About Abu Dhabi
tolerance
ideal location
Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates and sits on 80% of the combined territory’s UAE’s seven emirates. Abu Dhabi covers around 67, 340km2, which is comprised mostly of desert, which includes part of the Empty Quarter (Rub Al Khali) and salt flats/sabkha. The coastline of Adu Dhabi extends over 400km.
Abudhabi
multicultural and diverse society
Fastest-growing economy
Abu Dhabi has undergone massive changes across many decades. The changes have happened in grand proportions, bringing unprecedented economic growth and development which has seen the Emirate grow exponentially and is now a sprawling metropolis. All of this has been made possible because Abu Dhabi’s leaders have envisioned and driven the development based on the abundant oil and natural gas reserves the Emirate has.
For administration, the emirate is divide into three regions. The first encompasses Abu Dhabi city, which is the capital of the emirate and the federal seat of government. The Abu Dhabi island city is about 250 meters from the mainland and has many other suburbs. The city is connected to the mainland by the Maqta, Mussafah, and Sheikh Zayed main bridges while others are being constructed.
Brief History of Abu Dhabi
Parts of Abu Dhabi were settled way back in the 3rd millennium BC, and its early history follows the nomadic, herding, and fishing patterns of the region. ‘Dhabi,’ which is also known as the Arabian Gazelle is the base origin of the name which was given to the country’s capital Abu Dhabi ( which means Father of the Gazelle) by the early Bani Yas tribe hunters who first discovered the island as they were tracking a gazelle and found a freshwater spring.
For many centuries camel herding, agriculture, fishing, and pearl diving were the major occupations within the emirate, till in the mid-20th century, around 1958 when oil was discovered and the development of modern Abu Dhabi began.
Culture
Abu Dhabi was initially a small, ethnically homogenous community, but today is a multicultural and diverse society with the arrival of other ethnic groups and nationals from all over the world. This unique development that has occurred in the Persian Gulf means that Abu Dhabi is generally more tolerant compared to its neighbors, which include Saudi Arabia.
Emiratis have been known for their tolerance. You can find Christian churches side by side with Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras. The cosmopolitan atmosphere is steadily growing and today there are Asian and Western schools and cultural centers.
Business
Abu Dhabi owns a large majority of the UAE’s large hydrocarbon wealth. It owns over 95% of oil and 92% of gas. In fact, about 9% of the world’s proven oil reserves and over 5% of the world’s natural gas. In terms of Gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita income, Abu Dhabi’s Emirate is the wealthiest in the UAE. More than $1 trillion has been invested in the city.
As one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, Abu Dhabi has become a hot spot for creative industries. Because of its central location between Asia and Europe, it is accessible and connects to all major cities of the world, making it an ideal location for business.
As the UAE’s capital, the government strongly supports local business and media industries, investing intensely in innovation and maintaining a stable economic environment that encourages investors. Abu Dhabi is bursting with stunning business-cum-leisure facilities such as a state-of-the-art convention center, luxurious hotels, theaters, spas, designer golf courses and soon, some of the world’s most famous museums.
The larger than life shopping malls and local souqs make for a great shopping experience. Amazing local and international dishes are served in world-class restaurants around the country. Jogging and cycling through the city’s charming corniche or beachfront is a welcome treat for the fitness conscious.
Attractions
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world. The beautiful modern Islamic architecture was built by Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the remembrance of his father. The mosque has the honor of having the world’s largest carpet which was completed by 1200 artisans in 2 years.
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Located on Saadiyat Island in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Louvre is the first art and civilization museum of its kind in the United Arab Emirates. It is a befitting attraction located in a place that strongly emphasizes preservation and appreciation of culture.
Ferrari World
Ferrari World is the first Ferrari ‘themed’ park anywhere in the world. It offers visitors adrenaline-pumping experiences with its unique concepts in its rides. Besides the thrilling Ferrari themed rides, there are live performances, electric go-karts, and state of the art simulators.
Warner Bros. World
Not very far from Ferrari World on Yas Island is Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, a 1 billion dollar project that is a fully-air conditioned amusement park and consists of 29 rides, 7-star restaurants, shops and thrilling shows, which include the famous Warner Bros entertainment characters. The theme is divided into 6 immersive theme areas which are Gotham City and Metropolis (this mimics fictional sets of DC characters like Batman and Spiderman), Cartoon Junction and Dynamite Gulch (full cartoon libraries of Looney tunes and Hanna Barbera), Bedrock (theme based on the Flintstones), and Warner Bros. Plaza which showcases the Hollywood of olden days.
Climate
On any given day, sunshine and blue skies can be expected in Abu Dhabi. However, the city experiences a really hot and humid climate from April to September when maximum temperature averages about 40 °C (104 °F). Also, this is the period when unpredictable sandstorms occur in the city and visibility drops to a few meters.
Almost all buildings in the city have air-conditioning systems. The period between October and March is relatively cool in comparison. On some days, dense fogs can be seen. The coolest months of the year are January and February.
