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City guide · أبوظبي Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
'Father of the Gazelle': from pearling village to capital of the UAE
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE, quieter and more cultural than Dubai. The white domes of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island are the two calling cards of contemporary Arab architecture.
History
Los orígenes de la ciudad
Abu Dhabi means 'father of the gazelle'. The ruling Al Nahyan family belongs to the Bani Yas tribe and first settled in the Liwa Oasis to the west. In 1761 a hunting party led by Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa found fresh water by the sea, and a settlement was founded. Before oil was discovered, pearling was the main industry, at its height from the late 19th century to the 1910s. On 2 December 1971 Abu Dhabi and five other emirates formed the United Arab Emirates. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, named after the founding president, opened in 2007, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2017.
- 1761Fresh water was found and a settlement founded
- Late 19th to early 20th centuryThe pearling industry flourished
- 1971The UAE was founded
- 2007Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque opened
- 2017Louvre Abu Dhabi opened
Must see
Lugares imprescindibles
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Local life
Gastronomía y vida cotidiana
Before you go
Normas que debe conocer en Abu Dhabi
UAE: no kissing in public
- Show restraint in public
- Kissing in public
You can be arrested for it.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice
UAE: swearing and rude gestures are illegal
- Be polite when dealing with police and officials
- Swearing or making rude gestures (including online)
Treated as an obscene act; can lead to prison or deportation.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice
UAE: cross the road only at pedestrian crossings
- Cross at designated pedestrian crossings and watch for traffic
- Jaywalking
Illegal; you can be fined or even jailed. Even at zebra crossings, cars often don't stop.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice
UAE: cover shoulders and knees in malls and other public places
- Women should cover shoulders and knees
- Wear swimwear only at the beach or pool
- Wearing see-through clothes or clothes with offensive images or words
It offends local people; some venues have their own dress codes.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice