ABOUT THE UAE:  About Abu Dhabi

Fact Sheet : The Emirate of Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven emirates which make up the UAE, occupying nearly 87 percent of the country’s total landmass.  The Emirate includes the UAE capital, the city of Abu Dhabi, as well as Al Ain, located in a desert oasis near the border of Oman.

Abu Dhabi was the home of the first president and founder of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, also the Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Prior to the discovery and exportation of oil in 1958 and 1962 respectively, Abu Dhabi primarily relied on pearl diving, fishing, and cultivating dates to drive its economy.  In the nearly half century that has followed, Abu Dhabi has completely transformed into one of the world’s wealthiest and most modern economic performers.  

Much of that transformation was guided and overseen by the late Sheikh Zayed.  Under his leadership, the UAE navigated through decades of peace, stability, and growth.  Today, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan oversees the continuation of that success, as Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates. 

The key policy-making body in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is the Executive Council, which is Chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The population of Abu Dhabi stands at approximately 1.3 million.

Abu Dhabi:  Key Energy Producer

Abu Dhabi owns approximately 95 percent of the UAE’s oil, and 92 percent of its natural gas. Hydrocarbons account for approximately two-thirds of Abu Dhabi’s GDP.

Abu Dhabi has a history of welcoming private sector investment into its upstream oil and gas exploration and production sector.  Indeed, Abu Dhabi was the only OPEC member not to nationalize the holdings of foreign investors during the wave of nationalization that swept the global oil and gas industry in the mid-1970s, and it continues to benefit from high levels of private-sector investment. 

Today, international oil companies from the United States, Japan, France, Britain and other countries continue to hold combined equity stakes of between 40 and 100 percent in Abu Dhabi’s vast oil concessions.

The Government of Abu Dhabi is currently overseeing a significant program aimed at diversification and economic liberalization.  The Emirate is also investing billions of dollars in a landmark renewable energy program known as Masdar, which includes investments in clean technologies, global research partnerships, the world’s first zero-emission, zero-waste city and a new graduate-level research institution in Abu Dhabi, being developed with the support of MIT.

A New Cultural Destination

Abu Dhabi is developing attractions for both the leisure and cultural tourist.

Its centerpiece is Saadiyat Island, which will include a Cultural District that houses the largest single cluster of global cultural assets: the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, along with a performing arts center as well as galleries, hotels and beach property. Architects involved in these projects include Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, and French architect Jean Nouvel.

Priority on Education

Abu Dhabi is also an educational center, with UAE University in Al Ain; Zayed University; Abu Dhabi University, Al Hosn University, and a world-class network of technical educational institutions.  Colorado School of Mines has a major engineering school in Abu Dhabi, known as the Petroleum Institute. 

Most recently, the Emirate announced a significant new partnership with New York University: NYU Abu Dhabi, a major campus awarding NYU degrees and which will attract a diverse mix of international students, a well as bringing NYU students to Abu Dhabi.  It has recently been announced that the NYU Abu Dhabi campus will be located on Saadiyat Island.

Governnment Transformation

Abu Dhabi also has been making significant government reforms over the past year, to increase transparency, accountability, and the overall quality of services delivered to the community. Efforts include the privatization of many services which continue to remain under the regulatory supervision of the Government, the introduction of improved data-gathering and regulatory frameworks, a new health care plan that improves the delivery of care for both citizens and residents, and a significant e-government initiative.

Plan Abu Dhabi 2030

In an important effort to ensure sustainable growth and urban development, sensitive to the city of Abu Dhabi’s rare ecological assets and cultural heritage, in mid-2007 the Emirate released Plan Abu Dhabi 2030, a comprehensive urban structure framework plan. This urban plan provides a strong and comprehensive foundation for the development of the city of Abu Dhabi, in a strategic and coordinated fashion.  It will ensure that future generations will continue to enjoy and be inspired by ongoing access to the desert, sea and natural assets that are integral to the Emirate’s identity, while building a global capital consistent with its own rich cultural heritage.

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Click here to read Plan Abu Dhabi 2030: Urban Structure Framework Plan