| Abu Dhabi أبوظبي |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| — Emirate — | |||
| Emirate of Abu Dhabi | |||
|
|||
| Abu Dhabi within the UAE | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United Arab Emirates (UAE) | ||
| Seat | Abu Dhabi | ||
| Subdivisions |
Towns and villages
|
||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Constitutional monarchy | ||
| • Emir | Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan | ||
Abu Dhabi, officially the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, (Arabic: إمارة أبو ظبي Imārat Abū Ẓabī, literally "father of gazelle"), is one of seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is the capital of UAE and is the largest emirate by area (67,340 km²), and second-largest by population (after Dubai),[1] 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[2] which make up Abu Dhabi's US$187 billion economy (2008).[3] 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%.[4]
Contents |
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.[5]
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 the world's highest absolute and per-capita level of sovereign wealth funds, calculated at USD 1,000,000.00 per inhabitant.
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.
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.
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.[6]
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 in Abu Dhabi:
Sheik Issa bin Zayed Al Nayhan, the brother of the present ruler of Abu Dhabi, was recently accused of torturing a business partner after a videotape clearly showed him participating in a 3-hour long torture session in the desert.[7][8] The 45-minute tape shows a man that the Government of Abu Dhabi has acknowledged is Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan – one of 22 royal brothers of the UAE President and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince – mercilessly and repeatedly beating a man with a cattle prod and a nailed board, burning his genitals and driving his Range Rover over him several times, he is assisted by a uniformed policeman.[9] The UAE first investigated the tape four years ago, and filed no charges against the sheikh. Now, with the public release of the video, the Government has issued a statement in which it “unequivocally condemns the actions depicted on the video”. It pledged to conduct “a comprehensive review of the matter immediately”.[9] Human Rights Watch, an international rights watchdog group, criticised the United Arab Emirate's trial and called on the government to establish an independent body to investigate allegations of abuse by security personnel and other persons of authority.[10]
| Persian Gulf | Dubai | Sharjah | ||
| Al Buraymi | ||||
| Abu Dhabi | ||||
| Eastern Province | Ad Dhahirah |
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||