Abu Dhabi [ a ] is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is situated on a T-shaped island, extending into the Gulf from the central-western coast of the UAE. Most of the city and the Emirate reside on the mainland connected to the rest of the country. As of [update] , Abu Dhabi's urban area had an estimated population of 2.
Abu Dhabi's rapid development and urbanisation , coupled with the massive oil and gas reserves and production and relatively high average income, have transformed it into a large, developed metropolis. It is the country's centre of politics and industry , and a major culture and commerce center.
The area surrounding Abu Dhabi abounds in archaeological evidence from historical civilisations, such as the Umm Al Nar Culture , which dates back to the third millennium BC. Other settlements were also found farther outside the modern city of Abu Dhabi, including the eastern [ 10 ] and western regions of the Emirate. Abu Dhabi means "Father of Gazelle. This tribe was the most significant in the area, having over 20 subsections.
In , the ruling Al Bu Falah subsection migrated to the island of Abu Dhabi on the coast of the Persian Gulf due to the discovery of fresh water there.
The genealogically senior family within this section was the Nahyan family , which is now the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, [ 13 ] who plays a significant role in the United Arab Emirates UAE , and who has a notable history for several centuries. Over the 19th and early 20th centuries, Al Nahyan family became the ruling family of Abu Dhabi and played a central role in the governance and development of the emirate.
