Abu Dhabi is one of the most
modern cities in the world. It is the center of
government and business life in the UAE,
headquarters of the emirates oil operating companies
and embassies are based here. The architecture of
its modern buildings and sky scrapers is the finest
in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi's oil wealth has been
wisely utilized to encourage a healthy trade and
commerce atmosphere apart from oil industries too.
The promotion of tourism and various tourism-related
projects will elevate Abu Dhabi to a Singaporean
status in the region. Large gardens and parks, green
boulevards lining all the streets and roads,
sophisticated high-rise buildings, state-of-the-art
communication services and transport, the presence
of all the international luxury hotel chains, rich
shopping malls, cultural centers and events provide
tourists a one-of-a-kind experience all the year
round.
Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven Emirates and
the Federal capital of the UAE. Its long coastline -
the shallow waters of the Southern Gulf, extending
from the base of the Qatar Peninsula in the west to
the border of the emirate of Dubai on the north
east, was once the world's best waters for pearling.
When the pearling industry declined, oil discovery
in the offshore oilfields of the Southern Gulf
revived the economy of Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi was also
the first emirate to export oil from the Umm Shaif
offshore field in 1962. On the land, it stretches
south to the oases of Liwa where some of the world’s
largest sand dunes can be found , and east to the
ancient oasis of Al Ain. This makes Abu Dhabi the
largest as well as the most populated of all the
emirates.
Desert Heritage
The emirate was inhabited as
far back as the third millennium BC, but the Abu
Dhabi of today only truly came into existence in the
latter half of the 18th century when it was first
settled by the Bani Yas tribe in 1761.
In the early days of the 20th century the economy of
Abu Dhabi was centered around camel herding, date
oases, fishing and pearl diving.
The discovery of oil in 1958 and its subsequent
export from 1962 produced a sudden upsurge in Abu
Dhabi 's prosperity and laid the foundations of
today's modern society. Abu Dhabi was the first
emirate to export oil and under the leadership of
the late and much revered HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan
Al Nahyan, the subsequent revenues were wisely
invested in the infrastructure of the emirate.
Traditions
The city’s progressive vision
is tempered with a deep-seated respect for
traditions and culture, and tucked away between
modern towers are heritage locales that tell tales
of Abu
Dhabi ’s past.
Priority has been given not only to future
development but to rediscovering the past through
archaeology, the restoration of buildings, museums,
establishing indigenous wildlife parks and much
more.
Traditional musicians, calligraphers, artists and
craftsmen are encouraged to develop their skills and
thereby prevent their ancient crafts from dying out.
The artifacts and tools of pearl divers, fishermen
and dhow builders are carefully preserved and
displayed.
Especially honored is the Bedouin way of life. Even
though nomadic societies leave little in the way of
permanent structures, the people of Abu Dhabi aspire
to the noble traditions and values of their desert
ancestors.
