According to the Gulf News website on September 1, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) granted the exploration right of offshore block 5 to a consortium of four Pakistani companies led by Pakistan Petroleum Co., Ltd. (PPL). The other three companies are petromali, Pakistan oil and Gas Development Corporation and government holding (private) Limited.

The offshore block is part of the second round of bidding in Abu Dhabi, which was launched in 2019. According to ADNOC, the Pakistan consortium will invest up to 1.12 billion dirhams (US $304.7 million) in exploration and evaluation drilling. This is the first time that a Pakistani company has invested in oil and gas exploration in Abu Dhabi.