The metal post you refer to, 3m high, with numbers on, would be the marker post for an abandoned oil well. I guess that it was a dry exploration well if there were no further signs of development.
I've been involved in building many such strips and landing sites around the Middle East and it is surprising how well they stay preserved. We've even reactivated 20 / 30 year old strips very easily.
For a typical exploration drilling operation the strips may get used for 3 months or so. If the wells produce then the strip would be used for the life of the well.
Typical uses would be to fly in personnel and urgent supplies. It's far easier and safer to hire an aircraft for 3 months to fly your personnel in, than spend 12 hours at a time on dodgy bus on dodgy roads.