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Emirate of Abu Dhabi

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This article is about the emirate of Abu Dhabi. For the city of the same name, see Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi
أبوظبي
Emirate
Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Flag of Abu Dhabi
Flag
Abu Dhabi (red) within the UAE (red and yellow)
Abu Dhabi (red) within the UAE (red and yellow)
Country United Arab Emirates
Emirate Abu Dhabi
Independence from UK2 December 1971
SeatAbu Dhabi
Subdivisions
3 Municipal Regions
Government
 • TypeConstitutional monarchy[1]
 • EmirKhalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Area
 • Total
67,340 km2 (26,000 sq mi)
Population
 (2008)
 • Total
1,967,659[2]
 • Density29.2/km2 (76/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+4 (UAE standard time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+4

Abu Dhabi, officially the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (Template:Lang-ar Imārat Abū Ẓabī, literally "father of Gazelle"),[3] is one of seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is the capital of the UAE and is the largest emirate by area (67,340 km²), and second-largest by population after Dubai,[4] accounting for approximately 86% of the total land area of the UAE. The seat of the President of the United Arab Emirates is located in Abu Dhabi city, which also hosts many oil companies, foreign embassies and the federal cabinet.

The emirate's main revenues are from industry, construction and financial services[5] which make up Abu Dhabi's US$187 billion economy (2008).[citation needed][6] Revenues from the industry contributed 65.5% to the economy in 2008. Construction activities represent 11.5% of the economy in 2008, and commercial and financial activities make up the remaining 23.6%.[7]

History

The current emir (ruler) of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

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, which 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, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, saw that oil wealth had the potential to transform Abu Dhabi. The ruling Al Nahyan 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.[8]

With the announcement by the UK in 1968 that it would withdraw from the Persian 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.

At present, Abu Dhabi boasts what is estimated to be the world's highest absolute and per-capita[citation needed] level of sovereign wealth funds, calculated at USD 1,000,000 per a local national inhabitant.[citation needed]

Geography

Abu Dhabi is bordered by the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Growing construction at Abu Dhabi as work cranes are often seen in the downtown areas.
File:Abu Dhabi Municipality BAD HABITS FINES POSTER.JPG
Abu Dhabi Municipality Fine poster
Waterfront park in Abu Dhabi.

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 and Sharjah to its north.

Climate

Sunny/blue skies can be expected throughout the year. The months June through September are generally hot and humid with temperatures averaging above 43 °C (110 °F). 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.[9]

Postage stamps

Main article: Postage stamps of Abu Dhabi

Sub-Divisions

Abu Dhabi is divided into 3 Municipal Regions:

Towns and cities

Abu Dhabi city is a modern city with broad boulevards, tall office and apartment buildings, and busy shops.

Other urban centers in the Abu Dhabi emirate are Al 'Ain, Baniyas and Ruwais. Al Ain is an agglomeration of several villages scattered around a valuable desert oasis; today it is the site of the national university, UAEU. Al Ain is billed as the Garden City of the UAE. Other work includes the 1st prize international competition of the Abu Dhabi Library and Cultural Center won by the Architects Collaborative, designed by Hisham N. Ashkouri of Boston, Massachusetts and New York, NY.

Main cities and towns

Transport

Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) and Al Ain International Airport (AAN) serves the emirate. 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. 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).

Schools and universities

File:Abu Dhabi - Family Park Fountain.jpg
Family Park Fountain and Skylines, Abu Dhabi

Schools and universities in Abu Dhabi:

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.wam.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocEnews&cid=1289999363226&pagename=WAM%2FWAM_E_Layout&parent=Query&parentid=1135099399852
  2. ^ http://www.dubaifaqs.com/population-of-uae.php
  3. ^ http://www.abudhabi.ae/egovPoolPortal_WAR/appmanager/ADeGP/Citizen?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=p_citizen_homepage_hidenav&did=152020&lang=en
  4. ^ Abu Dhabi – profile of geographical entity including name variants. World Gazetteer. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
  5. ^ "gulfnews : Abu Dhabi's GDP hits Dh688.3b on industrial sector performance". Archive.gulfnews.com. July 19, 2009. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  6. ^ "Abu Dhabi GDP $187 bln in '08, UAE Economy – Maktoob News (link broken)". Business.maktoob.com. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  7. ^ "The Statistics Center-Abu Dhabi announces today results of economic surveys | SCAD". AMEinfo.com. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ BBC, Average weather for Sharjah, which is 170 kilometres away from Abu Dhabi.
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