The UAE's capital emirate is considering making an investment in beleaguered oil firm British Petroleum, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has said.

"We are still thinking about it," he said in an interview on Tuesday.

When asked about a potential stake in London-based oil producer, he told Bloomberg: "We are looking across the board. We have been partners with BP for years."

BP is a partner with state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, known as Adnoc and produces oil in the UAE.

BP CEO Tony Hayward said on July 7 that he had a "very good" meeting with the crown prince as analysts said the oil producer may be looking for support from Middle East investors.

BP shares have gained 26 per cent since the start of July as the company gets closer to containing its leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico, the worst oil spill in US history.

However, other media reports said Abu Dhabi is reluctant to invest in the company.

"We would welcome any investor buying or increasing their stake," said Robert Wine, a spokesman for BP in London while declining to comment on Abu Dhabi