First Oil Well, Bahrain

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As its name suggests, it is the first oil well in the Gulf and is located in Bahrain. Oil first spurted from this well on 16th October 1931, and the well finally began to blow heads of oil on the morning of 2nd June 1932, to much celebration on the part of those involved in the project. It is situated below Jebel Dukhan, dubbed the Mountain of Smoke, which, at a height of 134 m (450 ft), is the highest point of the island. Its name comes from the misty haze, which frequently surrounds it on a hot and humid day.

Bahrain was the first place on the Arabian side of the Gulf where oil was discovered. It couldn't have come at a better time for Bahrain as it roughly coincided with the collapse of the world pearl market. Unfortunately, it was also the first country in the area where oil ran out.