Where is Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi is located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is found in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering the Persian Gulf.
Fun Facts About Abu Dhabi
Capital of the UAE
It is the capital city of the UAE. With a population of over one million people, it is the second most populous emirate in the UAE after Dubai. The inhabitants of Abu Dhabi are known as Abu Dhabians. The total area coverage for Abu Dhabi emirate is 972 square kilometers. Other emirates in UAE are Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Dubai, and Umm al-Quwain.
Name Origin
Abu Dhabi was named after a particular species of gazelle that was common in the Arab region. “Dhabi” is the Arabic name for the gazelle. Abu Dhabi means father of the “Dhabi” (gazelle).
Climate
The climate of Abu Dhabi is that of a hot desert. Most seasons of the year are sunny with blue skies. June to September is extremely hot whereas November to March is a bit cooler. August is the hottest month while January is the coolest month.
Governance
The system of governance in Abu Dhabi is the monarchial system. The ruler Abu Dhabi is Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed who is also the president of the UAE. The crown prince is Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Abu Dhabi is the seat of the UAE government. The city houses federal government offices and is home to the Al Nahyan family, one of the six ruling families of the UAE. Other royal houses are Al Maktoum (Dubai), Al Qasimi (Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah), Al Mualla (Umm Al Quwain), Al Nuaimi (Ajman), and Al Sharqi (Fujairah). The President also resides in Abu Dhabi.
Demographics
Islam is the official state religion of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a whole. Islam is also the majority religion in Abu Dhabi with about 76% of the population subscribing to Islam. Other religions are Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Sikhism which are majorly practiced by non-nationals.
The official language in Abu Dhabi is Arabic. The presence of expatriates from India has made Hindi and Urdu common in Abu Dhabi. Due to the cosmopolitan nature of Abu Dhabi, English is also spoken as a commercial language. Public signage is also displayed in both Arabic and English.
Landmarks
One of the most iconic places in Abu Dhabi is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It is Abu Dhabi’s landmark and the most popular sightseeing attraction in the city. It is the biggest mosque in the UAE with a capacity of 40,000 worshippers.
The Emirates Place in Abu Dhabi is one of the most lavish hotels in the world. Many of its rooms are furnished in gold and marble.
The Ferrari place located on Yas Island has the fastest roller coaster on earth, and Formulla Rosso, which accelerates from 0-240 kilometers per hour in less than five seconds!
Other iconic places in Abu Dhabi are Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi Heritage Village, Abu Dhabi Corniche, Yas Viceroy, Al Maqtaa Fort, Al Jahili Fort, UAE Pavilion, among others.
