Top Largest Refineries in the Middle East
The Middle East is home to several large oil refineries crucial in meeting the region’s and the world’s growing energy demand and supporting economic development.
These refineries process crude oil into various petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and petrochemical feedstocks to domestic use and export to global markets.
The largest oil refineries in the Middle East are generally located in strategic locations such as coastal regions or near major industrial hubs.
Read: the largest oil refineries in Asia
Top Largest Oil Refineries in the Middle East
Below describes the top larges oil refineries spanning the
Ruwais Refinery (United Arab Emirates)
- Location: United Arab Emirates
- Capacity: 837,000 barrels per day
- Operator: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
- Products:
- Fuel: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and sulfur.
- Petrochemical feedstocks: Polypropylenes.
- Crude Source:
- Onshore and offshore oil fields: Murban, Upper Zakum, & Das Crude.
- Market Reach & Distribution
- The refinery provides a significant portion of the UAE’s domestic fuel needs via pipelines.
- Ruwais Refinery exports refined & petrochemical products such as jet fuel, diesel, naphtha, and LPG to Asia and Europe.
- ADNOC uses a comprehensive pipeline network to transport refined products to storage facilities, ports, and domestic distribution hubs.
The Ruwais Refinery is one of the largest and most advanced oil refineries in the Middle East. Situated in the western region of Abu Dhabi, the refinery can process 837,000 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day. It is owned and operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), a global leader in energy production.
Alzour Refinery (Kuwait)
- Location: Al-Zour, Kuwait
- Capacity: 615,000 barrels per day
- Operator: Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company
- Products:
- Fuel: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, naphtha, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and sulfur.
- Crude Source:
- Kuwait’s domestic oil fields: Wafra, Burgan, and other southern oil fields.
- Market Reach & Distribution
- A robust pipeline infrastructure connects the refinery to storage and distribution facilities across Kuwait, enabling efficient transportation of products to key markets within the country.
- Refined products from Al-Zour are exported to international markets, including Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Situated in Al-Zour, southern Kuwait, the Al-Zour Refinery is one of the top largest oil refinery in the Middle East. Owned and operated by Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company, the refinery can process 615,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Ras Tanura Refinery (Saudi Arabia)
- Location: Ras Tanura, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
- Capacity: 550,000 barrels per day
- Operator: Saudi Aramco
- Products:
- Fuel: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, naphtha, kerosene, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and sulfur.
- Crude Source:
- Saudi Arabia’s domestic oil fields: Ghawar, Safaniya, Shaybah, Abqaiq, and Qatif.
- Market Reach & Distribution
- Pipelines: A vast network of pipelines connects the refinery to major consumption centers within Saudi Arabia, ensuring efficient and cost-effective transportation of refined products.
- Tankers: The refinery’s strategic location on the Persian Gulf provides easy access to international markets.
- Domestic Distribution: Within Saudi Arabia, a robust distribution network, including trucks and terminals, ensures the timely delivery of refined products to local markets and industrial customers.
The Ras Tanura Refinery is Saudi Arabia’s largest refinery. It plays a pivotal role in transforming crude oil into a spectrum of refined products that fuel the kingdom’s growth and power its global energy exports. Owned and operated by Saudi Aramco, the refinery can process 550,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Mina Abdullah Refinery (Kuwait)
- Location: Mina Abdullah, Kuwait
- Capacity: 454,000 barrels per day
- Operator: Kuwait National Petroleum Company
- Products:
- Fuel: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, naphtha, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and sulfur.
- Crude Source:
- Kuwait’s domestic oil fields: Burgan, Minagish oil Fields.
- Market Reach & Distribution
- Pipelines: A network of pipelines transports refined products from the refinery to various storage terminals and distribution centers across Kuwait.
- Service Stations: KNPC operates a network of service stations across Kuwait, providing a convenient and accessible source of fuel for motorists.
- Tank Farms: Strategic storage facilities are located throughout Kuwait to store refined products, ensuring a buffer stock to meet fluctuating demand.
- Industrial Consumers: The refinery supplies various industries, such as power plants and manufacturing facilities.
- Maritime Shipping: The strategic location of the Mina Abdullah Refinery provides easy access to major shipping routes. L
- Global Markets: The refinery’s products are exported to Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The Mina Abdullah Refinery, strategically located in Mina Abdullah, about 46 kilometers south of Kuwait City, is one of the largest refineries in the Middle East. Owned and operated by the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), this state-of-the-art facility plays a pivotal role in meeting the nation’s energy demands and contributing significantly to the global energy market.
Jubail II Refinery (Saudi Arabia)
- Location: Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia
- Capacity: 440,000 barrels per day
- Operator: Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Company, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco (62.5%) and TotalEnergies (37.5%)
- Products:
- Fuel: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, naphtha, kerosene, paraxylene, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and sulfur.
- Crude Source:
- Saudi Arabia’s domestic oil fields: Ghawar, Safaniya, Shaybah, Abqaiq, and Qatif.
- Market Reach & Distribution
- Domestic Distribution: A significant portion of the refinery’s output is supplied to the domestic market, including major cities and industrial centers within Saudi Arabia. This distribution is facilitated through a network of pipelines and tankers.
- International Exports: The refinery’s strategic location on the coast provides easy access to international shipping routes. Products are exported to various global markets through tankers, contributing to Saudi Arabia’s position as a major exporter of refined petroleum products.
The Jubail II Refinery, officially known as the SATORP Refinery, is a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies. It is located in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia, and has a processing capacity of 440,000 barrels of crude oil daily. This top largest oil refinery produces a wide range of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and petrochemicals.
Yanbu III Refinery (Saudi Arabia)
- Location: Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia
- Capacity: 430,000 barrels per day
- Operator: Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company, joint venture between Saudi Aramco (62.5%) and China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (37.5%)
- Products:
- Fuel: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, naphtha, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and sulfur.
- Crude Source:
- Saudi Arabia’s domestic oil fields: Ghawar, Safaniya, Shaybah, Abqaiq, and Qatif
- Market Reach & Distribution
- Pipelines: A network of pipelines connects the refinery to major consumption centers within Saudi Arabia.
- Storage Terminals: Strategic storage facilities are located throughout the Kingdom to store refined products, ensuring a buffer stock to meet fluctuating demand.
- Service Stations: YASREF supplies refined products to the extensive network of service stations operated by Saudi Aramco and other distributors across the country.
- Industrial Consumers: The refinery supplies various industries, such as power plants and manufacturing facilities, with the necessary fuels for their operations.
- Maritime Shipping: The strategic location of the Yanbu Refinery on the Red Sea provides easy access to major shipping routes.
- Global Markets: YASREF’s products are exported to various countries in Asia, Europe, and other regions.
Strategically important industrial hub on the Red Sea coast, the Yanbu III Refinery is one of the top advanced oil refineries in the Middle East. With a substantial refining capacity of 430,000 barrels per day, YASREF processes Arabian light & heavy crude oil into a diverse range of high-quality refined products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and petrochemicals. These products not only fuel the domestic needs of Saudi Arabia but also contribute significantly to the global energy market through robust export channels.
Yanbu II Refinery (Saudi Arabia)
- Location: Yanbu Industrial City, Red Sea Coast, Saudi Arabia
- Capacity: 400,000 barrels per day
- Operator: SAMREF, A joint venture between Saudi Aramco) and Mobil Yanbu refining Company Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation
- Products:
- Fuel: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, naphtha, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and sulfur.
- Crude Source:
- Saudi Arabia’s domestic oil fields: Ghawar, Safaniya, Shaybah, Abqaiq, and Qatif.
- Market Reach & Distribution
- Pipelines: A network of pipelines connects the refinery to major consumption centers within Saudi Arabia.
- Tank Farms: Strategic storage facilities are located throughout the Kingdom to store base oils, ensuring a buffer stock to meet fluctuating demand.
- Maritime Shipping: The strategic location of the Yanbu Refinery on the Red Sea provides easy access to major shipping routes.
- Global Markets: The refinery’s base oils are exported to various countries, contributing to the growth of the global lubricants markets.
The Yanbu II Refinery is one of the top advanced oil refineries operating in the Middle East. With a substantial refining capacity of 400,000 barrels per day, it can process Arabian light & heavy crude oil into a diverse range of high-quality refined products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and lubricants.
Rabigh Refinery (Saudi Arabia)
- Location: Rabigh, Saudi Arabia, on the Red Sea coast
- Capacity: 400,000 barrels per day
- Operator: Saudi Aramco (37.5%), Sumitomo Chemicals (37.5%), & public investors (25%)
- Products:
- Fuel: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, naphtha, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and sulfur.
- Crude Source:
- Saudi Arabia’s domestic oil fields: Ghawar, Safaniya, Shaybah, Abqaiq, and Qatif.
- Market Reach & Distribution
- Pipelines: A vast network of pipelines connects the refinery to major consumption centers within Saudi Arabia.
- Tankers: Refined products and petrochemicals are transported by sea to domestic and international markets.
- Trucks: Smaller quantities of products are distributed to local markets and industrial customers by truck.
Nestled on the Red Sea coast, this integrated refining and petrochemical complex is a joint venture between Saudi Aramco, the kingdom’s national oil company, Sumitomo Chemical, and investors. With a substantial refining capacity of 400,000 barrels per day, it can process Arabian light & heavy crude oil into refined products.
Others
- Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery (Al Ahmadi, Kuwait): Operated by Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), this refinery has a capacity of 466,000 bpd.
- Baiji Oil Refinery (Baiji, Iraq): As Iraq’s largest oil refinery, Baiji has a capacity of 310,000 bpd.
