Das Island is the main centre of the UAE's offshore oil industry, lying in the centre of the Arabian Gulf, around 140 km north-west of Abu Dhabi.
There is no public access. The refinery employes about 6500 men from different nations, the senior enginering staff are Americans, Japaneses and Europeans who work under control of American and Japanese bosses. Women are not allowed on the island. Some of the Americans contractual staff have brought their families out to the Gulf, they live on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi City, some 50 minute flying time by DC3 where fathers and husbands can join them of Friday nights. Those staff who do not have their families out there, get 10 days off every 3 months in addition to normal vacations.