<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001163739-08-000055
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080516
<FILING-DATE>20080519
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080519
<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>MINTFLOWER PLACE
<STREET2>8 PAR-LA-VILLE ROAD
<CITY>HAMILTON, HM08
<STATE>D0
<ZIP>0000
<PHONE>2464219471
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>P O BOX HM3349
<CITY>HAMILTON, HMPX
<STATE>D0
<ZIP>0000
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SHEINFELD MYRON M
<CIK>0001195674
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-32657
<FILM-NUMBER>08844575
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>281 874 0035
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>NABORS CORP SERVICES
<STREET2>515 W GREENS RD SUITE 1200
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77067
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
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            <otherText></otherText>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
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                <value>22.775</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-16</value>
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                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.775</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-12-04</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lisa Wysocki by Power of Attorney for Myron Sheinfeld</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
