Travel Guide to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

1761 can be considered the official date of the city foundation. In this year a source of the fresh water was discovered, and people from Bani Yas tribe created a protective fort around it. The spring attracted more and more people and soon a small village was created around it. All inhabitants protected the spring as water meant life. Village people earned for living mostly by procuring peals and fishing. Years passed, but they didn’t cause any serious changes in the lifestyle of the village people until a valuable deposit was discovered not far from Ras Sadr in 1958. However, this time this wasn’t a source of fresh water, but an oil field.

This deposit was one of the richest and brought large revenues to the city. Today Abu Dhabi is the capital of the wealthiest emirate, a modern megalopolis and an internationally famous tourist destination.

The city’s center is full of mosques and the embankment is decorated with beautiful fountains, the names of which are as refined and pompous, as their look. Modern Abu Dhabi resembles a mirage as the contrast between endless golden desert sands and hi-tech skyscrapers surrounded by green gardens is really striking. In spite of the grandness of modern buildings, you will find historic places of interest, for example, the ancient Al Husn fortress. Abu Dhabi is a unique city, in which the most technically sophisticated skyscrapers neighbor with ancient houses built 3 hundred years ago. One of the city’s peculiarities is in amazing parks that occupy all free space of this city. Here the choice of plants is really big and you can see different types of palms, decorative shrubbery or walk on the crisp carpet of fresh green grass.

The eastern part of the emirate is considered the historical district. Here are located the most famous sights of the city: Museum of Al-Ain, Jebel Hafeet mountain, Hale Park, a huge zoo, Ayn Fayyad Park and the National University.

Read more about Abu Dhabi:
Restaurants and cuisine in Abu Dhabi
Local traditions and lifestyle
'Must visit' places in Abu Dhabi
Nightlife and attractions in Abu Dhabi
Preparing for Abu Dhabi: Advices
Abu Dhabi photogallery