Posts Tagged ‘UK’

Abu Dhabi – Ancient and Modern by Design

Dhabi Means Deer

The second largest city, and capitol of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi sits upon an island that is T-shaped, jutting out into the Persian Gulf from the west coast side.  The city of Abu Dhabi covers a huge area, some twenty six thousand square miles, and has a population estimated to be about 860,000 as of the year 2007.

The term Dhabi means deer in Arabic and some speculate that is a nickname for an original “man who chased deer” or even the “father of deer”.  Some of Bedouin origins claim that Umm Dhabi means “mother of the deer”.   Long ago Abu Dhabi had the name of milh, which means salt in Arabic.  This was most likely due to the saltiness of the water.  There is still an island on the coast of Abu Dhabi called milh.  In any case, the region is extremely ancient and contains lots of history.

 

Home of the Emirati Royal Family

As capitol of the seven emirates, Abu Dhabi holds the federal government’s most important offices and is home to the entire Emirati Royal Family.  The area has become a huge cosmopolitan populous and is growing rapidly.  The income average is quite high, causing the metropolis to become more and more westernized, surpassing most other Arab towns and cities in that respect.

 

Abu Dhabi signifies wealth and power

The city of Abu Dhabi is the industrial and political centre of the country.  Abu Dhabi represents fifteen percent of the GDP for the United Arab Emirates, and is home base to some financial institutions of extreme importance to the region.  The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, along with being the corporate headquarters to many multinational companies and corporations are based in Abu Dhabi.

As one of the largest oil producers in the world, Abu Dhabi strives to diversify the economy by way of investing in tourism and financial services.

 

Steeped in history

The emirate known now as Abu Dhabi was first settled around the third millennium BC, being mostly inhabited by nomadic herders and fishermen.  The modern Abu Dhabi can follow its roots back to tribal confederations that were of note back into the eighteenth century.  The Bani Yas tribe took control, including over Dubai until the nineteenth century when Dubai and Abu Dhabi parted company and went their own ways.  Abu Dhabi became known for camel herding and growing dates and other vegetables around several inland oasis such as Al-Ain and Liwa.  Pearl diving was a lucrative means of income, along with off coast fishing.

 

From pearls to petroleum

 

As petroleum became an important commodity in the late 1930’s drilling became another industry although when oil was located in 1958, it did not appear to be all that important.

In 1968, the UK announced it would withdraw from the Persian Gulf by 1971.  This led to independence for the Emirates and oil took on much more significance as an income source in the region.  Soon the traditional mud and thatch huts were replaced with modern buildings housing banks and boutiques and finally high rise buildings.  Abu Dhabi moved from being one of the most ancient parts of the world to one of the most stylish and modern.

 

Life in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is the second largest city in the UAE and serves as a seat for UAE Government. It has grown to be a cosmopolitan city and is one of the most advanced cities in Arab today. Being the capital of UAE, it is the center of political, industrial, cultural and commercial activities of the country. The number of jobs in Abu Dhabi is huge and the lifestyle offered is excellent, thus, making it one of the best Gulf cities for expatriates to work in. It is always suggested that if one is planning to acquire a job in Abu Dhabi or in any other Gulf city, one should gather more information about the city’s culture and lifestyle. One needs to know about the kind of accommodation, transportation system, cost of living, education for children, city whereabouts, important locations, etc. before arriving in the city. It becomes more vital to be conscious of the know how of the city if one relocates with family, in order to settle down comfortably and adapt to the city’s requirements. Abu Dhabi has a great strategic importance in UAE and enjoys nearly 9% of world’s oil reserves.

The economy of the country is thus heavily dependent on oil and gas industry. Most of the people who wish to join a company in Abu Dhabi land up with a job in oil and gas sector. It being the largest of all industries, the foreign workforce has grown considerably in the last ten years. Employment options in other sectors are also coming up like jobs in banking, jobs in hospitality, jobs in IT and jobs in healthcare. A large number of trained and skilled personnel are hired in such industries from across the world, chiefly from countries like India, Philippines, UK and other European nations. The presence of varied nationalities in the city gives life in Abu Dhabi a cosmopolitan touch and an eclectic appeal. One can apply for Jobs in Abu Dhabi through Gulf news classifieds or even online through recruitment companies, consultants and agencies.

Abu Dhabi is a ninety minutes drive from Dubai but is much more peaceful than the Dubai state. It is a beautiful Middle Eastern city with a lot of vibrancy and dynamism. Abu Dhabi offers a welcoming atmosphere to the foreign workforce by presenting a modern yet culturally focused lifestyle. It is a perfect place to spend time with your family under warmth and luxury. The climate is generally pleasant and the bright sun can be seen throughout the year. Temperature is mildest from October to April with scorching heat and high levels of humidity in summers. The cities in Gulf like Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, etc are popular among expatriates for their lucrative jobs with high salaries and welcoming lifestyle. The cost of living in Abu Dhabi is not very high since facilities of accommodation and transportation are generally sponsored by the employer.

The only mode of travel in the city is by road, one has to either hire a cab or take a bus to reach other parts of the city. One can even buy own vehicles as buying and selling of cars is convenient in Abu Dhabi. The office PRO offers great help in providing details of the life in Abu Dhabi. For accommodation, the only option available to expatriates is of renting the property. This is because the government discourages the outsiders from buying property in the city unlike in Dubai. It is recommended that before taking up Abu Dhabi jobs, one must check if accommodation is paid or not as living on one’s own can turn out to be an expensive deal. Abu Dhabi is a safe city for women but they are advised to dress modestly to avoid inviting unnecessary attention. It, in fact, provides various sources of recreation with an active night life that lets one enjoy movies, clubbing, games or some other interests. The crime rate of the city is also very low. Abu Dhabi can be an ultimate place to live and work on one’s own term and conditions.