Abu Dhabi

This article is about the city. For the emirate, see Abu employees in the region, and in 2014 was the 68th most
Dhabi (emirate).
expensive big city in the world.[6] Fortune magazine and
Abu Dhabi (US /budbi/, UK /budbi/; CNN stated in 2007 that Abu Dhabi is the richest city in
the world, having been between $800 billion to approximately $875 billion USD. The Sovereign Wealth Fund
Institute puts the gure at US$773 billion .[7]

1 History
1.1 Early civilizations
Abu Dhabi is full of archeological evidence that points
to civilizations, such as the Umm an-Nar Culture, having
been located there from the third millennium BC. Settlements were also found further outside the modern city
of Abu Dhabi but closer to the modern city of Al Ain.
There is evidence of civilizations around the mountain of
Hafeet (Jebel Hafeet). This location is very strategic because it is the UAEs second tallest mountain, so it would
have great visibility. It also contains a lot of moisture in
its springs and lakes, which means that there would have
been more moisture thousands of years ago.[8]

Aerial view of Abu Dhabi on the coast of the Persian Gulf

Arabic:

[3]

Ab ab Emirati pronunciation

[bubi])
is the capital and the second most
populous city in the United Arab Emirates, and also
capital of Abu Dhabi emirate, the largest of the UAEs
seven member emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped
island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central
western coast. The city proper had a population of
921,000 in 2013.[4]
Abu Dhabi houses federal government oces, is the seat
of the United Arab Emirates Government, home to the
Abu Dhabi Emiri Family and the President of the UAE,
who is from this family. Abu Dhabi has grown to be
a cosmopolitan metropolis. Its rapid development and
urbanisation, coupled with the relatively high average income of its population, has transformed Abu Dhabi to
a larger and advanced metropolis. Today the city is the
countrys center of political and industrial activities, and
a major cultural and commercial centre, due to its position as the capital. Abu Dhabi accounts for about twothirds of the roughly $400 billion United Arab Emirates
economy.[5]

1.2 Origin of the name Abu Dhabi

The origin of the name Abu Dhabi is uncertain. Meaning Father of the Gazelle, when literally translated from
Arabic, it probably referred to the few gazelles that inhabit the emirate. According to Bilal al-Budoor, assistant
under-secretary for Cultural Aairs at the Ministry of
Culture, Youth and Community Development, The area
had a lot of dhibaa [deer (plural)], and was nicknamed
after that. An old story tells about a man who used to
chase deer [dhabi (deer - singular)] and was named the
father of the animal. Abu Dhabis original name was
Milh salt, possibly referring to the salty water of the
Persian Gulf, or the ancient salt marshes that surround the
city. Some Bedouins called the city Umm Dhabi (mother
of deer), while British records refer to the place as Abu
Dhabi. According to some historical accounts, the name
Abu Dhabi was rst used more than 300 years ago. The
rst word of Abu Dhabi is pronounced Bu by inhabitants on the citys western coast. In the eastern part of the
city, the pronunciation is Abu.[3]

Abu Dhabi is home to important nancial institutions

such as the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, the Central
Bank of the United Arab Emirates and the corporate headquarters of many companies and numerous
multinational corporations. One of the worlds largest
producers of oil, Abu Dhabi has actively attempted to diversify its economy in recent years through investments
in nancial services and tourism.
Abu Dhabi is the fourth most expensive city for expatriate
1

1.3

2 GEOGRAPHY

Origins of the Al Nahyan family

ture between BP and Compagnie Franaise des Ptroles

(later Total). In 1958, using a marine drilling platform,
the ADMA Enterprise, oil was struck in the Umm Shaif
eld at a depth of about 8,755 feet (2,669 m). This was
followed in 1959 by PDTCs onshore discovery well at
Murban No.3.[13]

The Bani Yas bedouin were originally centered on the

Liwa Oasis. This tribe was the most signicant in the
area, having over 20 subsections. In 1793, the Al Bu
Falah subsection migrated to the island of Abu Dhabi on
the coast of the Persian Gulf due to the discovery of fresh
In 1962, the company discovered the Bu Hasa eld and
water there. One family within this section was the Al
ADMA followed in 1965 with the discovery of the ZaNahyan family. This family makes up the rulers of Abu
kum oshore eld. Today, in addition to the oil elds
Dhabi today.[9]
mentioned, the main producing elds onshore are Asab,
Sahil and Shah, and oshore are al-Bunduq, and Abu alBukhoosh.[13]

1.4

Pearl trade

Abu Dhabi worked in the pearl business and traded with

others. According to a source about pearling, the Persian 2 Geography
Gulf was the best location for pearls. Pearl divers dove
for one to one-and-a-half minutes, and would have dived
Main article: Geography of the United Arab Emirates
up to thirty times per day. There were no oxygen tanks
The city of Abu Dhabi is on the northeastern part of
and any other sort of mechanical device was forbidden.
The divers had a leather nose clip and leather coverings on their ngers and big toes to protect them while
they searched for oysters.[10] The divers were not paid
for a days work but received a portion of the seasons
earnings.[11]

1.5

Trucial coast

In the 19th century, as a result of treaties (known as

truces which gave the coast its name) entered into between Great Britain and the sheikhs of the Arab States of
the Persian Gulf, Britain became the predominant inuence in the area.[12] The main purpose of British interest was to protect the trade route to India from pirates,
hence the earlier name for the area, the Pirate Coast.
After piracy was suppressed other considerations came
into play, such as a strategic need of the British to exclude
other powers from the region. Following their withdrawal
from India in 1947, the British maintained their inuence Abu Dhabi seen from SPOT satellite
in Abu Dhabi as interest in the oil potential of the Persian
Gulf grew.
the Persian Gulf in the Arabian Peninsula. It is on an
island less than 250 metres (820 ft) from the mainland
and is joined to the mainland by the Maqta and Mussafah
1.6 First oil discoveries
Bridges. A third, Sheikh Zayed Bridge, designed by Zaha
In the 1930s, as the pearl trade declined, interest grew Hadid, opened in late 2010. Abu Dhabi Island is also conin the oil possibilities of the region. On 5 January 1936, nected to Saadiyat Island by a ve-lane motorway bridge.
Petroleum Development (Trucial Coast) Ltd (PDTC), an Al-Mafraq bridge connects the city to Reem Island and
associate company of the Iraq Petroleum Company, en- was completed in early 2011. This is a multilayer intertered into a concession agreement with the ruler, Sheikh change bridge and it has 27 lanes which allow roughly
Shakhbut bin Sultan al Nahyan, to explore for oil. This 25,000 automobiles to move per hour. There are three
lanes,
was followed by a seventy-ve-year concession signed major bridges of the project, the largest has eight
[14]
four
leaving
Abu
Dhabi
city
and
four
coming
in.
in January 1939. However, owing to the desert terrain, inland exploration was fraught with diculties. In
1953, D'Arcy Exploration Company, the exploration arm
of BP, obtained an oshore concession which was then
transferred to a company created to operate the concession: Abu Dhabi Marine Areas (ADMA) was a joint ven-

Most of Abu Dhabi city is located on the island itself,

but it has many suburbs on the mainland, for example:
Khalifa City A, B, and C;[15] Al Raha Beach;[16] Al Bahia
City A, B, and C; Al Shahama; Al Rahba; Between Two
Bridges; Baniyas; and Mussafah Residential.

5.1

Neighborhoods

Climate

Abu Dhabi has a hot desert climate (Kppen climate

classication BWh). Sunny blue skies can be expected
throughout the year. The months of June through
September are generally extremely hot and humid with
maximum temperatures averaging above 38 C (100 F).
During this time, sandstorms occur intermittently, in
some cases reducing visibility to a few meters.[17]
The cooler season is from November to March, which
ranges between moderately hot to cold. This period also
sees dense fog on some days. On average, January is the
coolest month in the year, while July and August are the
hottest.
Skyscrapers on West Corniche Rd, Al Ras Al Akhdar, in March
2013. Etihad Towers at the right.

Government

Under the umbrella of the Department of Municipal Affairs, Abu Dhabi Central Capital District has its own local
government. Members are selected through the emir.
Councils such as the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council
and the Regulation and Supervision Bureau are responsible for infrastructure projects in the city. Finances are
mainly through the state government.

Al Lulu Island
Al Madina
Al Manaseer
Al Manhal
Al Maqtaa
Al Markaziyah
Al Meena

Cityscape

Al Moroor
Al Mushrif
Al Muzoon
Al Nahyan
Al Qubesat
Al Ras Al Akhdar
Al Rehhan
Al Rowdah
Al Zaab
Al Zahiyah
Al Zahraa
Al Khalidyah

Panoramic view of the Corniche.

5.1

Neighborhoods

Hideriyyat
Marina Village
Ocers City

Al Aman

Qasr El Bahr

Al Bateen

Qasr El Shatie

Al Dhafrah

Al Karama

Al Khubeirah

Bain Al Jisrain [Almaqta}

5.2

CITYSCAPE

Architecture

The development of tall buildings has been encouraged

in the Abu Dhabi Plan 2030, which will lead to the conSee also: List of tallest buildings in Abu Dhabi
struction of many new skyscrapers over the next decade,
The density of Abu Dhabi varies, with high employ- particularly in the expansion of Abu Dhabis central business district such as the new developments on Al Sowwah
Island and Al Reem Island.[24] Abu Dhabi already has
a number of supertall skyscrapers under construction
throughout the city. Some of the tallest buildings on the
skyline include the 382 m (1,253.28 ft) Central Market
Residential Tower, the 324 m (1,062.99 ft) The Landmark and the 74-story, 310 m (1,017.06 ft) Sky Tower.
Also many other skyscrapers over 150 m (492.13 ft) (500
ft) are either proposed or approved and could transform
the citys skyline. As of July 2008, there were 62 highrise buildings 23 to 150 m (75.46 to 492.13 ft) under
construction, approved for construction, or proposed for
construction.[25]
5.2.1 Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Main article: Sheikh Zayed Mosque
One of the most important architectural landmarks is the

ADIA Tower to the left and The Landmark at the right in Abu
Dhabi

Front and entrance of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Mosque. This is arguably one of the most

important architectural treasures of contemporary UAE
societyand one of the most opulent in the world. It was
initiated by the late president of the United Arab Emirates, HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, fondly
thought of as the father of the UAE.[26]
Street View

ment density in the central area, high residential densities in central downtown and lower densities in the suburbs. In the dense areas, most of the concentration is
achieved with medium- and high-rise buildings. Abu
Dhabis skyscrapers such as the notable Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Tower,[19] the National Bank of Abu
Dhabi headquarters,[20] the Hilton Hotel Tower[21] and
the Etisalat headquarters are usually found in the nancial
districts of Abu Dhabi.[22] Other notable modern buildings include the Emirates Palace with its design inspired
by Arab heritage.[23]

Its design and construction reportedly 'unites the world',

using artisans and materials from many countries including Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, Iran, China,
the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Greece and of course
the United Arab Emirates. More than 3,000 workers and
38 renowned contracting companies took part in the construction of the mosque. Natural materials were chosen
for much of its design and construction due to their longlasting qualities, including marble, stone, gold, semiprecious stones, crystals and ceramics. Construction began on 5 November 1996. The maximum capacity is
approximately 41,000 people and the overall structure is
22,412 square metres, the internal prayer halls were initially opened in December 2007.[26]

5
As one of the most visited buildings in the UAE, the
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center was established to
manage the day-to-day operations, as a place of worship
and Friday gathering and as a centre of learning and discovery through its education and visitor programs.[27]

the majority of these resources 95% of the oil and 6%

of gas. Abu Dhabi thus holds 9% of the worlds proven
oil reserves (98.2bn barrels) and almost 5% of the worlds
natural gas (5.8 trillion cu metres). Oil production in the
UAE was in the region of 2.3m barrels per day (bpd) in
2010,[30] and projects are in progress to boost production
to 3m bpd. In recent years the focus has turned to gas as
5.3 Parks and gardens
increasing domestic consumption for power, desalination
and reinjection of gas into oil elds increases demand.
Abu Dhabi has more than 2,000 well-maintained parks Gas extraction is not without its diculties, however, as
and gardens[28] and more than 400 kilometres (249 miles) demonstrated by the sour gas project at Shah where the
of coastline, of which 10 kilometres (6 miles) are public gas is rich in hydrogen sulphide content and is expensive
beaches.[29]
to develop and process.[13]
The Lake Park
A view from Heritage Park
Turmeric plants at the Heritage Park
Inside the Heritage Park
Directions Pole at the Heritage Park
Watch Tower at the Heritage Park

Economy

Main article: Economy of the United Arab Emirates

The UAEs large hydrocarbon wealth gives it one of the The Heritage Village
Recently the government has been diversifying their economic plans. Served by high oil prices, the countrys nonoil and gas GDP has outstripped that attributable to the
energy sector. Remarkably, non-oil and gas GDP now
constitutes 64% of the UAEs total GDP. This trend is
reected in Abu Dhabi with substantial new investment
in industry, real estate, tourism and retail. As Abu Dhabi
is the largest oil producer of the UAE, it has reaped the
most benets from this trend. It has taken on an active diversication and liberalisation programme to reduce the
UAEs reliance on the hydrocarbon sector. This is evident in the emphasis on industrial diversication with the
completion of free zones, Industrial City of Abu Dhabi,
twofour54 Abu Dhabi media free zone and the construction of another, ICAD II, in the pipeline. There has also
been a drive to promote the tourism and real estate sectors
with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and the Tourism
and Development Investment Company undertaking several large-scale development projects. These projects will
be served by an improved transport infrastructure with a
new port, an expanded airport and a proposed rail link
between Abu Dhabi and Dubai all in the development
stages.[31]
Abu Dhabi is the wealthiest emirate of the UAE in
terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and per capita
income. More than $1 trillion is invested worldwide
highest GDP per capita in the world and Abu Dhabi owns in this city alone. In 2010, the GDP per capita also
The ADCB Bank Headquarters

reached $49,600, which ranks ninth in the world after

Qatar, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg and many others.
Taxation in Abu Dhabi, as in the rest of the UAE, is nil
for a resident and for a non-bank, non-oil company. Abu
Dhabi is also planning many future projects sharing with
the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
(GCC) and taking 29% of all the GCC future plannings.
The United Arab Emirates is a fast-growing economy: in
2006 the per capita income grew by 9%, providing a GDP
per capita of $49,700 and ranking third in the world at
purchasing power parity. Abu Dhabis sovereign wealth
fund, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), currently estimated at US$875 billion, is the worlds wealthiest sovereign fund in terms of total asset value.[32] Etihad
Airways maintains its headquarters in Abu Dhabi.[33]
Abu Dhabis government is looking to expand revenue
from oil and gas production to tourism and other sorts
of features which would attract dierent types of people.
This goal is seen in the amount of attention Abu Dhabi is
giving to its International Airport. The airport, in 2009,
experienced a 30%+ growth in passenger usage.[34] This
idea of diversication of the economy is also seen in the
Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030[35] planned by the Abu
Dhabi Urban Planning Council. In this plan Abu Dhabis
economy will be sustainable and not be dependent on any
one facet or source of revenue. More specically the
non-oil portion of income is planned to be increased from
about 40% to about 60%.[32]

CITY PLANNING

of 2007.[42] The distribution of electricity is carried

out by companies run by SCIPCO Power and APC
Energy.[43][44] The Abu Dhabi Fire Service runs 13 re
stations that attend about 2,000 re and rescue calls per
year.
State-owned Etisalat and private du communication companies provide telephone and cell phone service to the
city. Cellular coverage is extensive, and both GSM
and CDMA (from Etisalat and Du) services are available. Etisalat, the government owned telecommunications provider, held a virtual monopoly over telecommunication services in Abu Dhabi prior to the establishment of other, smaller telecommunications companies
such as Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC better known as Du) in 2006. Internet
was introduced into Abu Dhabi in 1995. The current network is supported by a bandwidth of 6 GB, with 50,000
dialup and 150,000 broadband ports. Etisalat recently announced implementing a bre-to-the-home (FTTH) network in Abu Dhabi during the third quarter of 2009 to
make the emirate the worlds rst city to have such a
network.[45]

8 City planning

Utility services

See also: Water supply and sanitation in Abu Dhabi

The water supply in Abu Dhabi is managed by the Abu
Dhabi Water and Electricity Company. As of 2006,
it supplied 560.2 MiGD (million imperial gallons per
day) of water,[36] while the water demand for 200506
was estimated to be 511 MiGD.[37] The Environment
Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD) states that groundwater
is the most signicant source of water, as well as desalinated potable water, and treated sewage euent. At
40.6 MiGD, the Umm Al Nar storage is the largest water
source for Abu Dhabi, followed by the rivers Shuweihat
and Taweelah.[38] With falling groundwater level and rising population density, Abu Dhabi faces a severely acute
water shortage. On average each Abu Dhabi resident uses
550 litres (120 imp gal; 150 U.S. gal) of water per day.[39]
Abu Dhabi daily produces 1,532 tonnes of solid wastes
which is dumped at three landll sites by Abu Dhabi
Municipality.[40][41] The daily domestic waste water production is 330 MiGD and industrial waste water is 40
MiGD. A large portion of the sewerage ows as waste
into streams, and separation plants.[41]

A Public Park in the city

The city was planned in the 1970s 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.[46] On the northerly end of the island, where the
population density is highest, the main streets are lined
with 20- to 30-story towers. Inside this rectangle of towers is a normal grid pattern of roads with lower density
buildings (2-story villas or 6-story low-rise buildings).

Abu Dhabi is a modern city with broad boulevards, tall

oce and apartment buildings, and busy shops. Principal thoroughfares are the Corniche, Airport Road, Sheikh
The citys per capita electricity consumption is about Zayed Street, Hamdan Street and Khalifa Street. Abu
41,000 kWh and the total supplied is 8,367 MW as Dhabi is known in the region for its greenery; the former

Public park in Abu Dhabi

At the corniche during sunset

Greeneries on the roadside near the Corniche Beach

however, there is door-to-door delivery for commercial organizations. There are many parks throughout
the city. Entrance is usually free for children, however there is often an entrance fee for adults. The Corniche, the citys seaside promenade, is about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) in length, with gardens, playgrounds, and a
BMX/skateboard ring.[48]
In 2007 the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC)
was established, which is the agency responsible for the
future of Abu Dhabis urban environments and the expert authority behind the visionary Plan Abu Dhabi 2030
Urban Structure Framework Plan that was published in
September 2007.[49] The UPC is also working on similar
plans for the regions of Al-Ain and Al-Gharbia.
Because of the rapid development of Abu Dhabi, a number of challenges to the citys urban organization have developed, among them:

Waterfront park in Abu Dhabi

desert strip today includes numerous parks and gardens.

The design of the inner city roads and main roads are
quite organised. Starting from the Corniche, all horizontal streets are oddly numbered, while all vertical streets
are evenly numbered. Thus, the Corniche is Street #1,
Khalifa is Street #3, Hamdan is Street #5, Electra street
is Street #7 and so on. Conversely, Salam Street is St
#8.[47]
Mail is generally delivered to post-oce boxes only;

Today, the citys population far surpasses the original estimated maximum population when it was designed. This causes trac congestion, a shortage of
car parking spaces, and overcrowding.

Although there is an addressing system for the city,

it is not widely used, causing problems in describing
building locations. Directions must often be given
based on nearby landmarks.

10

TRANSPORTATION

Demographics

In 2006, the population of the emirate was 1,463,491.[52]

As the emirate covers 67,341 km2 (26,001 sq mi), nearly
87% of the UAE, the population density is 21.73/km2
(56.3/sq mi), making it the largest emirate in the UAE.[53]
Abu Dhabi also ranks as the 67th most expensive city
in the world, and the second most in the region behind
Dubai.[54]
As of 2013, 476,000 of 2,330,000 people living in the
emirate were UAE nationals. Approximately 79.6% of
the population were expatriates.[55] The median age in the
emirate was about 30.1 years. The crude birth rate, as of
2005, was 13.6%, while the crude death rate was about
2%.[56]
Article 7 of the UAEs Provisional Constitution declares
Islam the ocial state religion of the UAE.[57] The government subsidizes almost 95% of mosques and employs all imams. A majority of mosques are Maliki or
Muwahhid oriented.[58]
The majority of the inhabitants of Abu Dhabi are expatriate workers from India, Pakistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia,
Somalia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Philippines, the
United Kingdom and various countries from across the
Arab world.[59] Consequently, English, Hindi, Urdu,
Malayalam, Tulu, Tamil, Somali, Tigrinya, Amharic and
Bengali are widely spoken.[60] Apart from Urdu and Hindi
spoken by Indians and Pakistanis, many South Asian expatriates also contribute other South Asian languages to
the cultural milieu, including Malayalam, the main language spoken in the Indian state Kerala.

The citys Silver Taxi

ing 12 million passengers per annum by 2011.[64] Development work has also started on a new passenger terminal, to be situated between the two runways and known
as the Mideld Terminal. The new mega-mideld terminal complex will be capable of handling an additional 20
million passengers a year initially and then later, as Abu
Dhabi develops as a major Middle East transport hub, up
to 50 million passengers a year, thus providing a major
competition to Dubai International Airport.[65] The 5.9million-square-metre (1,500-acre) terminal will initially
include 42 gates, rising to more than 90 gates on completion of the airport.[66]

The native-born population are Arabic-speaking Arabs

who are part of a clan-based society. The Al Nahyan family, part of the al-Falah branch of the Bani Yas clan, rules
the emirate and has a central place in society.[61]
See also: Indians in the United Arab Emirates, Islam in
the United Arab Emirates, Roman Catholicism in the City Bus Number 56
United Arab Emirates and Bah' Faith in the United
Arab Emirates
Public transport systems in Abu Dhabi include the Abu
Dhabi public buses, taxis, ferries, and airplanes.[67] Street
taxis are easily recognised. They are either silver with a
yellow roof sign (newer taxis) or white and gold with a
green roof sign (older taxis). All the old taxis have been
10 Transportation
phased out. There are no old taxis available for transportation anymore.[68]
Main article: Transport in the United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) is the citys main
aviation hub and the second busiest airport in the UAE,
serving 9.02 million passengers in 2008, up 30.2% from
2007. The airport was previously located on Abu Dhabi
Island and was moved to its current location on the mainland in 1982.[62][62] Its terminal spaces are dominated by
Etihad Airways which is the UAEs national carrier and
the countrys second largest airline.[63] Prior to the 2000s,
the airport was one of the key supporters of Gulf Air. A
new terminal opened in 2009 with total capacity reach-

The rst town bus entered service in about 1969 but

this was all part of a very informal service. There are
other inter-city buses departing the Abu Dhabi Dhabi
central bus station; these inter-city buses are not only
intra-emirate buses, but also inter-emirate services. On
30 June 2008 the Department of Transport began public
bus service in Abu Dhabi with four routes.[69] There are
also public buses serving the airport. In an attempt to entice people to use the bus system, all routes were zero-fare
until the end of 2008.[70] The four routes, which operate

9
between 6 am and midnight every day, run at a frequency
of 10 to 20 minutes.[70] Within the rst week of service
the bus network had seen high usage. Some of the buses,
which have a maximum capacity of 45 passengers, only
had room for standing left. Some bus drivers reported
as many as 100 passengers on a bus at one time.[71] Although the new, zero-fare bus service has been a success,
many taxi drivers are losing business. Taxi drivers have
seen a considerable decrease in the demand for taxis while
lines were forming for the buses.[72] The service steadily
expanded and by the end of 2008, 230 buses were in service. In 2009, the Department of Transport plans to have
21 bus routes in the city, operated by 820 buses. A total of
1,360 buses are expected to be in operation by 2010.[71]
A massive expansion of public transport is anticipated Typical Arabic house displayed at the Heritage Village in Abu
Dhabi
within the framework of the governments Surface Trans[73]
port Master Plan 2030. The expansion is expected to
see 130 km (81 mi) of metro and 340 km (210 mi) of
tramways and/or bus rapid transit (BRT) routes.
See also: Abu Dhabi Bus service

11

Culture

Main article: Culture of the United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi has a diverse and multicultural society.[74]

Historic photo of the Abu Dhabi Public Library and Cultural

Centre, with the Qasr Al Hosn palace in the background

The citys cultural imprint as a small, ethnically homogeneous pearling community was changed with the arrival
of other ethnic groups and nationalsrst by the Iranians
in the early 1900s, and later by Indians and Pakistanis in
the 1960s. Abu Dhabi has been criticized for perpetuating a class-based society, where migrant workers are
in the lower classes, and suer abuse which is endemic
to the system.[75] Despite the diversity of the population, only minor and infrequent episodes of ethnic tensions, primarily between expatriates, have been reported
in the city. Major holidays in Abu Dhabi include Eid
al Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, Eid ul-Adha
which marks the end of Hajj, and National Day (2 December), which marks the formation of the United Arab
Emirates.[76]

At the ADIPEC 2013

This unique socioeconomic development in the Persian

Gulf has meant that Abu Dhabi is generally more tolerant
than its neighbours, including Saudi Arabia.[77] Emaritis
have been known for their tolerance; Christian churches,
Hindu temples, and Sikh gurdwaras (but no synagogues)
can be found alongside mosques. The cosmopolitan atmosphere is gradually growing and as a result, there are
a variety of Asian and Western schools, cultural centers
and themed restaurants.
Abu Dhabi is home to a number of cultural institutions
including the Cultural Foundation and the National Theater. The Cultural Foundation, while closed for reconstruction as of spring 2011, is home to the UAE Public Library and Cultural Center.[78] Various cultural soci-

10

11

CULTURE

eties such as the Abu Dhabi Classical Music Society have

a strong and visible following in the city. The recently
launched Emirates Foundation oers grants in support of
the arts, as well as to advance science and technology,
education, environmental protection and social development. The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF)
will be based in Abu Dhabi. The city also stages hundreds
of conferences and exhibitions each year in its state-ofthe-art venues, including the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) which is the Persian Gulfs largest
exhibition center and welcomes around 1.8 million visitors every year.[79]
The Red Bull Air Race World Series has been a spectacular sporting staple for the city for many years, bringing tens of thousands to the waterfront.[80] Another major
event is the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC).

Sotel Abu Dhabi

Poetry in Abu Dhabi and the UAE is highly regarded and

often is centric around the themes of satire, religion, family, chivalry and love. According to an article from an
Abu Dhabi tourism page, sheikhs, teachers, sailors and
princes make a large bulk of the poets within the UAE.
A unique form of poetry to the UAE was formed in the
8th century by Al Khalil bin Ahmed and it was written in
16 meters. The rst known poet from the UAE, Ibn Majid, was born sometime between 1432 and 1437 in Ras
Al Khaimah. According to the tourism page Majid came
from a family of sailors and 40 of his works have survived.
Another Emirati poet, Ibn Daher is from the 17th century. Daher is important because he used Nabati poetry
(AKA Bedouin poetry), poetry written in the vernacular
instead of the classical/religious Arabic. Other imporThe Royal International Hotel
tant poets from the UAE are Mubarak Al Oqaili (1880
1954), Salem bin Ali al Owais (18871959) and Abdulla
The diversity of cuisine in Abu Dhabi is a reection of bin Sulayem (19051976). These poets made headway
the cosmopolitan nature of the society. Arab food is very in the eld of Classical Arabic poetry as opposed to the
popular and is available everywhere in the city, from the Nabati poetry of the 17th century.[83]
small shawarma to the upscale restaurants in the citys
many hotels. Fast food and South Asian cuisine are also One of Ibn Masjids most prominent works is a book
very popular and are widely available. The sale and con- called, Kitab al-Fawa'id Usul 'Ilm al-Bahr wa 'l-Qawa'id
sumption of pork, though not illegal, is regulated and it (Book of Useful Information on the Principles and Rules
is sold only to non-Muslims in designated areas.[81] Simi- of Navigation), and it was written in 1490. This book is
larly, the sale of alcoholic beverages is regulated. A liquor eectually an encyclopdia about navigation and sailing
permit is required to purchase alcohol; however, alcohol, in and around the Indian Ocean. Masjid also goes into
although available in bars and restaurants within four or detail about the intricacies and technologies of the Arab
ve star hotels, is not sold as widely as in its more liberal sailing techniques. An excerpt from his book is:
neighbour Dubai.[82] Shisha and qahwa boutiques are also We have 32 rhumbs, and tirfa, and zam, and the meapopular in Abu Dhabi.
surement of stellar altitudes, but they have not. They

11
cannot understand the way we navigate, but we can understand the way they do; we can use their system and
sail in their ships. For the Indian Ocean is connected to
the All-Encompassing Ocean, and we possess scientic
books that give stellar altitudes, but they do not have a
knowledge of stellar altitudes; they have no science and
no books, only the compass and dead reckoning We
can easily sail in their ships and upon their sea, so they
have great respect for us and look up to us. They admit
we have a better knowledge of the sea and navigation and
the wisdom of the stars.
Ahmad Ibn Majid on European Navigation[84]
Today in Abu Dhabi there is a group called the Abu
Dhabi Cultural Foundation that works to preserve the art
and culture of the city. According to an article from
the English Pen Atlas Al jawaher wal la'li was the rst
manuscript to come out of the UAE. According to another article this book was written in the 1990s and was
banned in the city for some time for making accusations
about the ruling family.[85]
See also: Cultural Policy in Abu Dhabi

12

Education

Main article: Education in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is home to international and local private
schools[86] and universities,[87] including governmentsponsored United Arab Emirates University in Al-Ain,
New York University, New York Institute of Technology, Higher Colleges of Technology, New York Film
Academy, Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and
Abu Dhabi University in Abu Dhabi. These boast several
languages that make up the population of the city. For
example, the prestigious international business school, established a campus in February 2010, oering an Executive MBA and executive education courses. New York
University opened a government-sponsored satellite campus in Abu Dhabi in September 2010.[88] There are institutes such as Altaaat[89] Leadership Development Institute providing training to local people serving in the
private, public and education sectors of Abu Dhabi.

Schools Program began in 2008 under the patronage of

H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, who
is a keen Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor. The program
launched in 14 schools for pupils in grades 6 and 7 and
has since expanded to 42 government schools, with 81
Brazilian coaches brought in as instructors.[91]
Students from 9 to 13 years old are taught Brazilian jiujitsu as part of the curriculum. The plan is for up to 500
schools to be participating in the school-jitsu program by
2015. The project was set up by special request of HH
Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the head
coach of the Emirates jiu-jitsu team Carlos Santos, now
also the managing director of the School-Jitsu Project.[92]
Every year in the season of admissions an exhibition is
launched in Abu Dhabi Exhibition Center under the supervision of the government.[93] Universities from every
corner of the world exhibit their career programs and
scholarship programs for globally bright students. This
seems to be a well-dened platform for the students of
all nationalities. Heriot-Watt University, University of
Bolton, Cambridge University, Oxford University, the
Petroluem Institute, Khalifa University and Abu Dhabi
University attend.

13 Sports
Abu Dhabi has three football stadiums: Al Jazeera Stadium, Al Wahda stadium and Sheikh Zayed Football Stadium (Zayed Sports City). ZSC also contains a tennis
court, an ice rink, and a bowling alley. The Sheikh Zayed
Cricket Stadium is located on the outskirts of the city and
is currently home to the Pakistan Cricket Team. The stadium hosts at least two series per year in the last 4 years.
In 2014, the stadium also hosted one leg of the Indian
Premier League. It has also been considered as a venue
for the Pakistan Super League too.
Football and cricket are very popular in the city. Many
youth play football in parking lots nearby corniche because of the pleasant environment and enough space.
Cricket is also popular because of South Asian expats.
There have been many small competitions conducted between small time football and cricket teams.

Another location known as the Dome has been created for

mainly football events among others. The purpose behind
the development of the Dome@Rawdhat was to create a
All schools in the emirate are under the authority of community football and sporting facility with indoor and
the Abu Dhabi Education Council. This organization outdoor pitches in the heart of the city of Abu Dhabi for
oversees and administers public schools and licenses and everyone to enjoy.
inspects private schools. From 2009, the Council has
brought over thousands of licensed teachers from native
English speaking countries to support their New School 13.1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Model Program in government schools.
Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) maintains a com- Main article: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
prehensive after-school program for interested and talented jiu-jitsu students.[90] The Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Since 2009, Abu Dhabi has hosted a Formula One race

12

17

every year in November or December at the Yas Marina Circuit, which is considered to be the richest Formula One race track in the world.[94] Motorsport is popular throughout the country and the circuit has also hosted
other events such as the V8 Supercars series.

14

In the media

REFERENCES

[7] Gimbel, Barney (12 March 2007). The richest city in

the world. (No, its not Dubai.) - March 19, 2007.
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[8] Potts, Daniel (2003). Archaeology of the United Arab
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[9] Bani Yas. His Highness Sheikh Maktoum. Archived
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In the Gareld comic series by Jim Davis, Gareld re- [10] Trench, Richard (1995). Arab Gulf Cities. Oxford:
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[11] Pearl Diving. His Highness Sheikh Maktoum. Archived
from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-0413.

15

International relations

[12] Trucial Gulf Sheikdoms and Great Britain

Main article: List of twin towns and cities in United [13] Morton, Michael Quentin, The Abu Dhabi Oil Discoveries, GEO Expro article, issue 3, 2011.GEO ExPro - The
Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi Oil Discoveries

15.1

Twin towns and cities

Abu Dhabi is twinned with:

[14] Abu Dhabi Municipality | Media Center. Municipality

of Abu Dhabi City. Archived from the original on 2 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-07.
[15] http://www.iscadkc-sabis.net Khalifa City
[16] Al Raha Beach Resort

16

See also

Aldar headquarters building

[17] Abu Dhabi Sandstorm

[18] Climate Normals for Abu Dhabi. National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2013-02-10.

Department of Municipal Aairs (Abu Dhabi)

[19] Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Tower

Dubai-Abu Dhabi Highway

[20] National Bank HQ

Marawah

[21] Hilton Abu DhabI

National Center for Documentation and Research

Postage stamps and postal history of Abu Dhabi

17

References

[1] UAE Constitution. Helplinelaw.com. Archived from

the original on 2013-02-17. Retrieved 2008-07-21.

[22] Etisalat Headquarters

[23] The Emirates Palace
[24] Plan 2030
[25] Skyscrapers of Abu Dhabi | Emporis.com.
ris.com. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-25.

Empo-

[26] SZGMC www.szgmc.ae

[27] Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque Center

[2] Middle East :: United Arab Emirates. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2013-04-05.

[28] Capital Gardens, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Whatsonwhen. 4 April 2007. Retrieved 2009-07-25.

[3] How did Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other cities get their
names? Experts reveal all. UAE Interact. 3 October
2007. Retrieved 2013-04-05.

[29] Welcome to Abu Dhabi - Beaches and Coasts. Visitabudhabi.ae. Retrieved 2009-07-25.

[4] United Arab Emirates: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population. World Gazetteer.
[5] Gulfnews: Abu Dhabi Economy Grows 5.2% In 2013,
Slower Than Expected. www.gulfnews.com (3 June
2014). Retrieved on 2014-09-24.
[6] 2014 Cost of living. Mercer. Retrieved 2014-08-24.

[30] UAE Crude Oil Supply 4 year overlay. Oil Market Report (International Energy Agency). Retrieved 2011-0620.
[31] Abu Dhabi - Economic Base Diversifying.
Entrepreneur.com. 5 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
[32] Asset-backed insecurity. The Economist. 17 January
2008 Archived 21 January 2009 at WebCite

13

[33] "Our oces. Etihad Airways. Retrieved on 6 February

2009.

[59] Abu Dhabi Expats

[60] Abu Dhabi Languages

[34] Abu Dhabis Urban Development Plan. Forbes Custom.

8 April 2011

[61] Al Nahyan Family

[35] Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council - Abu Dhabi Vision

2030. Abu Dhabi 2030. 8 April 2011

[62] Welcome To Abu Dhabi International Airport. Abudhabiairport.ae. Retrieved on 2009-07-16.

[36] 2006 statistical report indd (PDF), adwec.ae. Retrieved

on 2009-07-16.

[63] Etihad Airways. Ameinfo.com. Retrieved on 2009-0716.

[37] State of the Environment Abu Dhabi - Themes - Water.

Soe.ae. Retrieved on 2009-07-16.

[64] Abu Dhabi International capacity reaches 12 million as

Terminal 3 fully operational. Meed.com (7 April 2009).
Retrieved on 2009-07-16.

[38] 2006 statistical report indd (PDF), adwec.ae. Retrieved

on 2009-07-16.
[39] Abu Dhabi faces water crisis - The National Newspaper.
Thenational.ae (22 March 2009). Retrieved on 2009-0716.
[40] Agedi.ae

[65] Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH/OMAA). Airport

Technology. Retrieved on 2009-07-16.
[66] Passenger Terminal Today. Passenger Terminal Today
(12 May 2008). Retrieved on 2009-07-16.

[41] State of the Environment Abu Dhabi - Themes - Waste,

Soe.ae. Retrieved on 2009-07-16.

[67] Mehmet Kahveci. Abu Dhabi Travel Guide | Turizm.com: Your One-stop Travel Partner. Turizm.com.
Retrieved 2013-03-12.

[42] 2006 statistical report indd (PDF), adwec.ae. Retrieved

on 2009-07-16.

[68] Welcome to Abu Dhabi Taxis. Visitabudhabi.ae (9 August 2014)

[43] 2006 statistical report indd (PDF), adwec.ae. Retrieved

on 2009-07-16.

[69] Abu Dhabi bus network. The National. 29 June 2008.

Archived from the original on 12 July 2008. Retrieved
2008-07-12.

[44] 2006 statistical report indd (PDF), adwec.ae. Retrieved

on 2009-07-16.
[45] Breaking News, UAE, GCC, Middle East, World News
and Headlines - Emirates 24/7. Business24-7.ae. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
[46] Mention of City Grid Patterns
[47] Google Map of Abu Dhabi. Google Maps.
[48] The Corniche
[49] Abu Dhabi UPC
[50] The UNITED ARAB EMIRATES : urban population.
Populstat.info. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
[51] Census 2005
[52] Welcome to Abu Dhabi - Population, visitabudhabi.ae

[70] All aboard for a free ride. The National. 30 June 2008.
Retrieved 2008-07-12.
[71] Kwong, Matt (5 July 2008). Buses bulge with passengers. The National. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
[72] Taxis suer as bus business booms. The National. 1
July 2008. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
[73] Mohamed bin Zayed Views The Surface Transport Master Plan 2030". 'Department of Transport, Abu Dhabi'.
1 April 2009. Archived from the original on 30 August
2009. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
[74] Country and Metropolitan Stats in Brief. MPI Data Hub
[75] The Dark Side of Dubai, Johann Hari, The Independent,
7 April 2009. Archived 14 October 2009 at WebCite

[53] UAE Permanent Mission in Vienna The UAE-Seven

Emirates

[76] Ocial holidays in UAE. Gowealthy.com. Retrieved

2009-07-15.

[54] Gulfnews: Cost of living rises for expats in Abu Dhabi

and Dubai. Archive.gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2009-0707.

[77] UAE Religious Freedom

[55] Abu Dhabis population at 2.33m, with 475,000 Emiratis. UAE interact. Retrieved 2014-04-09.

[79] http://www.adnec.ae ADNEC Website

[56] The People : AbuDhabi. Abudhabi.info. Retrieved

2009-07-07.
[57] UAE Constitution Article 7
[58] 2010 M izady Mideast religion statistics

[78] UAE Public Library

[80] Red Bull Air Race

[81] Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards.
GAIN Report. United States Department of Agriculture
[82] Welcome to Dubai at the Wayback Machine (archived
February 26, 2008) New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

14

18

EXTERNAL LINKS

[83] Literature and Poetry.

Welcome to Abu Dhabi.
Archived from the original on 7 February 2011. Retrieved
2011-02-28.

Banking in Abu Dhabi, rakbankdirect.ae

[84] The Navigator: Ahmad Ibn Majid, Saudi Aramco World,

accessed 28 February 2011.

Abu Dhabi Community Page, abudhabipage.com

[85] UAE. English Pen World Atlas. Retrieved 2011-02-28.

[86] Schools in Abu Dhabi.

[88] Timm, Jane C. (13 September 2010). ""NYU Abu Dhabi:

the story from concept to classroom, Washington Square
News". Nyunews.com. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
[89] Altaaat.
[90] 36 Winners Awarded at Abu Dhabi Public Schools
Jiu-Jitsu Cup, Abu Dhabi Education Council, retrieved
2010-08-22.
[91] Judo federation wants younger state pupils to take up the
sport, The National, July 6, 2010 retrieved 2013-05-27.
[92] Brazilian instructors boost School-Jitsu scheme. Abu
Dhabi Week. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
[93] ADNEC education
[94] http://www.yasmarinacircuit.com Yas Marina Circuit
www.bethlehem-city.org.

[96] Mapa Mundi de las ciudades hermanadas.

tamiento de Madrid. Retrieved 2009-07-22.

Ayun-

[97] Abu Dhabi, Houston to sign 'Sister City' pact UAE - The
Ocial Web Site - News. Uaeinteract.com. Retrieved on
2009-07-16.
[98] Zawya.com Abu Dhabi, Brisbane ink sister city agreement
[99] Twin towns and Sister cities of Minsk [via WaybackMachine.com]" (in Russian). The department of protocol and
international relations of Minsk City Executive Committee. Archived from the original on 2013-05-02. Retrieved
2013-07-21.

18

Abu Dhabi Education News

Main Tourist Attractions
Long Term Car Rental in UAE

[87] Universities in Abu Dhabi.

[95] Bethlehem Municipality.

Retrieved 2009-10-10.

Abu Dhabi Facebook Page, facebook.com

External links

Municipality of Abu Dhabi City

Abu Dhabi information portal, abudhabi.ae
Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority, ADAA
Department of Municipal Aairs Portal, abudhabi.ae
Abu Dhabi at DMOZ
Jobs in Abu Dhabi
2030 transport master plan, dot.abudhabi.ae

15

19
19.1

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

Text

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PuzzletChung, Phil Boswell, Robbot, Klehti, Moncrief, JosephBarillari, Modulatum, Academic Challenger, Bkell, Modeha, Lzur, Arun,
Centrx, Isam, Marcika, Everyking, Gilgamesh, Frankthetank, SWAdair, Bobblewik, Golbez, Wmahan, Philnvon, Utcursch, Andycjp, Shibboleth, Knutux, Williamb, Bumm13, Beginning, Picapica, Hillel, Trevor MacInnis, Gazpacho, Ta bu shi da yu, Heegoop, RossPatterson,
Discospinster, Rich Farmbrough, Guanabot, Brutannica, Pmsyyz, Vsmith, SocratesJedi, Dbachmann, MarkS, WegianWarrior, Bender235,
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Jumbuck, Gary, Buaidh, FaustX, Eric Kvaalen, CyberSkull, Trench, Kallumama, Andrew Gray, Fritzpoll, Walkerma, Radical Mallard,
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Koavf, Gryndor, Halidecyphon, Vegaswikian, ElKevbo, Peripatetic, D.C. Dweller, FlaBot, Ian Pitchford, Ground Zero, Vclaw, Meeve,
RexNL, Atitarev, Chobot, Madden, EamonnPKeane, YurikBot, Mare, Maulik2005, Phantomsteve, MMuzammils, Persiang, Red Slash,
Limulus, Elrith, C777, Gaius Cornelius, CambridgeBayWeather, Rsrikanth05, TK-134, NawlinWiki, Nirvana2013, Badagnani, Welsh,
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Empiron, ArabianLeopard, Tolea93, ADSIC, Rama226, Howlettn, Mark Arsten, Seelowe33, FoxCE, Hzaouali, IPSJian, 09lanecharlie,
Samuraitechy, LadyAnynoymous, Aresceo, Fylbecatulous, EricEnfermero, KwasH1, 5439l0ckHo1m35, Fg57tyhme, Stausifr, Cyberbot II,
ChrisGualtieri, GoShow, Moncykrishnan, Pas Meche, JYBot, Winkelvi, Admumof2, Mogism, Jsanduskyfan21, Frosty, Jamesx12345, GinaD, QatarStarsLeague, Muksith, Epicgenius, Pickles123, Ruby Murray, Dendrite1, Eyesnore, Tentinator, Peterathomas, FritzDaCat, Wertysdcfvbnuio, Andreasd89, DavidLeighEllis, MaskedHero, Cizlini, Kdhanil, Jianhui67, Macknorton, Yeyinpe, Heshamswiki, Spoutgale,
Stormmeteo, Antony Peter Tharayil, Nalomaira, Arz3l3wi, Alizaaaaaaaaa, , Hjohnsonkh, Vdp46, Kantrandi, Pctn, Mr.Jhosimar,
Interuae, Supersambuq, Jazzstinger, Lilyblue2003, K.al7ebsi, Harthifk, AKA224, Ranged Enigma, KhalidKid, Egtercei, FourViolas, Castant, Esquivalience, Mediterraneanism check, Eid almansoori, Dollyparton24, Ahmeddxb and Anonymous: 715

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Images

File:13-08-06-abu-dhabi-by-RalfR-088.jpg
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13-08-06-abu-dhabi-by-RalfR-088.jpg License: CC BY 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Ralf Roletschek - Fahrradtechnik
und Fotograe
File:ADIA_Tower_and_The_Landmark_in_Abu_Dhabi.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d9/ADIA_Tower_
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File:A_taxi_in_Abu_Dhabi,_UAE.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/A_taxi_in_Abu_Dhabi%2C_
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File:Abu_Dhabi_Corniche_Beach.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Abu_Dhabi_Corniche_Beach.
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File:Public_park_in_Abu_Dhabi.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Public_park_in_Abu_Dhabi.
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File:Skyscrapers_at_West_Corniche_Rd.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Skyscrapers_at_West_
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File:The_ADCB_Bank_at_Electra_Street,_Abu_Dhabi.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/The_
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File:The_Heritage_Village_in_Abu_Dhabi,_UAE.JPG
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File:The_Royal_International_Hotel_in_Abu_Dhabi,_UAE.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/
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