History of Abu dhabi – Capital of United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi is now seen as the quiet, conservative neighbor to the glitzy Dubai. Abu Dhabi was a small fishing village back in the 18th century.

Fishing Village in Abu Dhabi

It is said that sometime in 1761, Bedouin hunters followed a deer all the way from Liwa to the shores of what was to become Abu Dhabi which, in translation, means the “father of the deer”.

When they got here, a couple of kilometers inland from the coast, they discovered something precious: water!

It is said that it was Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa who first moved to the island, although he would only reside here during the pearling seasons in summer time.

Abu Dhabi in 1970’s

To start with, there were only 20 barasti settlements, but news of water traveled fast and the barren coast was soon to become a small fishing village.

Abu Dhabi Souq in 1970

History of Abu Dhabi

In 1939, the oil companies started coming to Abu Dhabi, asking permission to look for oil. Shaikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was the ruler of Abu Dhabi, penned an agreement with the oil companies in January 1939 for 300,000 Indian rupees, a like for like equivalent with dirhams at the time; 100,000 rupees yearly during the exploration phase,  then 200,000 rupees yearly once oil was found in commercial quantities and an additional three rupees on every ton that was exported. The agreement covered 75 years.

First Oil Company – Abu Dhabi, UAE