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|official_name = City of Abu Dhabi
|official_name = City of Abu Dhabi
|native_name = أبو ظبي
|native_name = أبو ظبي
|image_skyline = Abu Dhabi_skyline.jpg
|image_skyline = Image:AbuDhabi05.JPG
|image_flag = Flag of Abu Dhabi.svg
|image_flag = Flag of Abu Dhabi.svg
|image_caption = Abu Dhabi's skyline
|image_caption = Abu Dhabi's skyline

Revision as of 19:06, 22 May 2007

City of Abu Dhabi
أبو ظبي
Abu Dhabi's skyline
Abu Dhabi's skyline
Flag of City of Abu Dhabi
Flag
Abu Dhabi is bordered by the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia and Oman
Abu Dhabi is bordered by the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia and Oman
EmirateAbu Dhabi
Government
 • SheikhKhalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan
Population
 (2006)
 • Total
1,850,230
Time zoneUTC+4
Websitewww.abudhabi.com (unofficial)
View of Abu Dhabi
Satellite image of Abu Dhabi (March 2003)

Abu Dhabi (Template:Lang-ar ʼAbū Ẓabī, literally "Father of Gazelle") is the capital of the emirate of the same name, largest of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. It is said by some to be the richest city in the world[1] and is located in the north central UAE. The city lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western coast. An estimated 1.8 million people lived there in 2006, with about an 80% expatriate population. Abu Dhabi city is located at 24°28′00″N 54°22′00″E / 24.4667°N 54.3667°E / 24.4667; 54.3667. At the head of Abu Dhabi and across from the Corniche is Lulu Island, a semi-natural landmass that is arguably the most strategic and valuable piece of property in the Emirate.

History

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 Oasis, 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 the UK 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.

Location

The emirate of Abu Dhabi is located in the oil-rich and strategic United Arab Emirates and is an active member of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC). It borders with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (south) and the Sultanate of Oman (east). The emirate borders the emirate of Dubai to its northeast. In the north is the Persian Gulf.

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 Musaffah Bridges.

Language and literature

File:IMG 9279.JPG
Skyline Abu Dhabi City vom Fort Qasr Al Hosn aus gesehen

The majority of the inhabitants of Abu Dhabi are expatriate workers and professionals from India, Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Philippines, the United Kingdom, various countries from across the Arab world and elsewhere. English, Hindi, Tagalog and Urdu are widely spoken.

The native-born population are Arabic-speaking Gulf Arabs who are part of a clan-based society. The al-Nahyan family, part of the al-Falah branch of the Bani Yas tribe, rules the emirate and has a central place in society.

Buildings and structures

The new corniche on the harbor
The new corniche, by day

Abu Dhabi city is a modern city with broad boulevards, tall office and apartment buildings, and busy shops. Principal thoroughfares are The Corniche, Airport Road, Sheikh Zayed Street, Hamdan Street and Khalifa Street. Many streets are known for specialized businesses that tend to cluster on them. Hamdan Street is the main shopping street, Khalifa Street is lined with banks, Al Najdha Street is known for hardware stores, Defense St is filled with mobile telephone shops and Sheikh Zayed St (Also known as Electra Street) is the computer 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 Qasr al-Hosn (a.k.a. Old Fort or White Fort), Clock Tower (now demolished due to construction of the new Corniche), headquarters of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and its many operating-company subsidiaries and the Cultural Foundation. The Corniche, which was redeveloped in 2005, is now one of the best sea front parks in the Gulf.

The current developments in Abu Dhabi, like its neighbour Dubai is focussed primarily on large hotel, condominium and office complexs built in modern architectural styles.

There is also the Emirates Palace which is reputed to be the most expensive hotel ever built, with a construction cost of over US$3 billion. The Emirates Palace is a luxury hotel, built and owned by the Abu Dhabi government, and currently managed by the Kempinski Group.

Current ruler

Sheikh Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan is the hereditary ruler of Abu Dhabi. (UAE). He is the son of Sheikh Zayed Al Nahayan, the original president of the UAE.

Postage stamps

Shaikh Zayed, 1967.
Main article: Postage stamps of Abu Dhabi

Climate

Sunny/blue skies can be expected throughout the year. The months June through September are generally hot and humid with temperatures averaging above 40ºC (110ºF). During this time, sandstorms also occur intermittently, in some cases reducing visibility down to a few meters. The weather is usually pleasant from October to May. January to February is cooler and may require the use of a light jacket. This period also sees dense fog on some days. The oasis city of Al Ain, about 150 km away, bordering Oman, 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.[2]

Transport

Abu Dhabi International Airport- (AUH) serves this city. The local time is GMT + 4 hours. Private vehicles and taxis are the primary means of transportation in the city, although public buses, run by the Abu Dhabi Municipality, are available, but mostly used by the lower-income population. The taxis in Abu Dhabi are very cheap. The fare starts at 2.00 AED and it is rare for the fare to go above 6.00 AED during intracity travel. There are bus routes to nearby towns such as Baniyas, Habashan and the garden city of UAE Al Ain, among others. There is a newer service started in 2005 between Abu Dhabi and the commercial city of Dubai (about 160 km away)

City planning

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-story 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.

Planning problems

  • The city's population far surpasses the original estimated maximum population when it was designed. This causes traffic congestion, a shortage of car parking spaces, and over crowding.
  • Having Post Office mail delivery only, and no widely-usable address system thus far for buildings, causes problems in describing building locations. This means directions must often be given based on nearby landmarks.
  • The lack of a comprehensive, reliable, and frequent public transport system has led to a near complete dependence on private cars as a means of transport.
  • Grid-pattern roads mean a public transportation system is difficult to implement without requiring a moderate amount of walking, which could be a large deterrent to usage.
  • Closely positioned, high-rise towers often means accommodation is dark and claustrophobic.

Future development

File:Abu-Dhabi-Desert-Safari-0-Sheikh-Zayed-Grand-Mosque.JPG
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, under construction outside Abu Dhabi
  • 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 tried out 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.

As of 2006, the Abu Dhabi government is demolishing 85 old buildings with plans to replace them with modern skyscrapers, perceived by some as taking the same route that Dubai has taken. While the modernisation is perhaps essential for the development of the city, many are bitter towards the new plans, describing the "new" Abu Dhabi as "fake", and saying they love the "old" Abu Dhabi.


Major projects under construction

Formula 1

In 2007 it was announced that Abu Dhabi had secured the rights to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix from 2009. The race track is to be situated on Yas Island and the event is expected to attract many people and bring benefits to the local economy. Yas Island is also going to hold a Ferrari Park covering 250,000 square metres. The development is being carried out by Aldar Properties.

Abu Dhabi Grand prix official website

Culture and the arts

Abu Dhabi is starting to position itself as the "Cultural hub" of the Middle East, taking this mantle from such neighboring cities as Baghdad, Beirut and Cairo. It 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. The Cultural Foundation is located on the same terrain as the Qasr al-Hosn.

  • The island development will also include museums for classical art and performing arts centers among other state-of-the-art cultural facilities.
  • US$28 billion has been set aside to budget this cultural development.

Education

Abu Dhabi is home to several International and local private schools and universities.

Primary and secondary schools

Colleges and universities

In the media

  • 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. In one episode of Garfield and Friends, Garfield himself is sent to Abu Dhabi and he finds it inhabited with dozens of cute kittens people keep sending there.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/03/19/8402357/index.htm?cnn=yes
  2. ^ BBC, Average weather for Sharjah, which is 170 kilometres away from Abu Dhabi.
  3. ^ http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/abu-dhabi.html
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