Abu Dhabi
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Satellite image of Abu Dhabi (March 2003) |
Abu Dhabi (
ʼAbÅ« áº'aby, literally "Father of
Gazelle") is the largest of the seven
emirates that comprise the
United Arab Emirates and was also the largest of the former
Trucial States.
Abu Dhabi is also a city of the same name within the Emirate that is the
capital of the country, in north central UAE. The city lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the
Persian Gulf from the central western coast. An estimated 1,000,000 people lived there in 2000, with about an 80%
expatriate population. Abu Dhabi city is located at . The Emirate has approximately 70% of the country's entire wealth.
Al Ain is Abu Dhabi's second largest urban area with a population of 348,000 (2003 census estimate) and is located 150 kilometres inland.
Parts of Abu Dhabi were settled as far back as the
3rd millennium BC and its early history fits the nomadic, herding and fishing pattern typical of the broader region. Modern Abu Dhabi traces its origins to the rise of an important tribal confederation the
Bani Yas in the late
18th century, who also assumed control of
Dubai. In the
19th century the Dubai and Abu Dhabi branches parted ways.
Into the mid-
20th century, the economy of Abu Dhabi continued to be sustained mainly by
camel herding, production of
dates and vegetables at the inland
oases of Al Ain and
Liwa, and fishing and
pearl diving off the coast of Abu Dhabi city, which was occupied mainly during the summer months. Most dwellings in Abu Dhabi city were, at this time constructed of
palm fronds (
barasti), with the wealthier families occupying
mud huts. The growth of the cultured pearl industry in the first half of the twentieth century created hardship for residents of Abu Dhabi as pearls represented the largest export and main source of cash earnings.
In 1939,
Sheikh Shakhbut Bin-Sultan Al Nahyan granted
petroleum concessions, and oil was first found in 1958. At first, oil money had a marginal impact. A few lowrise concrete buildings were erected, and the first paved road was completed in 1961, but Sheikh Shakbut, uncertain whether the new oil royalties would last, took a cautious approach, preferring to save the revenue rather than investing it in development. His brother,
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan, saw that oil wealth had the potential to transform Abu Dhabi. The ruling Al Nahayan family decided that Sheikh Zayed should replace his brother as ruler and carry out his vision of developing the country. On
August 6,
1966, with the assistance of the
British, Sheikh Zayed became the new ruler. (See Al-Fahim, M,
From Rags to Riches: A Story of Abu Dhabi, Chapter Six (London Centre of Arab Studies, 1995), ISBN 1 900404 00 1.)
With the announcement by Britain in 1968 that it would withdraw from the Gulf area by 1971, Sheikh Zayed became the main driving force behind the formation of the
United Arab Emirates.
After the Emirates gained independence in 1971, oil wealth continued to flow to the area and traditional mud-brick huts were rapidly replaced with
banks, boutiques and modern
highrises.
The emirate of Abu Dhabi is located in the oil-rich and strategic Persian Gulf region. It adjoins the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia and the
Sultanate of Oman. The emirate
borders the emirate of
Dubai to its north.
Abu Dhabi city is on an island located less than a quarter-kilometer from the mainland and is joined to the mainland by the Maqta and Musaffa Bridges.
The majority of the inhabitants of Abu Dhabi are expatriate workers and professionals from
India,
Pakistan,
Egypt,
Philippines, Great Britain and elsewhere.
English and "Hindustani" (
Hindi/
Urdu) are widely spoken.
The native-born population are
Arabic-speaking
Gulf Arabs who are part of a tribal society. The Al Nahyan tribe rules the emirate and has a central place in society.
Abu Dhabi city is a modern city with broad boulevards, tall office and apartment buildings, and, busy shops. Principal thoroughfares are Corniche Road, Airport Road, Sheikh Zayed Road, Hamdan Road and Khalifa Street. Abu Dhabi city is known in the region for its greenery; the former desert strip today includes numerous parks and gardens. Key buildings include the Old Fort, Clock Tower, headquarters of oil companies and the Cultural Foundation.
The current developments in Abu Dhabi, like its neighbour Dubai, reflect a number of architechtural masterpieces by, among others,
Zaha Hadid and
Frank Gehry.
Other urban centers in the Abu Dhabi emirate are Al Ain and
Ruwais. Al Ain was previously an oasis; today it is the site of a university.
His Highness
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan is the hereditary
emir and ruler of Abu Dhabi, as well as the current president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
see:
Postage stamps of Abu DhabiSunny/blue skies can be expected through-out the year. The months June through September are generally hot and humid with temperatures averaging above 40ºC (110ºF). The weather is usually pleasant from October to May. January to February is cooler and may require the use of a light jacket. The oasis city of Al Ain regularly records the highest summer temperatures in the country, however the dry desert air and cooler evenings make it a traditional retreat from the intense summer heat and year round humidity of the capital city.
[BBC, Average weather for Sharjah, which is 170 kilometres away from Abu Dhabi.]Abu Dhabi International Airport serves this city. The local time is
GMT + 4 hours.Private vehicles and taxis are the primary means of transportation in the city.
The city was planned in the 1970s (all that remains of the previous settlement is
Al Hosn Fort) for an estimated maximum population of 600,000. In accordance with what was considered to be ideal urban planning at the time, the city has wide grid-pattern roads, and high-density tower blocks.
On the northerly end of the island, where the population density is highest, the main streets are lined with 20-storey towers. Inside this rectangle of towers is a normal grid pattern of roads with lower density buildings (2 storey villas or 6 storey low-rise buildings).
Away from the high-density areas, land is primarily used for government buildings and private villas.
Mail is delivered to post-office boxes only; there is no door-to-door delivery.There are many parks (or 'public gardens') throughout the city. Entrance is usually free for children, however there is often an entry fee for adults.
* The population of the city has far surpassed the estimated maximum population of the city when it was designed, leading to traffic congestion, a shortage of car parking spaces, and over-crowding.
* Having Post Office mail delivery only, and thus no widely-usable addressing system for buildings, leads to problems describing the location of buildings. This means directions must often be given relative to landmarks.
* The lack of a comprehensive, reliable, and frequent public transport system has lead to a near complete dependence on private cars as a means of transport.
* Grid-pattern roads mean a public transport system is difficult to implement without requiring a moderate amount of walking, which would be a large deterrant to usage.
* Closely positioned high-rise towers mean accommodation is often dark and claustrophobic.
* The city's exhibition centre (
ADNEC) is currently experiencing huge development.
* A metro, and improved bus services are planned to resolve traffic problems.
* Parking meters are currently being trialled as a solution to parking problems.
New developments on islands surrounding the city plan to increase the population of the city by up to 800,000.
Major Projects Under Construction:
*
Saadiyat Island ('Island of Happiness')
*
Al Lulu Island*
Reem Island*
Al RahaAbu Dhabi is home to a number of cultural institutions including the
Cultural Foundation and the
National Theater. The Cultural foundation is home to the
UAE Public Library and Cultural Center. Various cultural societies such as the Abu Dhabi Classical Music Society have a strong and visible following in the city.
* Progress on the creation of a major "up-scale cultural district" on Abu Dhabi's
Saadiyat Island has begun with the groundwork for a $400 million
Guggenheim Museum.
* The
Frank Gehry designed museum will display a "prestige collection" of modernist and contemporary art and is scheduled for completion in 2011. Upon completion, it is expected to be the largest exponent of the prestigious
Guggenheim Museums.
* The island development will also include museums for classical art and performing arts centers among other state-of-the-art cultural facilities.
* $28 Billion has been set aside to budget this cultural development.
* The city of Abu Dhabi, and the majority of UAE, has a large number of stray cats. The cartoon cat
Garfield would often put the kitten
Nermal in a box and ship him to Abu Dhabi. The phrase "Abu Dhabi is where all the cute kittens go" is sometimes used in the comic.
* An Abu Dhabi market place was featured in the children's television show
Muppet Babies.
*
Mina' Zayid, the port of Abu Dhabi.
*
Al Ain*
Marawah*
Postal Authorities*
Dubai*
Transportation in the United Arab Emirates*
Encyclopaedia of Postal History*
Abu Dhabi, The Persian Gulf*
Abu Dhabi News.Net Online news service focusing on the city and the emirate
*
abudhabi.com*
Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry*
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company*
SPE history, with oil details*
Abu Dhabi postal history*
ADIAS, Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey
*
Time Out Abu Dhabi, Guide to life in Abu Dhabi
*
Career UAE - Useful web site for the job seekers in Abu dabi/United Arab Emirates*
Abu Dhabi photo galleryU.A.E. based News Papers*
Gulf News*
Khaleej Times*
Emirates Today*
7 Days*
Gulf TodayNon-Government Organisations
*
Ansar Burney Trust - human rights and anti-slavery organisation
