74-636: The Camel Cup is an annual camel racing festival held in Australia. The race usually occurs at Blatherskite Park in Alice Springs , Northern Territory . The event is organised by the Apex Club of Central Australia. The first such event was held in 1970 in the dry bed of the Todd River between two Lions Club members, in an ephemeral river in the southern Northern Territory. It soon became
148-519: A mosque and a church , the full construction of which was announced to be completed by 2022. On 22 September 2019, the Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi held a ceremony to grant licenses to 17 churches and the first-ever traditional Hindu temple . The listed churches were Catholic , Orthodox and Protestant churches, including St Joseph's Cathedral . The initiative
222-554: A center of learning and discovery through its education and visitor programs. In July 2019, the Grand Mosque was listed among the top global attractions by TripAdvisor . As a part of its Travelers Choice Awards, the travel website placed the architectural masterpiece on number three out of the 750 landmarks considered from 68 countries. In May 2021, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center attended
296-751: A combination of various sovereign wealth funds headquartered there. Abu Dhabi houses local and federal government offices and is the home of the United Arab Emirates Government and the Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs . The city is home to the UAE's President , a member of the Al Nahyan family . Abu Dhabi's rapid development and urbanisation , coupled with the massive oil and gas reserves and production and relatively high average income, have transformed it into
370-543: A concession agreement with the ruler, Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan , to explore for oil. This was followed by a seventy-five-year concession signed in January 1939. However, owing to the desert terrain, inland exploration was fraught with difficulties. In 1953, D'Arcy Exploration Company, the exploration arm of BP , obtained an offshore concession which was then transferred to a company created to operate
444-417: A day's work but received a portion of the season's earnings. There are three main journey of pear divers happen between the 5th and 9th month each year. Summer was the busiest time. Pearl divers made very deep dives, about 50 dives were made a day, each about 3 minutes long. In the 19th century, as a result of treaties (known as "truces" which gave the coast its name) entered into between Great Britain and
518-653: A decree by Sheikh Khalifa in March 2017, is Al Ain City, and that of the western region, officially "Al Dhafra Region" as per the same decree, is Madinat Zayed . The Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi officially leads both the city and greater emirate with agencies operating out of Abu Dhabi with branches in other cities, the Abu Dhabi Government has various agencies and organisations operating across
592-545: A drive to promote tourism and real estate with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and the Tourism and Development Investment Company undertaking several large-scale development projects. These will be served by improved transport infrastructure, with a new port, an expanded airport and a proposed rail link between Abu Dhabi and Dubai all in the development stages. Abu Dhabi's Emirate is the wealthiest of
666-399: A key fixture of the city's architectural patrimony. Its construction was initiated under the administration of the late President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a key figure in the foundation of the modern United Arab Emirates. The mosque was constructed with materials from countries around the world, including Italy , Germany , Morocco , Pakistan , India , Turkey , Iran , China ,
740-515: A large, developed metropolis. It is the country's centre of politics and industry , and a major culture and commerce center. Abu Dhabi accounts for about two-thirds of the roughly $ 503 billion UAE economy. The area surrounding Abu Dhabi abounds in archaeological evidence from historical civilisations, such as the Umm Al Nar Culture , which dates back to the third millennium BC. Other settlements were also found farther outside
814-519: A majlis session during which important matters can be brought to the attention of a Sheikh. After the Great Hall, it is the largest space in the UAE's Presidential Palace which holds up to 300 guests. In September 2019, the construction of UAE's first official synagogue was announced to begin in 2020, as a part of the multi-faith "Abrahamic Family House" complex in Abu Dhabi. It will also give space to
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#1732772490463888-469: A modern city with tall offices, apartment buildings, broad boulevards, and busy shops is present. Principal thoroughfares are the Corniche, Airport Road, Sheikh Zayed Street, Hamdan Street, and Khalifa Street. Abu Dhabi is known in the region for its greenery; the former desert strip today includes numerous parks and gardens. The design of the inner city roads and main roads are quite organised. Starting from
962-629: A part of the Alice Springs Centenary Year Celebrations. The Alice Springs Lions Club recognised the event's popularity and started an annual celebration in Traeger Park . Due to security reasons, it was soon moved to Arunga Park Speedway in Stuart, N.T. It was 1979 when the race was transferred to a track specially built for camel racing at Blatherskite Park. This article related to sport in Australia
1036-575: A popular destination. The Etihad Towers and Emirates Palace Hotel were some of the city's landmarks used as filming locations for the movie Furious 7 , in which cars rush through the building and smashed through the windows of the towers. In 2018, Abu Dhabi launched Ghadan 21, a string of initiatives to diversify the economy. The total injection is AED 50 billion. There are four main areas these initiatives must fall under business and investment, society, knowledge and innovation and lifestyle. The first phase includes over 50 initiatives that reflect
1110-510: A population of 40,000. The density of Abu Dhabi varies, with high employment density in the central area, high residential densities in central downtown and lower densities in the suburban districts. In the dense areas, most of the concentration is achieved with medium- and high-rise buildings. Abu Dhabi's skyscrapers such as the notable Burj Mohammed bin Rashid (World Trade Center Abu Dhabi) , Etihad Towers , Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Tower ,
1184-615: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Northern Territory , Australia article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Camel racing Camel racing is a racing sport in which jockeys riding on camels compete against each other to finish a set number of laps around a circular racetrack. It is most popular in Western Asia , North Africa , the Horn of Africa , Pakistan , Mongolia and Australia . Professional camel racing, like horse racing ,
1258-499: Is a centuries-old racing event, which has been practiced as a traditional Middle Eastern sport since Medieval times. It can be at least traced back to the 7th century CE Arabian Peninsula where it was a folk sport practiced at social gatherings and festivals. Camels have held an important position in Middle Eastern societies as modes of transportation beyond racing for thousands of years, only recently replaced by automobiles in
1332-478: Is an event for betting and tourism . Camels can run at speeds up to 65 km/h (18 m/s; 40 mph) in short sprints and they can maintain a speed of 40 km/h (11 m/s; 25 mph) for an hour. Camels are often controlled by child jockeys, but allegations of human rights abuses have led to nationwide bans on underage labor in the UAE and Qatar . In modern camel racing, camels are often controlled by remote controlled robotic whips . Camel racing
1406-453: Is extensive, and both GSM and CDMA (from Etisalat and Du) services are available. Etisalat , the government-owned telecommunications provider, held a virtual monopoly over telecommunication services in Abu Dhabi prior to the establishment of other, smaller telecommunications companies such as Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC – better known as Du ) in 2006. The Internet was introduced into Abu Dhabi in 1995. The current network
1480-641: Is far too dry to be classed as tropical. For its geography, Abu Dhabi has been twinned with: Abu Dhabi City is the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi , and the local government of Abu Dhabi is directly led by the Ruler of Abu Dhabi . Abu Dhabi is the largest and wealthiest of the seven emirates, and it plays a crucial role in the UAE's governance and economy. The Ruler has the executive authority to issue local laws, create or merge government departments, and appoint heads of departments. The Ruler of Abu Dhabi appoints
1554-525: Is from November to March, which ranges between moderately hot to mild. This period also sees dense fog on some days and a few days of rain. On average, January is the coolest month of the year, while August is the hottest. Since the Tropic of Cancer passes through the emirate, the southern part falls within the Tropics . However, despite the coolest month having an 18.8 °C (65.8 °F) average, its climate
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#17327724904631628-460: Is large enough to safely contain a maximum of approximately 41,000 people. The overall structure is 22,412 square metres (241,240 square feet ). The internal prayer halls were initially opened in December 2007. As one of the most visited buildings in the UAE, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center was established to manage the day-to-day operations, as a place of worship and Friday gathering and as
1702-478: Is looking to expand its maximum production capacity from approximately 4 million BPD to 5 million BPD by 2030. In recent years, the focus has turned to gas as increasing domestic consumption for power, desalination and reinjection of gas into oil fields increases demand. Gas extraction is not without its difficulties, however, as demonstrated by the sour gas project at Shah where the gas is rich in hydrogen sulfide content and expensive to develop and process. In 2009,
1776-718: Is looking to expand revenue from oil and gas production to tourism and other things that would attract different types of people. This goal is seen in the amount of attention Abu Dhabi is giving its International Airport. The airport experienced a 30%+ growth in passenger usage in 2009. This idea of diversifying the economy is also seen in the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 planned by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council. In this plan, Abu Dhabi's economy will be sustainable and not dependent on any single source of revenue. More specifically
1850-408: Is supported by a bandwidth of 6 GB , with 50,000 dialup and 150,000 broadband ports . Etisalat announced implementing a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in Abu Dhabi during the third quarter of 2009 to make the emirate the world's first city to have such a network. Abu Dhabi in the 1960s and 70s was planned for a predicted topmost population of 600,000. Following the urban planning ideals of
1924-770: Is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates . The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District , the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi , and the UAE's second-most populous city , after Dubai . The city is situated on a T-shaped island, extending into the Gulf from the central-western coast of the UAE. Abu Dhabi is located on an island in the Persian Gulf , off the Central West Coast. Most of
1998-624: The Abu Dhabi Executive Council to lead the day-to-day management of government affairs. The Department of Municipal Affairs is responsible for municipal affairs for the entire emirate. Abu Dhabi is part of the Central Capital District , which is separate from the eastern and western municipal regions of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The main settlement of the eastern region, officially "Al Ain Region" since
2072-467: The Abu Dhabi Plan 2030 , which will lead to the construction of many new skyscrapers over the next decade, particularly in the expansion of Abu Dhabi's central business district such as the new developments on Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island . Abu Dhabi already has a number of supertall skyscrapers under construction throughout the city. Some of the tallest buildings on the skyline include
2146-535: The Arabian Peninsula , adjoining the Persian Gulf . It is on an island less than 250 metres (820 ft) from the mainland and is joined to the mainland by the Maqta and Mussafah Bridges. A third, Sheikh Zayed Bridge , designed by Zaha Hadid , opened in late 2010. Abu Dhabi Island is also connected to Saadiyat Island by a five-lane motorway bridge. Al-Mafraq bridge connects the city to Reem Island and
2220-476: The Lower Zakum oil field in 1963. Today, in addition to the oil fields mentioned, the main producing fields onshore are Asab, Sahil and Shah, and offshore are al-Bunduq, and Abu al-Bukhoosh. In 1966 Dubai made its first oil discovery with the offshore Fateh oil field and the revenue from oil played a crucial role in the early development of the emirate. The city of Abu Dhabi is on the south eastern side of
2294-726: The National Bank of Abu Dhabi headquarters, the Baynunah ( Hilton Hotel ) Tower. and the Etisalat headquarters are usually found in the financial districts of Abu Dhabi. Other notable modern buildings include the Aldar Headquarters , the first circular skyscraper in the middle east and the Emirates Palace with its design inspired by Arab heritage. The development of tall buildings has been encouraged in
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2368-496: The United Kingdom , New Zealand , Greece , and the United Arab Emirates . More than 3,000 workers and 38 contracting companies took part in the construction of the mosque . Consideration of durability motivated the choice of many materials specified in the design of the structure. These materials include marble, stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals, and ceramics. Construction began on 5 November 1996. The building
2442-515: The sheikhs of the Arab States of the Persian Gulf , Britain became the predominant influence in the area. The main purpose of British interest was to protect the trade route to India from pirates, hence, the earlier name for the area, the " Pirate Coast ". After the suppression of piracy, other considerations came into play, such as a strategic need of the British to exclude other powers from
2516-573: The 382 m (1,253.28 ft) Central Market Residential Tower , the 324 m (1,062.99 ft) The Landmark and the 74-story, 310 m (1,017.06 ft) Sky Tower , all of them completed. Also, many other skyscrapers over 150 m (492.13 ft) (500 ft) are either proposed or approved and could transform the city's skyline. As of July 2008 , there were 62 high-rise buildings 23 to 150 m (75.46 to 492.13 ft ) under construction, approved for construction, or proposed for construction. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque represents
2590-542: The Abu Dhabi Municipality. The daily domestic wastewater production is 330 MiGD and industrial waste water is 40 MiGD. A large portion of the sewerage flows as waste into streams, and separation plants. The city's per capita electricity consumption is about 41,000 kWh and the total supplied is 8,367 MW as of 2007 . The distribution of electricity is carried out by companies run by SCIPCO Power and APC Energy. As part of UAE's Energy Strategy 2050 to reduce
2664-675: The Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and taking 29% of all the GCC future plannings. The UAE has a fast-growing economy: in 2006 the per capita income grew by 9%, providing a GDP per capita of $ 49,700 and ranking third in the world at purchasing power parity . Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund , the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), currently estimated at $ 875 billion, is the world's wealthiest sovereign fund in terms of total asset value. Etihad Airways maintains its headquarters in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi's government
2738-590: The Arabian Travel Market 2021 exhibition. This was part of the center's core strategy to be active in the religious and cultural aspects of society. The Founder's Memorial , a monument and visitor center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a memorial to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan , the first President of the United Arab Emirates , who died in 2004. The memorial consists of an open Heritage Garden and Sanctuary Garden at
2812-565: The Arabic word for gazelle . Abu Dhabi means "Father of Gazelle." It is thought that this name came about because of the abundance of gazelles in the area and a folk tale involving Shakhbut bin Dhiyab al Nahyan . The Bani Yas was originally centered on the Liwa Oasis in the Emirate's western region. This tribe was the most significant in the area, having over 20 subsections. In 1793,
2886-445: The Corniche, all horizontal streets are oddly numbered, while all vertical streets are evenly numbered. Thus, the Corniche is Street No. 1, Khalifa Street is Street No. 3, Hamdan Street is Street No. 5, Electra Street is Street No. 7 and so on. Conversely, Salam Street is St No. 8. Mail is generally delivered to post-office boxes only; however, there is door-to-door delivery for commercial organisations. There are many parks throughout
2960-713: The Persian Gulf region. Many child camel jockeys are seriously injured by falling off the camels. The child jockeys live in camps (called "ousbah") near the racetracks and many are victims of abuse. Hundreds of children have been rescued from camel farms in Oman, Qatar, and UAE and taken back to their original homes or kept in shelter homes. Many however, are unable to identify their parents or home communities in South Asia or Sudan. Some countries have issued penalties for those who trafficked child camel jockeys and ordered
3034-550: The UAE has said that it issues penalties for those found using children as jockeys, in 2010 volunteers from Anti-Slavery International photographed violations of the ban. Nowadays, the UAE is the birthplace of the current robot jockeys, which are designed to ride camels. The original design, a joint effort between the UAE and Switzerland. In Qatar, the former Emir of Qatar , Hamad Al Thani , banned child jockeys in 2005 and directed that, by 2007, all camel races would be directed by robotic jockeys . Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi
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3108-531: The UAE in terms of Gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita income . More than $ 1 trillion is invested worldwide in the city. In 2010, the GDP per capita reached $ 49,600, which ranks ninth in the world. Taxation in Abu Dhabi , as in the rest of the UAE, is nil for a resident or a non-bank, non-oil company. Abu Dhabi is also planning many future projects sharing with the Cooperation Council for
3182-499: The Umm Al Nar storage is the largest water source for Abu Dhabi, followed by the rivers Shuweihat and Taweelah. With falling groundwater level and rising population density, Abu Dhabi faces a severely acute water shortage. On average each Abu Dhabi resident uses 550 litres (120 imp gal; 150 US gal) of water per day. Abu Dhabi daily produces 1,532 tonnes of solid wastes which are dumped at three landfill sites by
3256-410: The United Arab Emirates during the 1980s, including famous tracks Al-Wathba, near Abu Dhabi , and Nad Al-Shiba near Dubai . Both tracks have a maximum spectator capacity of around 1,000 people. Both Emirati men and women participate in the traditional camel race across various categories. For Emirati jockeys which is 6km race has been divided into two categories and according to age while the 1500m race
3330-412: The arrangements and prizes were significantly less planned ahead than they are in the races today. Participants were rarely determined more than a day in advance, and usually came as the result of a challenge between camel owners. The sport had very few rules and regulations, and foul play between riders prior to races was common. Furthermore, there were no age or weight classes for camels or riders. With
3404-512: The camel farms. A prominent activist for rehabilitation and recovery of the jockeys is Pakistani lawyer Ansar Burney . He has focused a portion of his work on eliminating the use of child jockeys. The United Arab Emirates was the first to ban the use of children under 15 as jockeys in camel racing when Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced the ban on 29 July 2002. In 2009 the UAE paid compensation to 879 former jockeys. While
3478-462: The camels' speed they often will fast for days at a time prior to each race. It has been reported that thousands of children (some reported as young as 2 years old) are trafficked usually from countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan, and Sudan for use as jockeys in Arab States of the Persian Gulf . In 2005, aid workers estimated a range of 5,000 – 40,000 child camel jockeys in
3552-405: The carbon emission of power generation by 70%, Noor Abu Dhabi solar park project which is the largest solar project in the world was completed on 2 July 2019. The Abu Dhabi Fire Service runs 13 fire stations that attend about 2,000 fire and rescue calls per year. State-owned Etisalat and private du communication companies provide telephone and cell phone service to the city. Cellular coverage
3626-499: The center of which is a cubic pavilion housing The Constellation, an artwork dedicated to Zayed's memory. The UAE Presidential Palace , Qaṣr Al-Waṭan ("Palace of the Nation"), opened to the public in March 2019. It was built on the grounds of Ladies beach and construction was finished in 2018.Al Barza is a perfect complement to the fascinate cultural experience which expects visitors at Qasr Al Watan. Historically, ‘barza’ refers to
3700-446: The city and the Emirate reside on the mainland connected to the rest of the country. As of 2023 , Abu Dhabi's urban area had an estimated population of 2.5 million, out of 3.8 million in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is headquartered in the city, and was the world's 3rd largest sovereign wealth fund in 2022. Abu Dhabi itself has over a trillion US dollars worth of assets under management in
3774-491: The city. Entrance is usually free for children, however, there is often an entrance fee for adults. The Corniche, the city's seaside promenade, is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) in length, with gardens, playgrounds, and a BMX/skateboard ring. In 2007 the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) was established, which is the agency responsible for the future of Abu Dhabi's urban environments and
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#17327724904633848-592: The concession: Abu Dhabi Marine Areas (ADMA) was a joint venture between BP and Compagnie Française des Pétroles (later Total ). In 1958, using a marine drilling platform, the ADMA Enterprise, oil was discovered in the Umm Shaif field at a depth of about 2,669 metres (8,755 ft). This was followed in 1959 by PDTC's onshore discovery well at Murban No.3. ADMA discovered the Bu Hasa oil field in 1962 and
3922-699: The emirate such as the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council and the Regulation and Supervision Bureau , which are responsible for infrastructure projects in the city. Because Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE, it also serves as the headquarters of the Federal government of the United Arab Emirates , the office of the President of the United Arab Emirates , and seat of the Federal Supreme Council . The Abu Dhabi Government Media Office (ADGMO)
3996-407: The government diversified its economic plans. Served by high oil prices, the country's non-oil and gas GDP outstripped that attributable to the energy sector. Non-oil and gas GDP now constitutes 64% of the UAE's total GDP. This trend is reflected in Abu Dhabi with substantial new investment in industry, real estate , tourism and retail. As Abu Dhabi is the largest oil producer of the UAE, it has reaped
4070-412: The highest GDP per capita in the world and Abu Dhabi owns the majority of these resources—95% of the oil and 92% of gas . Abu Dhabi thus holds 9% of the world's proven oil reserves (98.2bn barrels) and almost 5% of the world's natural gas (5.8 billion cubic metres or 200 billion cubic feet ). As of April 2022 oil production in the UAE was about 3.0 million barrels per day (BPD). The UAE
4144-520: The immense influx of money into the Arab world as a result of the oil economy emerging in the 1960s and 70s, the societies of the region underwent massive transformation, and with it, so did camel racing. Due to increased popularity and participation in the sport, races are now split into divisions and classes of race distance as well as the age and breed of the camel to standardize competitions. Numerous tracks were also constructed primarily for camel racing in
4218-528: The mid-20th Century during the oil boom in the region. Historically, many camel races in the Persian Gulf region of the Middle East existed to serve the purpose of a social event and celebration rather than an intense competition. Bedouin communities often conducted short, 300 to 500 meter long races to commemorate special occasions such as weddings, religious festivals and feasts, and rainfall. When competitions occurred in past eras of camel racing,
4292-401: The modern city of Abu Dhabi, including the eastern and western regions of the Emirate. On December 2, 1971, Abu Dhabi, along with six other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) . This union was marked by the establishment of a federal government and the appointment of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the first President of the UAE. "Abu" is Arabic for father, and "Dhabi" is
4366-403: The most benefits from this trend. It has taken on an active diversification and liberalization program to reduce the UAE's reliance on the hydrocarbon sector. This is evident in the emphasis on industrial diversification with the completion of free zones, Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, twofour54 Abu Dhabi media free zone and the construction of another, ICAD II, in the pipeline. There has also been
4440-440: The non-oil portion of income is planned to be increased from about 40% to about 70%. As of July 2019, Abu Dhabi allocated $ 163 million to finance global entertainment partners as part of its plan to diversify the economy and wean it off oil. Many Hollywood and other national film production teams have used parts of the UAE as filming locations. Neighboring Dubai gets a lot of attention, but in recent years Abu Dhabi has become
4514-411: The owners responsibilities for returning the children back to their home countries. However, they report that in many instances the children rescued were those who had been sold away by their own parents in exchange for money or a job abroad. If they were returned, the children would again be sold for the same purposes. Other children did not speak their native languages, or did not know how to live outside
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#17327724904634588-410: The peak summer months of July and August. During this time, sandstorms occur intermittently, in some cases reducing visibility to a few meters. Due to high humidity, especially in coastal areas, the heat index (or “feels-like” temperature) can be significantly higher than the actual air temperature. Dust storms are common during the hot, dry months, affecting air quality and visibility. The cooler season
4662-578: The priorities of citizens, residents and investors. The desalinated water supply and power production are managed by the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA). As of 2006 , it supplied 560.2 MiGD (million imperial gallons per day) of water, while the water demand for 2005–06 was estimated to be 511 MiGD. The Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD) states that groundwater is the most significant source of water, as well as desalinated potable water, and treated sewage effluent. At 40.6 MiGD,
4736-500: The region. Following their withdrawal from India in the year 1947, the British maintained their influence in Abu Dhabi as interest in the oil potential of the Persian Gulf grew. In the mid to late 1930s, as the pearl trade declined, interest grew in the oil possibilities of the region. On 5 January 1936, Petroleum Development Trucial Coast Ltd (PDTC) , an associate company of the Iraq Petroleum Company , entered into
4810-509: The ruling Al Bu Falah subsection migrated to the island of Abu Dhabi on the coast of the Persian Gulf due to the discovery of fresh water there. The genealogically senior family within this section was the Nahyan family , which is now the ruling family of Abu Dhabi. Who plays a significant role in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has a notable history that achieved several centuries. Over the 19th and early 20th centuries Al Nahyan family became
4884-414: The ruling family of Abu Dhabi and played a central role in the governance and development of the emirate. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has played a vital role in transforming the emirate of Abu Dhabi into a hub for culture and creative pursuits in the Arab world. The pearl diving business was a key industry prior to the discovery of oil reserves. According to a source about pearling, the Persian Gulf
4958-437: The time period, the city has high-density tower blocks and wide grid-pattern roads. The population density is at its apex on the most northerly part of the island. At this point, the main streets have a large amount of 20- to 30-story towers. These towers are in a rectangular pattern, and inside is an ordinary grid pattern of roads with low rise buildings such as 2-story villas or 6-story low-rise buildings. Due to this planning,
5032-498: The visitors will notice the art Talli a traditional form of decorative embroidery done by women and the making of Al Sadu patterns which represent symbols of daily life. A three-screen mini-theatre is available which describes the traditional form of weaving practised by Bedouin women. Abu Dhabi has several parks and gardens and more than 400 kilometres (249 miles) of coastline, of which 10 kilometres (6 miles) are public beaches . The UAE's large hydrocarbon wealth gives it one of
5106-595: The world's largest population of Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins . To the east of the island is the Mangrove National Park , located on Al Qurm Corniche. Al-Qurm ( ٱلْقُرْم ) is Arabic for "The Mangrove ". Abu Dhabi has a hot desert climate ( Köppen climate classification BWh ). Sunny blue skies can be expected throughout the year. The months of June through September are generally extremely hot and humid with maximum temperatures averaging above 40 °C (104 °F), mainly occurring during
5180-605: Was completed in early 2011. This is a multi-layer interchange bridge and it has 27 lanes which allow roughly 25,000 automobiles to move per hour. There are three major bridges in the project, the largest has eight lanes, four leaving Abu Dhabi city and four coming in. Most of Abu Dhabi city is located on the island itself, but it has many suburban districts on the mainland, for example, Khalifa City A, B, and C; Khalifa City Al Raha Beach; Al Bahia City A, B, and C; Al Shahama; Al Rahba; Between Two Bridges; Baniyas; Shamkha; Al Wathba and Mussafah Residential. Gulf waters of Abu Dhabi holds
5254-622: Was for expat jockeys. A major camel race is the Camel Cup held at Alice Springs which is the second biggest prize purse camel race in Australia. It is held annually and includes not only the camel races themselves, but also a collection of market stalls and other entertainment. The biggest prize money camel race in Australia is "The Boulia Desert Sands" with a A$ 500,000 prize purse in Queensland. Children are often favored as jockeys because of their light weight, and in order to maximize
5328-444: Was formed in 2019 and is responsible for representing the government in the media, organizing press conferences for the emirate and monitoring local and international media. It is a state-sponsored organization that communicates the latest developments in the capital, and the emirate's vision, values and traditions. The city was planned under the guidance of Sheikh Zayed by Japanese architect Katsuhiko Takahashi in 1967 initially for
5402-490: Was taken under the slogan "A Call for Harmony", to allow people from all religions and cultures to practice their faith in the country. Qasr Al Hosn is the oldest building in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, built by the Bani Yas tribe in 1761. It was once the seat of the government and the palace of the ruling Al Nahyan family. Today, it is a museum open to all visitors portraying the history of Abu Dhabi and early lifestyles. Where
5476-522: Was the best location for pearls. The pearl industry boomed from the late 19th century through to the second decade of the 20th century, however it is believed to date back around 7,000 years. Pearl divers dive for one to three minutes and would have dived as many as thirty times per day. Air tanks and any other sort of mechanical device were forbidden. The divers had a leather nose clip and leather coverings on their fingers and big toes to protect them while they searched for oysters. The divers were not paid for
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