Amazing Facts about Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is rich in culture and history, and some of these facts are sure to shock you into learning more. Take an effort to spend time exploring the city by visiting museums rather than just spending time at the local parks. Happy learning!

• Abu Dhabi became the capital of the United Arab Emirates in 1971.


• Translated locally, the name Abu Dhabi means ‘Father of the Gazelle’, originating from folklore.


• Whether it is a tourist or a local, safety is of paramount importance in UAE, and Abu Dhabi has been consistently ranked as the safest city in the world in 2018 and 2019.


• Known for their penchant of doing bigger and better things, the world’s largest carpet is located in Abu Dhabi at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque.


• Because of the unique position of Abu Dhabi being in the desert, the capital receives an astounding 360 days of sunny weather all year round; give or take a few days!


• Established in 1967, Abu Dhabi is designed by Japanese architect Katsuhiko Takahashi with the help of the then President Sheikh Zayed. The housing was built keeping in mind over 40,000 people but now it has populated well over 120,000 local citizens.


• The leaning tower of Abu Dhabi, called Capital Gate, is the furthest man-made leaning tower in the world.


• The world’s most expensive license plate, fitted with the number ‘1’ was sold for $14.3 million to local Emirati, Saeed Abdul Ghafour Khouri.


• Unlike normal ATMs, Abu Dhabi was the first city that installed gold-plated ATMs that dispense gold bars. They were tested with explosives and fitted like an armoured vehicle to prevent theft.


• If you are a date lover Abu Dhabi is the place to go. The city produces over 199 different kinds of dates producing 76,000 tonnes every year.

Discover UAE's capital city Abu Dhabi by booking a city tour of your choice.