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Abu Dhabi or Abu Zaby (Arabic language: أبوظبي) is the largest of the seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates and was also the largest of the former Trucial States. Abu Dhabi is also a city of the same name that is the capital of the country, in north central UAE. The city lies at the head of a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western coast.
Abu Dhabi is also a port facility on the An estimated 1,000,000 lived there in 2000, with about an 80% expatriate population.
The area was originally settled by the Bani Yas in the late 18th century, along with Dubai, but in the 19th century the Dubai and Abu Dhabi branches parted ways.
The local time is GMT + 4 hours.
Sunny/blue skies can be expected through-out the year. The months June through September is generally hot and humid with temperatures averaging above 110ºF (40ºC). The weather is usually pleasant from October to May. January to February is cooler and may require the use of a light jacket. The oasis city of Al Ain enjoys cooler temperatures even through summer due to sporadic rainfall.
In 1939, Sheikh Shakhbut granted oil concessions, and oil was first found in 1958.
Abu Dhabi International Airport serves this city.
The cartoon cat Garfield would often put his friend Nermal in a box and ship her to Abu Dhabi.
Postage stamps
Like the other emirates of the area, Abu Dhabi issued its own postage stamps, although exercising much more restraint than some. The first issue was a definitive series on March 30, 1964, marking the first anniversary of the 1963 opening of the Abu Dhabi post office.
(mail was actually managed by the UK until the end of 1966.)
In 1966 the currency changed from rupees to fils and dirhams, necessitating a series of surcharges issued on October 1, 1966, and new definitives the following April. Abu Dhabi issued a final set, three views of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, on June 3, 1972 (six months after joining the UAE), for a total of 83 stamps.
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