<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-04-052513
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20041028
<FILING-DATE>20041112
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20041112
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Knaster Alexander M
<CIK>0001308574
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-49887
<FILM-NUMBER>041139723
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>281-874-0036
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O NABORS CORPORATE SERVICES
<STREET2>515 W GREENS RD - SUITE 1200
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77067
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD
<CIK>0001163739
<ASSIGNED-SIC>1381
<IRS-NUMBER>980363970
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>D0
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2ND FLOOR INT'L TRADING CENTER
<STREET2>WARRENS, P.O. BOX 905E
<CITY>ST. MICHAEL BARBADOS
<STATE>D0
<ZIP>0000
<PHONE>2464219471
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2ND FLOOR INT'L TRADING CENTER
<STREET2>WARRENS, P.O. BOX 905E
<CITY>ST. MICHAEL BARBADOS
<STATE>D0
<ZIP>0000
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>h20123_1amk.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-28</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001163739</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NBR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001308574</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Knaster Alexander M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NABORS CORPORATE SERVICES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>515 WEST GREENS ROAD, SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <remarks>No securities owned</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Alexander M. Knaster</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
