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 |
