Appointment of Exploration Manager

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2 February 2012

DRAGON OIL PLC

(the "Company" or together with its subsidiaries "Dragon Oil" or the "Group")

Appointment of Exploration Manager

Dragon Oil plc (Ticker: DGO), an international oil and gas exploration, development and production company, announces the appointment of Mr Ali Al Hauwaj as Exploration Manager to head Dragon Oil's exploration team and develop the Group's exploration expertise in line with the Group's strategy. Mr Al Hauwaj will assume his responsibilities this month.

Prior to joining Dragon Oil, Mr Al Hauwaj worked for Saudi Aramco for over 30 years and for the last seven years as Manager of Exploration Department. In his latest position he led Saudi Aramco's exploration programme, conducted hydrocarbon exploration in the Gulf area and start-up of the Red Sea sub-salt exploration programme, as well as Saudi Arabia's North-western region. Ali's exploration skills had been very critical in discovering many oil and gas fields in both Central and Eastern parts of Saudi Arabia, including a number of gas fields discovered onshore and offshore.

Mr Al Hauwaj has a Bachelor's degree in geology. He was President of the Dhahran Geosciences Society from 2003-2004, and remains an active member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Dr Abdul Jaleel Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"I am delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Ali Al Hauwaj as Exploration Manager. Ali is a senior and established exploration specialist with over 30 years of experience. This assignment is line with our strategy to build our own exploration team and to grow through the acquisition of new exploration assets similar to the farm-in agreement for the Tunisian offshore permit signed last year. Developing exploration capabilities will help us transform Dragon Oil into an integrated exploration and production company."

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About Dragon Oil

Dragon Oil plc is an international oil and gas exploration, development and production company, quoted on the London and Irish Stock exchanges (Ticker symbol: DGO). Its principal producing asset is in the Cheleken Contract Area, in the eastern section of the Caspian Sea, offshore Turkmenistan.

Dragon Oil (Turkmenistan) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dragon Oil plc, holds 100% interest in and is the operator of the Production Sharing Agreement for the Cheleken Contract Area. The operational focus is on the re-development of two oil-producing fields, Dzheitune (Lam) and Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov).

www.dragonoil.com

Disclaimer

This news release may contain forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition and results of operations of Dragon Oil. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. No assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements and actual results, levels of activity and achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this report. Dragon Oil does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information.