<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001127602-08-009068
<TYPE>4/A
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20081023
<FILING-DATE>20081110
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20081110
<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>ISENBERG EUGENE M
<CIK>0000904216
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4/A
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-32657
<FILM-NUMBER>081175724
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>NABORS CORPORATE SERVICES INC
<STREET2>515 W GREENS ROAD SUITE 1200
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77067
<PHONE>2818740035
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>TWO NORTH BREAKERS ROW
<STREET2>APT 25 S
<CITY>PALM BEACH
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33480
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4a.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-10-23</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-10-27</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000904216</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ISENBERG EUGENE M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NABORS CORPORATE SERVICES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>515 WEST GREENS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>CEO-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2078900</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7969202</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock exempt under Rule 16b-3.  The restricted stock award vests over three years on a quarterly basis on the calendar quarter end date (e.g., March 31st, June 30th, September 30th and December 31st), commencing March 31, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Due to an administrative error, the number of common shares acquired by the reporting person was incorrectly listed as 2,606,452 on the Form 4 filed for the reporting person on October 27, 2008 and as a result the total common shares beneficially owned by the reporting person following the reported transaction was incorrectly listed as 8,496,754. The 2,078,900 common shares listed in this Form 4 represents the actual number acquired by the reporting person on October 23, 2008 and the 7,969,202 common shares represents the actual number of common shares beneficially owned by the reporting person following the reported transaction.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Owned directly or indirectly through certain trusts, defined benefit plans and individual retirement accounts of which Mr. Isenberg is a grantor, trustee, or beneficiary.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Lisa Wysocki by Power of Attorney for Eugene M. Isenberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
