History of Abu Dhabi in Timeline
Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It is the UAE's second-most populous city, after Dubai. Located on a T-shaped island extending into the Persian Gulf from the central-western coast of the UAE, Abu Dhabi serves as the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District.
January 1936: Concession agreement with Petroleum Development Trucial Coast Ltd
On January 5, 1936, Petroleum Development Trucial Coast Ltd (PDTC) entered into a concession agreement with Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan to explore for oil.
January 1939: Seventy-five-year concession signed
In January 1939, a seventy-five-year concession was signed for oil exploration following the initial agreement.
1947: British influence in Abu Dhabi after Indian withdrawal
Following their withdrawal from India in 1947, the British maintained their influence in Abu Dhabi due to growing interest in the oil potential of the Persian Gulf.
1953: Offshore concession obtained by D'Arcy Exploration Company
In 1953, D'Arcy Exploration Company, the exploration arm of BP, obtained an offshore concession which was then transferred to Abu Dhabi Marine Areas (ADMA).
1958: Oil discovery in Umm Shaif field
In 1958, Abu Dhabi Marine Areas (ADMA) discovered oil in the Umm Shaif field using the marine drilling platform, the ADMA Enterprise, at a depth of about 2,669 metres (8,755 ft).
1959: Onshore oil discovery
In 1959, Petroleum Development Trucial Coast Ltd (PDTC) made an onshore oil discovery well at Murban No.3.
1962: Discovery of Bu Hasa oil field
In 1962, ADMA discovered the Bu Hasa oil field.
1963: Discovery of Lower Zakum oil field
In 1963, ADMA discovered the Lower Zakum oil field.
August 6, 1966: Coup by Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan
On August 6, 1966, a bloodless coup led by Shakhbut's younger brother Zayed Al Nahyan, backed by the British, occurred due to perceived mismanagement of oil revenues.
1967: City plan by Katsuhiko Takahashi
In 1967, the city of Abu Dhabi was planned under the guidance of Sheikh Zayed by Japanese architect Katsuhiko Takahashi initially for a population of 40,000.
1968: Construction of Al Maqta Bridge
In 1968, the Al Maqta Bridge was built as the first connection to Abu Dhabi island, now part of the E22 highway.
1969: First town bus service
Around 1969, Abu Dhabi introduced its first informal town bus service.
December 2, 1971: Formation of the United Arab Emirates
On December 2, 1971, Abu Dhabi, along with five other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was appointed as the first President of the UAE.
1977: Opening of Mussafah Bridge
In 1977, the Mussafah Bridge opened, now part of the E20 highway.
1982: Opening of AUH and shift from Al Bateen Executive Airport
In 1982, Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) opened, and Al Bateen Executive Airport, which was the old international airport, became used for other purposes.
1995: Introduction of the Internet
In 1995, the Internet was introduced into Abu Dhabi.
November 1996: Construction began on the mosque
Construction of the mosque began on November 5, 1996, utilizing materials from various countries and involving over 3,000 workers.
2004: Death of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
In 2004, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first President of the United Arab Emirates, died, and a memorial was built in his honor.
2005: Crude birth and death rates
As of 2005, Abu Dhabi had a crude birth rate of 13.6% and a crude death rate of about 2%.
2005: Water demand estimation
In 2005, Abu Dhabi's water demand was estimated to be 511 MiGD.
2006: Water supply by ADWEA
As of 2006, the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) supplied 560.2 MiGD of water.
2006: Establishment of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company
In 2006, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), better known as Du, was established, breaking Etisalat's virtual monopoly on telecommunication services in Abu Dhabi.
2006: Per capita income growth
In 2006, the UAE experienced fast economic growth, with Abu Dhabi's per capita income rising by 9%, resulting in a GDP per capita of $49,700, which ranked third in the world at purchasing power parity.
September 2007: Publication of Plan Abu Dhabi 2030
In September 2007, the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) published the visionary Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan.
December 2007: Internal prayer halls opened
In December 2007, the internal prayer halls of the mosque were initially opened.
2007: Electricity consumption and supply
As of 2007, Abu Dhabi's per capita electricity consumption was approximately 41,000 kWh, with a total supply of 8,367 MW.
June 2008: Public bus service begins
On June 30, 2008, the Department of Transport began public bus service in Abu Dhabi with four routes, offering zero-fare rides until the end of the year.
July 2008: High-rise buildings under construction, approved or proposed
As of July 2008, there were 62 high-rise buildings from 23 to 150 m under construction, approved for construction, or proposed for construction in Abu Dhabi.
2009: Passenger usage growth at the International Airport
In 2009, Abu Dhabi's International Airport experienced a growth of over 30% in passenger usage, reflecting the government's focus on expanding beyond oil and gas revenue.
2009: Government diversification economic plans
In 2009, the government diversified its economic plans, leading to non-oil and gas GDP outstripping that attributable to the energy sector.
2009: Etisalat announces FTTH network implementation
In the third quarter of 2009, Etisalat announced the implementation of a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in Abu Dhabi, aiming to make the emirate the world's first city with such a network.
2010: GDP per capita reaches $49,600
In 2010, Abu Dhabi's GDP per capita reached $49,600, ranking ninth globally.
2010: Opening of Sheikh Zayed Bridge
In 2010, the Sheikh Zayed Bridge opened, becoming part of the E10 highway and Sheikh Zayed Road.
2011: Completion of Al-Mafraq bridge
In early 2011, the Al-Mafraq bridge, a multi-layer interchange bridge, was completed, connecting the city to Reem Island.
2014: Population demographics
As of 2014, there were 477,000 UAE nationals out of 2,650,000 people living in Abu Dhabi, with expatriates making up approximately 80% of the population.
2015: Passenger numbers at Zayed International Airport rise
In 2015, passenger numbers at Zayed International Airport rose by 17.2 percent, with over 23 million travelers.
March 2017: Official renaming of eastern and western regions
In March 2017, Sheikh Khalifa decreed that the eastern region would be officially known as "Al Ain Region" and the western region as "Al Dhafra Region".
2018: Launch of Ghadan 21
In 2018, Abu Dhabi launched Ghadan 21, a series of initiatives with a total investment of AED 50 billion aimed at diversifying the economy. These initiatives focus on business and investment, society, knowledge and innovation, and lifestyle.
2018: Completion of the UAE Presidential Palace
In 2018, construction of the UAE Presidential Palace, Qaṣr Al-Waṭan, was completed.
March 2019: UAE Presidential Palace opened to the public
In March 2019, the UAE Presidential Palace, Qaṣr Al-Waṭan, opened to the public, showcasing Al Barza, a space accommodating 300 guests.
June 2019: Inauguration of multi-faith prayer room
On June 30, 2019, the Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi officially inaugurated a multi-faith prayer room at Zayed International Airport to enhance the country's position as an international hub for tolerance.
July 2019: Allocation to finance global entertainment partners
In July 2019, Abu Dhabi allocated $163 million to finance global entertainment partners as part of its plan to diversify the economy away from oil.
July 2019: Grand Mosque listed among top global attractions
In July 2019, the Grand Mosque was listed among the top global attractions by TripAdvisor, ranking number three out of 750 landmarks from 68 countries.
July 2019: Completion of Noor Abu Dhabi solar park project
On July 2, 2019, the Noor Abu Dhabi solar park project, recognized as the largest solar project globally, was completed as part of the UAE's Energy Strategy 2050.
September 2019: Licensing of churches and Hindu temple
On 22 September 2019, the Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi granted licenses to 17 churches and the first-ever traditional Hindu temple.
2019: Formation of the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office
In 2019, the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office (ADGMO) was formed to represent the government in the media and monitor local and international media.
May 2021: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center at Arabian Travel Market 2021
In May 2021, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center attended the Arabian Travel Market 2021 exhibition, as part of its strategy to be active in the religious and cultural aspects of society.
2021: Introduction of toll gates
In 2021, Abu Dhabi introduced four toll gates that operate during peak hours, and by the end of the year, over 1.8 million cars were registered in the system.
2021: Public bus system passenger trips
In 2021, the Abu Dhabi public bus system completed 53.3 million passenger trips, utilizing a fleet of 583 buses in the city.
2021: Public ferry passenger numbers
In 2021, the number of passengers who used public ferries in Abu Dhabi reached 114,093.
April 2022: Oil production in the UAE
As of April 2022, oil production in the UAE was about 3.0 million barrels per day (BPD).
2022: Launch of autonomous self-driving public transport
In 2022, Abu Dhabi launched autonomous self-driving public transport options in Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, including trams, taxis, and minibuses.
2022: Renovation and expansion of Al Bateen Executive Airport
In 2022, Al Bateen Executive Airport underwent renovation and expansion to accommodate twin-aisle jets and resumed operations for private, business, and VIP traffic.
February 2023: Inauguration of the Abrahamic Family House
In February 2023, the Abrahamic Family House, including the Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque, St. Francis Church, and the Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue, was inaugurated.
March 2023: Public opening of the Abrahamic Family House
On March 1, 2023, the Abrahamic Family House officially opened to the public.
October 2023: Launch of ART Service pilot phase
During October 2023, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) launched the ART Service on mainland Abu Dhabi as a pilot phase of the Smart Mobility project.
2023: Etihad Rail network completion
In 2023, Abu Dhabi City was connected to the second phase of the Etihad Rail network for freight operations across the seven emirates.
2023: Abu Dhabi population and assets in 2023
In 2023, Abu Dhabi's urban area had an estimated population of 2.5 million, out of 3.8 million in the emirate. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) managed approximately US$1 trillion in assets.
2023: Inauguration of Umm Yifeenah Bridge
In 2023, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan inaugurated the Umm Yifeenah Bridge, an 11 km highway connecting Al Reem Island and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street.
July 2024: Launch of Smart Travel Biometric at Zayed International Airport
In July 2024, Zayed International Airport launched the world's first-of-its-kind "Smart Travel" biometric system.
December 5, 2024: Zayed International Airport Wins "World's Most Beautiful Airport"
On December 5, 2024, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi (AUH) was awarded the title of "World's Most Beautiful Airport" at the Prix Versailles for its architecture and design.
2025: Opening of flying taxi vertiport
Abu Dhabi's first flying taxi vertiport is set to open at the Zayed Port Cruise Terminal by late 2025, serving helicopters and eVTOLs.
2025: Abu Dhabi ranked safest city
In 2025, Abu Dhabi was ranked the safest city in the world for the ninth consecutive year by Numbeo.
2030: Abu Dhabi's Urban Structure Framework Plan
Abu Dhabi's 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan guides the development of new bridges and roads to connect the main island with various other islands.
2030: Surface Transport Master Plan
By 2030, a massive expansion of public transport is anticipated within the framework of the government's Surface Transport Master Plan in Abu Dhabi, potentially including 130 km of metro and 340 km of tramways and BRT routes.
2030: Abu Dhabi Economic Vision
The Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, planned by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, aims to create a sustainable economy independent of any single revenue source. It aims to increase non-oil income from approximately 40% to about 70% by 2030.
2030: Abu Dhabi Plan 2030 development
The Abu Dhabi Plan 2030 encouraged the development of tall buildings, leading to the construction of many new skyscrapers over the next decade, particularly in the expansion of Abu Dhabi's central business district.
2030: Plan Abu Dhabi framework.
The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) is responsible for the future of Abu Dhabi's urban environments, as defined by the Plan Abu Dhabi 2030.
2030: Planned increase in oil production capacity
The UAE aims to expand its maximum oil production capacity from approximately 4 million BPD to 5 million BPD by 2030.
2050: UAE's Energy Strategy
The UAE's Energy Strategy 2050 aims to reduce carbon emissions from power generation by 70%.
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