Praising Sheikh Zayed's role in managing this wealth and employing it to the benefit of the UAE nation and society.
The National Library and Archives reviews important milestones in the history of oil
The National Library and Archives reviewed important milestones in the UAE’s oil history; Historian and media personality Dr. Khalil Eilabouni spoke about his twenty-year old "Black Gold" program, which carefully documented the discovery of oil and its industry development in Abu Dhabi in particular and in the United Arab Emirates in general.  He elaborated on Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's management of this wealth to serve his country and his people.
During the lecture, which enriched the National Library and Archives Cultural Season 2022, Dr. Khalil Eilabouni praised the visions of the late Sheikh Zayed, the founder and builder, regarding this wealth on which the country depended for its renaissance. He spoke in detail about Sheikh Zayed's disapproval of the flaring of the associated gas, and his constructive efforts to set up a Liquefied Natural Gas LNG plant on Das Island to utilize the associated gas in 1977.
This confirms that Sheikh Zayed was an exceptional leader whose foresight and visions enabled him to search for parallel industrial, commercial and agricultural sources of income besides the oil wealth. Moreover, he encouraged the people of the Emirates to acquire more oil-related knowledge.
The lecturer recalled the days during which he was preparing to present his radio program "Black Gold" in February 1971, and then on television in May 1971, receiving directions from the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan personally, as well as his memorable comments and their remarkable impact on the progress of the program, which was grabbing viewers’ attention.
Dr. Ailbouni expressed his pride in witnessing the era of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who knew what he wanted, and was a wonderful, generous and humble leader who loved his country and his people sparing no effort in advancing them.
At the end of the lecture, His Excellency Abdulla Majed Al Ali, Director General of the National Library and Archives, honoured Dr Khalil Ailbouni, and presented him with a commemorative shield and a certificate of appreciation. He thanked him for the valuable information he provided in the fields of oil discovery and the management of oil wealth in the United Arab Emirates.
In his speech of introduction, researcher and lecturer Muhammad Ismail Abdullah, from the National Library and Archives, said that the discovery of oil is a turning point in the history of the Emirates, and the role played by the Builder and Founder, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in employing this wealth to make his people happy confirms his love for his people and his country, as he proceeded to implement constructive plans for the development of the state until it became on par with the developed countries, and our wise leadership followed on his footsteps and managed this national wealth wisely and keenly in the best interest of the nation and posterity. Then, he went on to introduce the journalist and historian, Khalil Ailbouni, who came to Abu Dhabi in early 1971 and worked on its radio as a program monitor. He was known for his famous program "Black Gold", which aired for twenty years. He also served as the manager of the office of His Excellency Dr Mana Saeed Al-Otaiba, the former Minister of Petroleum. His media activities covered literature and poetry, and he has published many books, and has a weekly column in Al-Bayan newspaper. Today, he is the chairman of the Arabic language Institute at the Police College in Abu Dhabi.