History of Abu Dhabi in Timeline

Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It's the UAE's second-most populous city, located on a T-shaped island extending into the Persian Gulf. It serves as the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District.

1905: Birth of Abdulla bin Sulayem

In 1905, Abdulla bin Sulayem, an important poet from the UAE who made headway in Classical Arabic poetry, was born.

January 1936: Concession Agreement with Petroleum Development Trucial Coast Ltd

On January 5, 1936, Petroleum Development Trucial Coast Ltd (PDTC), an associate company of the Iraq Petroleum Company, entered into a concession agreement with the ruler, 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 related to oil exploration.

1947: British Influence Maintained After Indian Withdrawal

Following their withdrawal from India in 1947, the British maintained their influence in Abu Dhabi as interest in the oil potential of the Persian Gulf grew.

1953: D'Arcy Exploration Company Obtains Offshore Concession

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).

1954: Death of Mubarak Al Oqaili

In 1954, Emirati poet Mubarak Al Oqaili, known for his work in Classical Arabic poetry, passed away.

1958: Oil Discovered in Umm Shaif Field

In 1958, ADMA discovered oil in the Umm Shaif field using a marine drilling platform, the ADMA Enterprise, at a depth of about 2,669 metres (8,755 ft).

1959: PDTC's Onshore Discovery Well at Murban No.3

In 1959, PDTC had an onshore discovery well at Murban No.3.

1959: Death of Salem bin Ali al Owais

In 1959, Salem bin Ali al Owais, an important poet from the UAE who made headway in Classical Arabic poetry, passed away.

1962: ADMA Discovers the Bu Hasa Oil Field

In 1962, ADMA discovered the Bu Hasa oil field.

1963: ADMA Discovers the Lower Zakum Oil Field

In 1963, ADMA discovered the Lower Zakum oil field.

1966: Dubai's First Oil Discovery

In 1966 Dubai made its first oil discovery with the offshore Fateh oil field, which significantly impacted the emirate's early development.

1967: City Planned Under Sheikh Zayed's Guidance

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, becoming the first connection to Abu Dhabi island.

1969: First town bus entered service

In about 1969, the first town bus entered service in Abu Dhabi, marking the beginning of an informal public transport system.

December 2, 1971: Formation of the United Arab Emirates

On December 2, 1971, Abu Dhabi, along with six other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 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.

1976: Death of Abdulla bin Sulayem

In 1976, Abdulla bin Sulayem, an important poet from the UAE who made headway in Classical Arabic poetry, passed away.

1977: Opening of Mussafah Bridge

In 1977, the Mussafah Bridge was opened, now part of the E20 highway.

1982: Opening of AUH

In 1982, AUH (Abu Dhabi International Airport) opened and Al Bateen Executive Airport became the old international airport.

1995: Introduction of Internet into Abu Dhabi

In 1995, the Internet was introduced into Abu Dhabi.

November 1996: Construction Begins on Mosque

Construction of the mosque began on 5 November 1996.

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, passed away, later resulting in The Founder's Memorial being built in his memory.

2005: Crude birth rate

As of 2005, the crude birth rate in Abu Dhabi was 13.6%, and the crude death rate was about 2%.

2005: Water demand estimated to be 511 MiGD

In 2005, the water demand for 2005–06 in Abu Dhabi was estimated to be 511 MiGD.

2006: Supplied 560.2 MiGD of water

As of 2006, the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) supplied 560.2 MiGD of water.

2006: Establishment of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (Du)

In 2006, the Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC – better known as Du) was established, providing telephone and cell phone service to the city, breaking Etisalat's virtual monopoly.

2006: Per capita income grew by 9%

In 2006, the UAE's per capita income grew by 9%, providing a GDP per capita of $49,700 and ranking third in the world at purchasing power parity. Etihad Airways also maintains its headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

September 2007: Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan published

In September 2007, the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) published the 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: Total electricity supplied is 8,367 MW

As of 2007, the total electricity supplied in Abu Dhabi was 8,367 MW.

2007: Release of "The Kingdom"

In 2007, the film "The Kingdom" was released, featuring scenes shot in Abu Dhabi.

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June 2008: Department of Transport began public bus service

On June 30, 2008, the Department of Transport began public bus service in Abu Dhabi with four routes and zero-fare until the end of 2008.

July 2008: High-Rise Buildings Under Construction, Approved or Proposed

As of July 2008, there were 62 high-rise buildings between 23 to 150 m under construction, approved for construction, or proposed for construction in Abu Dhabi.

2008: Abu Dhabi Jiujitsu Schools Program began

In 2008, the Abu Dhabi Jiujitsu Schools Program began under the patronage of crown prince (now President) Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a keen Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor. The program launched in 14 schools for pupils in grades 6 and 7.

2009: Etisalat to implement fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network

During the third quarter of 2009, Etisalat announced plans to implement a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in Abu Dhabi.

2009: Council brought over licensed teachers

From 2009, the Abu Dhabi Education Council brought over thousands of licensed teachers from native English speaking countries to support their New School Model Program in government schools.

2009: Airport experienced a 30%+ growth in passenger usage

In 2009, Abu Dhabi International Airport experienced a 30%+ growth in passenger usage.

2009: Government Diversifies Economic Plans

In 2009, the government diversified its economic plans which resulted in the country's non-oil and gas GDP outpacing the energy sector's GDP.

2009: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix held at Yas Marina Circuit

Since 2009, Abu Dhabi hosts the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix of Formula One, which has been held at the Yas Marina Circuit.

September 2010: New York University opened satellite campus

In September 2010, New York University opened a government-sponsored satellite campus in Abu Dhabi.

2010: GDP per capita reached $49,600

In 2010, Abu Dhabi's GDP per capita reached $49,600, ranking ninth in the world.

2010: Opening of Sheikh Zayed Bridge

In 2010, the Sheikh Zayed Bridge was opened, now part of the E10 highway.

2010: Abu Dhabi becomes major film shooting location

Since 2010, Abu Dhabi has become a major shooting location for many film companies, including Hollywood.

2011: Completion of Al-Mafraq Bridge

In early 2011, the Al-Mafraq bridge, connecting the city to Reem Island, was completed.

2011: Cultural Foundation Closed for Reconstruction

In the spring of 2011, the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi, which houses the UAE Public Library and Cultural Center, was closed for reconstruction.

2012: Opening of Khalifa Port

In 2012, Khalifa Port opened in Abu Dhabi.

2013: Release of "Arrambam"

In 2013, the film "Arrambam" was released, featuring scenes shot in Abu Dhabi.

2014: Population demographics

As of 2014, 477,000 of 2,650,000 people living in the emirate were UAE nationals, with approximately 80% of the population being expatriates.

2015: 500 schools to be participating in the school-Jitsu program

By 2015, the plan was for up to 500 schools to be participating in the school-Jitsu program.

2015: Increase in passenger numbers at Zayed International Airport

In 2015, passenger numbers at Zayed International Airport rose by 17.2 percent, with more than 23 million travelers.

2015: Releases of "Baby", "Furious 7", and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"

In 2015, the films "Baby", "Furious 7", and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" were released, all featuring scenes shot in Abu Dhabi.

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2016: Release of "Dishoom"

In 2016, the film "Dishoom" was released, featuring scenes shot in Abu Dhabi.

March 2017: Eastern and Western Municipal Regions Decree

In March 2017, Sheikh Khalifa decreed the official names of the eastern and western regions as "Al Ain Region" and "Al Dhafra Region", respectively.

2017: International Judo Federation banned Israeli flag

In 2017, the International Judo Federation refused to allow the Israeli flag and the Israeli national anthem at the international games in Abu Dhabi, leading to criticism.

2017: Releases of "War Machine" and "Tiger Zinda Hai"

In 2017, the films "War Machine" and "Tiger Zinda Hai" were released, featuring scenes shot in Abu Dhabi.

2018: Construction Finished on UAE Presidential Palace

Construction of UAE Presidential Palace was finished in 2018.

2018: Launch of Ghadan 21

In 2018, Abu Dhabi launched Ghadan 21, a series of initiatives to diversify the economy with a total investment of AED 50 billion across four main areas: business and investment, society, knowledge and innovation, and lifestyle.

2018: Ban on Israeli symbols lifted

In 2018, the ban on Israeli symbols was lifted, and the Israeli flag and national anthem were allowed to be displayed at the International Judo Federation Abu Dhabi grand slam. Israeli minister of sports Miri Regev was also allowed to attend the event.

2018: Release of "Race 3"

In 2018, the film "Race 3" was released, featuring scenes shot in Abu Dhabi.

March 2019: Abu Dhabi hosted Special Olympics World Games

In March 2019, Abu Dhabi hosted the first Special Olympics World Games in the Middle East, featuring more than 7,500 athletes participating in 24 sporting disciplines.

March 2019: UAE Presidential Palace Opened to Public

In March 2019, the UAE Presidential Palace, Qaṣr Al-Waṭan, opened to the public.

June 2019: Inauguration of multi-faith prayer room at Zayed International Airport

On June 30, 2019, the Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi officially inaugurated a multi-faith prayer room at Zayed International Airport.

July 2019: $163 million allocated 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 third out of 750 landmarks considered from 68 countries.

July 2019: Completion of Noor Abu Dhabi solar park project

On July 2, 2019, the Noor Abu Dhabi solar park project, the largest solar project in the world, was completed as part of UAE's Energy Strategy 2050.

September 2019: Announcement of Synagogue Construction

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.

September 2019: Licenses Granted to Churches and Hindu Temple

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 under the slogan "A Call for Harmony".

October 2019: Announcement of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence

In October 2019, Abu Dhabi announced the world's first graduate-level AI research institution, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).

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 news.

2019: Releases of "Saaho" and "Six Underground"

In 2019, the films "Saaho" and "Six Underground" were released, featuring scenes shot in Abu Dhabi.

2019: Host of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup

In addition to local tournaments, the city has hosted international football events including five FIFA Club World Cup and the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

September 2020: Classes scheduled to begin at MBZUAI

In September 2020, classes were scheduled to begin at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).

2020: Synagogue Construction Commenced

In 2020, construction commenced on the first synagogue in Abu Dhabi, reflecting the growing cosmopolitan atmosphere and religious tolerance in the city.

2020: Beginning of Synagogue Construction

In 2020, construction was scheduled to begin on the UAE's first official synagogue, as part of the Abrahamic Family House complex.

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 to promote its religious and cultural roles.

2021: Abu Dhabi public bus system completed 53.3 million passenger trips

As of 2021, the Abu Dhabi public bus system had completed 53.3 million passenger trips, with a fleet of 583 buses.

2021: Introduction of toll gates

In 2021, Abu Dhabi introduced four toll gates, with over 1.8 million registered cars in the system by year-end.

2021: Releases of "The Misfits" and "Dune"

In 2021, the films "The Misfits" and "Dune" were released, featuring scenes shot in Abu Dhabi.

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2021: Public ferries

In 2021, the number of passengers who used public ferries 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).

April 2022: Abu Dhabi announced 100% capacity for commercial activities, tourist attractions and events

On 29 April 2022, Abu Dhabi announced a 100% capacity for commercial activities, tourist attractions and events in the emirate.

2022: Launch of autonomous self-driving public transport options

In 2022, Abu Dhabi launched autonomous self-driving public transport options in Yas Island and Saadiyat Island.

2022: Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Ranking

In 2022, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority was the world's 3rd largest sovereign wealth fund.

2022: Renovation and expansion of Al Bateen Executive Airport

In 2022, the Al Bateen Executive Airport underwent renovation and expansion to accommodate twin-aisle jets.

2022: Full Construction Completion Announced

In 2022, the full construction of the Abrahamic Family House complex was announced to be completed.

October 2023: ITC launched ART Service on mainland Abu Dhabi as a pilot phase

During October 2023, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) launched the Automated Rapid Transit (ART) Service on mainland Abu Dhabi as a pilot phase as part of the Smart Mobility project.

2023: Completion of the second phase of the Etihad Rail network

In 2023, Abu Dhabi was connected to the second phase of the Etihad Rail network, for freight operations.

2023: Ranked safest city in the world for sixth year running

In 2023, Abu Dhabi was ranked as the safest city in the world for the sixth consecutive year by Numbeo.

2023: Abu Dhabi's Estimated Population

In 2023, Abu Dhabi's urban area had an estimated population of 2.5 million out of 3.8 million in the emirate.

2023: Inauguration of Umm Yifeenah Bridge

In 2023, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan inaugurated the Umm Yifeenah Bridge, an 11 km highway connection between 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.

December 5, 2024: Zayed International Airport wins "World's Most Beautiful Airport"

On December 5, 2024, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi (AUH) won the title of "World's Most Beautiful Airport" at the Prix Versailles.

2024: Second Sphere venue confirmed to be built

In 2024, the Madison Square Garden Company confirmed that a second Sphere venue, identical to the Sphere in Las Vegas, would be built in Abu Dhabi.

2030: Abu Dhabi's 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan

Changes to Abu Dhabi, like the inauguration of the Umm Yifeenah Bridge in 2023, are part of Abu Dhabi's 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan.

2030: Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030

The Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, planned by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, aims for a sustainable economy not dependent on any single source of revenue, planning to increase the non-oil portion of income from about 40% to about 70%.

2030: Abu Dhabi Plan 2030

The Abu Dhabi Plan 2030 encourages the development of tall buildings, leading to construction of skyscrapers, especially in the central business district expansion on Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands.

2030: UAE's Production Capacity Expansion Target

The UAE is looking to expand its maximum oil production capacity from approximately 4 million BPD to 5 million BPD by 2030.

2030: Surface Transport Master Plan 2030

Within the framework of the government's Surface Transport Master Plan 2030, a massive expansion of public transport is anticipated.

2031: UAE's National Sport Strategy

Abu Dhabi follows the UAE's National Sport Strategy 2031 which aims to increase general participation in sports and expand the types and frequency of sport facilities available in the city.

2050: UAE's Energy Strategy 2050

As part of UAE's Energy Strategy 2050 to reduce the carbon emission of power generation by 70%, Noor Abu Dhabi solar park project was completed on 2 July 2019.