Those who love to visit and travel around the world, these following facts about Abu Dhabi should be important for your reference. Abu Dhabi is the capital and the second most populous city in the United Arab Emirates and also capital of the largest of the UAE’s 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. Furthermore, to get to know more about this city, here are some other facts about Abu Dhabi you might be interested in.
Facts about Abu Dhabi 1: Financial Institutions
Abu Dhabi is home to important financial 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.
Facts about Abu Dhabi 2: Most Expensive City
Abu Dhabi is the second most expensive city for expatriate employees in the region, and 67th most expensive city in the world. Fortune magazine and CNN stated in 2007 that Abu Dhabi is the richest city in the world.
Facts about Abu Dhabi 3: Original Name
The origin of the name “Abu Dhabi” is uncertain. Meaning “Father of Deer”, when literally translated from Arabic, it probably referred to the few gazelles that inhabit the emirate.
Facts about Abu Dhabi 4: Pearl Trade
Abu Dhabi worked in the pearl business and traded with others. According to a source about pearling, the Persian Gulf was the best location for pearls. Pearl divers dove for one to one-and-a-half minutes, and would have dived up to thirty times per day.
Facts about Abu Dhabi 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 influence in the area.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”.
Facts about Abu Dhabi 6: Suburbs
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; Al Raha Beach; Al Bahia City A, B, and C; Al Shahama; Al Rahba; Between Two Bridges; Baniyas; and Mussafah Residential.
Facts about Abu Dhabi 7: Area Size
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s land surface measures 67,340 square kilometres, which is equivalent to about 87% of the UAE’s total land area. Only 30% of the emirate is inhabited, with the remaining vast expanses covered mainly by desert and arid land — constituting about 93% of the total land area.
Facts about Abu Dhabi 8: Governance
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the hereditary ruler of Abu Dhabi (UAE). He is a son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Nahyan, the first president of the United Arab Emirates. His half-brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and wields considerable influence as Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Executive Council and Deputy Supreme Commander of the armed forces of The United Arab Emirates.
Facts about Abu Dhabi 9: Architecture
The development of tall buildings has been encouraged in the Abu Dhabi Plan 2030, which will lead to the construction of many new skyscrapers over the next decade, particularly in the expansion of Abu Dhabi’s central business district such as the new developments on Al Sowwah Island and Al Reem Island.
Facts about Abu Dhabi 10: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
One of the most important architectural landmarks is the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. This is arguably one of the most important architectural treasures of contemporary UAE society—and 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.
Hope you would find those Abu Dhabi facts really interesting, useful and helpful for your additional reading.
