Emirate of Abu Dhabi

Emirate of Abu Dhabi
إمارة أبوظبي
Imārat Abū Ẓabī
Coat of arms of Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Location of Abu Dhabi in the UAE
Location of Abu Dhabi in the UAE
Coordinates: 23°30′N 54°30′E / 23.5°N 54.5°E / 23.5; 54.5
Country United Arab Emirates
FoundedEmirate of Dhafrah 1540, Emirate of Abu Dhabi 1793
British protectorate8 January 1820
Independence from the UK1 December 1971
Joined the UAE2 December 1971
SeatAbu Dhabi
Subdivisions
Government
 • TypeIslamic absolute monarchy within a federation
 • RulerMohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
 • Crown PrinceKhaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan
Area
 • Total
67,340 km2 (26,000 sq mi)
 • Rank1st
Population
 (2023)[1]
 • Total
3,789,860
 • Rank2nd
 • Density48.9/km2 (127/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Abu Dhabian, Dhabyani
GDP (nominal)
 • TotalUS$ 278.0 billion (2023)
 • Per capitaUS$ 84,900 (2023)
Time zoneUTC+4 (UAE standard time)
ISO 3166 codeAE-AZ

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi[a] is one of seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates. It is the largest emirate, accounting for 87% of the nation's total land area or 67,340 km2 (26,000 sq mi).[4]

Abu Dhabi also has the second-largest population of the seven emirates. In mid-2016, the emirate had a population of 2,908,000, with 551,500 being Emirati citizens, accounting for around 19% of the population.[5] In 2023, the emirate's population had grown to 3,789,860. [6] The city of Abu Dhabi, after which the emirate is named, is the capital of both the emirate and the federation.[7]

In the early 1970s, two important developments influenced the status of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The first was the establishment of the United Arab Emirates in December 1971, with Abu Dhabi as its initially temporary political and administrative capital. The second was the sharp increase in oil prices following the Yom Kippur War, which accompanied a change in the relationship between the oil exporting countries in the Middle East and foreign oil companies, leading to a dramatic rise in oil revenues.[8] See the 1973 oil crisis.

In 2023, Abu Dhabi had a nominal GDP of AED 1.02 trillion (US$277.9 billion), a nominal GDP per capita of US$84,900, and a government debt to GDP ratio of 16%.[2] In 2022, the size of oil and mining trade increased by 54% and accounted for 48% of GDP. Construction was the next largest contributor at 7.9%, followed by the financial sector at 6.1%.[9]

In recent times,[when?] the Emirate of Abu Dhabi has continuously contributed around 60% of the GDP of the United Arab Emirates, while its population constitutes only 34% of the total UAE population according to the 2005 census.[8]

  1. ^ "Statistical Yearbook of Abu Dhabi 2017" (PDF). Abu Dhabi Statistics Centre. June 2017. p. 114. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Cullinan, Trevor; Filocca, Giulia; Nair, Purnima (November 24, 2023). "Emirate of Abu Dhabi 'AA/A-1+' Ratings Affirmed; Outlook Stable". S&P Global Ratings. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  3. ^ Wells, John C. (2008), Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.), Longman, ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0
  4. ^ "Abu Dhabi | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  5. ^ "Statistical Yearbook of Abu Dhabi 2017" (PDF). Abu Dhabi Statistics Centre. June 2017. p. 114. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  6. ^ "Abu Dhabi Population 2023". census.scad.gov.ae. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  7. ^ "United Arab Emirates | History, Culture, Population, Map, & Capital". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Abu Dhabi Over a Half Century". Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD). Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  9. ^ "Annual Gross Domestic Product". Abu Dhabi Statistics Centre. Retrieved February 3, 2024.


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