recovery projects. Following SNOC’s formation, Petrofac initially supported the transition through a duty-holder contract covering operation and maintenance of the Sajaa assets. By the end of 2015, SNOC had assumed full responsibility for managing and operating those assets. The company subsequently pursued field compression, underground gas storage, processing-capacity improvements and new exploration partnerships. In 2019, it signed a concession agreement with Eni covering three onshore areas. The partnership led to the discovery of the Mahani gas and condensate field in 2020 and the start of production from the Mahani-1 well in January 2021. SNOC later announced a gas-reserve discovery at Hedebah in 2024. Although its core business remains hydrocarbons, SNOC has also tested lower-carbon energy integration at its existing facilities. Two small solar installations were commissioned at Hamriyah in 2019. In June 2025, SNOC and Emerge, a Masdar and EDF Renewables joint venture, commissioned the 60 MW SANA solar plant at the Sajaa hydrocarbon processing complex. The project was designed to generate more electricity annually than the Sajaa facility consumes, with surplus power supplied to the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority. SNOC therefore combines a regional upstream and midstream gas role with infrastructure modernization and selected renewable-energy initiatives.
History
SNOC’s operating history is rooted in the development of Sharjah’s onshore gas resources. On 8 November 1978, the Emirate of Sharjah signed a concession agreement with Amoco allowing exploration across approximately 600,000 acres of onshore territory. Drilling of the Sajaa-1 well began on 10 May 1980. Reaching a depth of 16,656 feet, the well confirmed the Sajaa field, which became one of the UAE’s significant gas-condensate discoveries. The nearby Moveyeid field was discovered in October 1981. Development proceeded rapidly. A gas-processing plant at Al Sajaa and associated condensate-export infrastructure were completed in 1982. The first condensate cargo, amounting to 500,000 barrels, was exported on 30 July 1982. Gas sales began in 1983, initially serving the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority and later customers in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. In 1984, Sharjah LPG Company, or SHALCO, signed a construction agreement with JGC for an LPG plant designed to recover propane, butane and additional condensate. The associated LPG terminal at Hamriyah shipped its first LPG cargo on 26 April 1986. Further exploration expanded the resource base. The Kahaif field was discovered in 1992 and entered production in 1994. A later drilling phase at Sajaa added 26 production wells. In 1999, BP assumed the operator role after its merger with Amoco. Under BP Sharjah, the field and processing system became a site for technical development. In 2003, BP Sharjah and Baker Oil Tools deployed coiled-tubing technology in a campaign that used an underbalanced casing-exit method with gas as the milling fluid. The technique enabled gas production to continue during the milling operation. That year, BP also reported exceptionally high LPG recovery at the Sajaa gas plant. In 2010, the ruler of Sharjah established SNOC through an Emiri decree. The new corporation was wholly owned by the government of Sharjah and was intended to provide local institutional control over the emirate’s hydrocarbon assets. During the transition, Petrofac received a five-year duty-holder contract to operate and maintain the Sajaa assets and assist with the changeover after the original Amoco concession ended. By the end of 2015, SNOC had taken full responsibility for management and operations. The corporation invested in production support and infrastructure. A field-wide compression project implemented in January 2011 installed twelve gas-engine-driven reciprocating compressors to sustain production as field pressures declined. In 2017, SNOC repurposed Moveyeid as a gas-storage field and began injection in December of that year using centrifugal compressors. A second compression stage was commissioned on 6 January 2021, increasing achievable injection pressures through the use of reciprocating compressors in series with the original centrifugal equipment. The Sajaa plant also gained an LPG road-tanker loading facility in June 2018. SNOC expanded its exploration portfolio through a 2019 concession agreement with Eni covering three onshore areas. In January 2020, SNOC and Eni announced the Mahani gas and condensate discovery. Production from Mahani-1 began on 4 January 2021. In May 2024, SNOC announced a gas-reserve discovery at Hedebah, located north of the Al Sajaa Industrial Area. Alongside its hydrocarbon operations, SNOC began experimenting with solar power at existing sites. Two small solar plants were commissioned at Hamriyah facilities in 2019, with the projects intended to demonstrate renewable generation at brownfield hydrocarbon installations. In June 2025, SNOC and Emerge, a joint venture between Masdar and EDF Renewables, commissioned the 60 MW SANA solar plant at the Sajaa processing complex. The project was described as capable of generating more annual electricity than the facility consumes, allowing surplus power to be supplied to the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority.
- 2025
SANA solar plant commissioned
[1]SNOC and Emerge commission a 60 MW solar plant at the Sajaa processing complex.
- 2024
Hedebah gas discovery announced
[1]SNOC reports gas reserves at Hedebah north of the Al Sajaa Industrial Area.
- 2021
Mahani-1 production begins
[1]The first Mahani well enters production, less than one year after the discovery announcement.
- 2020
Mahani discovery announced
[1]SNOC and Eni announce natural gas and condensate at the Mahani field.
- 2019
SNOC signs Eni exploration concession
[1]The companies agree to explore three onshore areas in Sharjah; SNOC also commissions small solar plants at Hamriyah.
- 2017
Moveyeid converted to gas storage
[1]The Moveyeid field begins receiving injected gas for underground storage.
- 2015
SNOC completes operational transition
[1]SNOC assumes full responsibility for management and operation of the Sajaa assets.
- 2011
Field-wide compression project implemented
[1]Twelve gas-engine-driven reciprocating compressors are installed to support production at lower field pressures.
- 2010
SNOC established by Emiri decree
[1]Sharjah establishes SNOC as its wholly government-owned oil and gas corporation.
- 1999
BP becomes operator
[1]BP assumes the Sharjah operating role following its merger with Amoco.
Products and positioning
Sharjah’s state-owned integrated gas and condensate operator, focused on domestic hydrocarbon production, processing, storage and energy infrastructure.
Hydrocarbon production
Natural gas
SNOC produces natural gas from onshore fields in Sharjah, including Sajaa, Kahaif and Mahani, with Hedebah identified as an additional gas-bearing field. Production is processed at the Sajaa complex and supplied into regional gas infrastructure serving Sharjah and other Northern Emirates markets.
Hydrocarbon liquids · 1982
Gas condensate
Gas condensate is recovered from SNOC’s gas-condensate fields and processed and stored through infrastructure associated with Sajaa and Al Hamriyah. The corporation began exporting condensate from Sharjah in 1982.
Processed hydrocarbons · 1986
Liquefied petroleum gas
SNOC’s LPG operations recover propane and butane at the Sajaa gas plant. The associated Hamriyah terminal provides LPG storage and marine-export infrastructure, while a later road-tanker loading facility supports land-based distribution.
Energy infrastructure · 2017
Underground gas storage
Moveyeid has been used as a subsurface gas-storage field since 2017. Compression upgrades commissioned in 2021 increased injection capability and supported greater flexibility in managing gas supply and demand.
Renewable energy · 2019
Solar power generation
SNOC operates solar installations at its facilities, including two small Hamriyah plants commissioned in 2019 and the 60 MW SANA solar plant commissioned at Sajaa in 2025 with Emerge.
Marketing campaigns
- 2025SANA solar power project
United Arab Emirates
SNOC partnered with Emerge, a joint venture between Masdar and EDF Renewables, to develop a 60 MW solar plant at the Sajaa processing complex.
Outcome. The commissioned plant was designed to generate more electricity over a full year than the Sajaa facility consumes, with surplus electricity supplied to the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority.
- 2019Hamriyah solar demonstration projects
United Arab Emirates
SNOC commissioned two small solar plants at Hamriyah facilities to test renewable generation within existing brownfield hydrocarbon infrastructure.
Outcome. The projects were expected to reduce the corporation’s carbon footprint by approximately 8,600 tonnes over 25 years.
- 2003Sajaa coiled-tubing well-intervention campaign
United Arab Emirates
BP Sharjah and Baker Oil Tools conducted a coiled-tubing campaign at Sajaa using an underbalanced casing-exit technique in which gas served as the milling fluid.
Outcome. The method allowed gas production to continue during the milling operation and was reported as a world-first application of its specific configuration.
- 2003Sajaa LPG recovery improvement campaign
United Arab Emirates
BP Sharjah announced a high-recovery operating result at the Sajaa gas plant involving propane, butane and hydrocarbon condensate.
Outcome. The company reported 99.75% propane recovery and nearly complete recovery of butane and hydrocarbon condensate.
Brand decisions
2025
Integration of utility-scale solar at SajaaStrategyBackground
SNOC explored ways to integrate renewable electricity into its hydrocarbon-processing operations and reduce the carbon intensity of existing facilities.
Action taken
SNOC and Emerge commissioned the 60 MW SANA solar plant at the Sajaa complex.
Aftermath
The plant was expected to produce more electricity annually than the Sajaa facility consumes, with excess power delivered to the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority.
2019
Exploration partnership with EniM&ABackground
SNOC sought to expand exploration beyond its established Sajaa-area production assets.
Action taken
SNOC signed a concession agreement with Eni covering exploration of three onshore areas in Sharjah.
Aftermath
The partnership produced the Mahani gas and condensate discovery, announced in 2020, followed by first-well production in January 2021.
2017
Repurposing of Moveyeid as gas storageStrategyBackground
The Moveyeid field formed part of SNOC’s producing-asset base and was available for conversion to a storage role.
Action taken
SNOC converted Moveyeid into an underground gas-storage facility and began injection in December 2017.
Aftermath
A second compression phase commissioned in January 2021 increased injection pressure and strengthened the storage system’s operating capability.
2010
Establishment of a state-owned Sharjah hydrocarbon operatorStrategyBackground
Sharjah’s hydrocarbon assets had historically been developed and operated through concession and international-operator arrangements.
Action taken
The ruler of Sharjah established SNOC by Emiri decree as a wholly government-owned corporation to manage the emirate’s oil and gas interests.
Aftermath
SNOC managed the transition from the earlier operating structure and ultimately assumed full responsibility for the Sajaa assets by the end of 2015.
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