How a small trading settlement transformed into a thriving capital city in only a few decades

Early times

Elephants, giraffes and turtles once roamed the countryside of the UAE, but that was millions of years ago. The early inhabitants we know about – around 5500 BCE – were herders, farmers, fishermen and traders with evidence of contact with Mesopotamia and the Greeks.

Islam

By 240 CE the Arab tribes were being influenced by Nestorian Christianity and Zoroastrianism. Then envoys sent by the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) arrived some 400 years later, and the people became enthusiastic converts to Islam.

The 16th-17th centuries

The Portuguese arrived in 1498 and imposed customs fees. The British replaced them in the 1630s. Around 1760 Abu Dhabi arrived – legend has it that a Bani Yas hunting party pursued dhabi (brown gazelles) through a shallow channel on to the island and discovered good fresh water there. The place became known as abu (father) of the dhabi.

The 19th century

In 1820 a British force crushed the Qawasim pirates and imposed a General Treaty of Peace with nine local sheikdoms. A subsequent treaty in 1892 gave Britain control over foreign matters.

The 20th century

Pearls had become big business and Abu Dhabi’s pearling fleet of over 400 boats was the largest in the region. In 1939 Sheikh Shakhbut signed an oil exploration concession. In 1966, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan became ruler and rapidly embarked on modernisation.

1971. On 2nd December the United Arab Emirates is established, with Abu Dhabi as its capital and Sheikh Zayed its first president.

2004. In November Sheikh Zayed Bin-Sultan Al Nahyan dies and is succeeded by his son Sheikh Khalifa.

2005. The AED 1.02 billion Emirates Palace opens as the region’s first seven-star hotel.

2007. Sheikh Zayed Mosque opens. It cost an estimated $500m, took 14 years to complete, and holds approximately 41,000 worshippers.

2008. HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan buys Manchester City FC. Abu Dhabi Art opens.

2009. The Yas Marina Circuit hosts the finale of the F1 Grand Prix season — the first day-night race on a purpose-built circuit.

2010. Ferrari World opens — the world’s largest indoor theme park with the planet’s fastest roller-coaster.

Dennis Jarrett