Emirate of Abu Dhabi

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi 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).

Abu Dhabi also has the second-largest population of the seven emirates. In 2024, the emirate's population had grown to 4,135,985. The city of Abu Dhabi, after which the emirate is named, is the capital of both the emirate and the federation.

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 after 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.

In 2024, Abu Dhabi had a nominal GDP of AED 1.132 trillion (US $308 billion), a nominal GDP per capita of US$84,900 (2023), and a government debt to GDP ratio of 16%. 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%.

Etymology

Before the area got the name Abu Dhabi, it was known as Milh, which means salt in Arabic, probably because of the salt water in the area. Milh is still the name of one of the islands in Abu Dhabi.