Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The city has a population of approximately 1.8 million, and is the city's second largest city after Dubai. The government of the UAE, the Supreme Petroleum Council, and the President of the UAE are all based in Abu Dhabi. The city is highly developed and prosperous, thanks to its large oil reserves. It is the country's centre of politics, culture and industry, though many would argue it lags behind Dubai in terms of business, finance, and tourism.
Abu Dhabi literally means "father of the gazelle". Historically, the region had an abundance of gazelles. In 1793, the Nahyan family, which currently rules Abu Dhabi, moved to the region because of the presence of freshwater. In its early years, Abu Dhabi had a thriving pearl diving industry. In the 1930s, oil exploration started in a big way. In the late 1950s oil was struck, and in subsequent years, there were other significant oil finds that led to a lot of prosperity in the region.
Abu Dhabi was planned under the guidance of Sheikh Zayed in 1967 by a Japanese architect. It was originally planned for a population of 40,000. The city has a high-rise financial district, which includes the iconic Etihad Towers. Other landmarks of Abu Dhabi include the super luxury hotel, Emirates Palace; one of the world’s largest mosques, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque; the popular amusement park, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi; and Louvre Abu Dhabi, a large museum set up in collaboration with the French government.
Emirates Palace is a luxury hotel that opened in 2005 and is operated by the Kempinski Group. The hotel has a grand dome, and 114 other smaller domes. The hotel was constructed at a cost of USD 3 billion! The hotel consists of almost 400 residences. The penthouse floor has six rulers’ suites for dignitaries.
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Emirates Palace
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Lobby, Emirates Palace
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| Interior of the Dome, Emirates Palace |
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was completed in 2007 and is the largest mosque in the UAE. The huge mosque can accommodate 40,000 people, and the main hall can take 7,000 worshippers. The four minarets at the four corners rise to a height of 107 meters., while the dome has a height of 85 meters. The carpet in the main prayer hall is one of the world’s largest carpets. The mosque’s largest chandelier has a height of 15 meters.
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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
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Interior with Chandelier, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
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Wall Motif, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
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Heritage Village is an artificial village that showcases local culture. It has a museum that has everyday objects traditionally used by the local population. It also has recreations of local architecture with wind tunnels.
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Wind Tunnel, Heritage Village
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Belt, Heritage Village
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Manuscript, Heritage Village
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Sock, Heritage Village
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Pot, Heritage Village
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Ferrari World is an amusement park on Yas Island. It opened in 2010. It has the world’s fastest roller coaster, Formula Rossa. The park features various models of the iconic Ferrari car that can be seen. At an extra cost, one can also have the experience of driving a Ferrari oneself. There are also 4 D rides on offer, and a ride through miniature Italy.
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Red Ferrari from the 1960s, Ferrari World
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Silver Ferrari, Ferrari World
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Roller Coaster, Ferrari World
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Etihad Towers are a series of five towers, the tallest of which stands at a height of 305 meters. The complex was completed in 2011 and had an observatory at 281 meters. The towers feature offices, apartments and a luxury hotel.
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Etihad Towers
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Abu Dhabi is famous for its large malls, and its traditional markets, and is quite a shoppers' paradise. Some of the city's best known shopping destinations include Abu Dhabi Mall, Marina Mall, Yas Mall, World Trade Center Mall, and the traditional Fish Market.
