Abu Dhabi In a literal translation the name of the emirate and capital of the United Arab Emirates is meant by "the gazelle father". There is a legend that in the middle of 18 century the local hunter has wounded a gazelle ("dub" on a local dialect). In the heat of a pursuit he has got over through sea to a channel, separating the desert lifeless island which bedouins called "Malikh" ("Salty") from the continent, and, having got lost there, was parched with thirst. Near his body and the killed gazelle tribespeople have found a source which called "Abu Dhabi". This spring key in 2 km to the South from Cornysh Embankment, has still remained.
Subsequently people have found some more sources of water and began to lodge around them. For the first time the small village of Abu Dhabi is mentioned in notes of the assistant to the British political agent traveling in 1761 around the Gulf in Bombay. He has counted in her about 400 made of reed rather from palm leaves, huts of "barasta" and has specified that inhabitants are engaged in fishery. There is also another, more prosy, but, most likely, the plausible version of emergence of the name "Abu Dhabi". In the east Arabian dialect of the Arab language the word "Abu" - not only the "father" but also "rich" with something is often used to designate abundance something. You will be able to translate, for example, "ABBA dollar". Locals have noticed long ago that they during outflow of herd of gazelles moved to the island and went on a watering place.
There fore "Abu Dhabi" means "the place abounding with gazelles", or just "gazelles", such version is spoken well also that originally the island was called by "Umm-Dabi" ("gazelle mother", or see above). The island, close to Abu Dhabi, is called by Umm-Nar - "Fiery". The source began to call a small village, and then all island and the territory of the present emirate of Abu Dhabi by name.
Today Abu Dhabi is not Dubai where a set of cheap shops and crowd of the "shopnik" who are buying up everyone and everything. It - not only the capital of the United Arab Emirates, it also the ultramodern city with high-rise buildings which strike with the sparkling glass facades. Plentifully irrigated parks and gardens help to uphold a reputation of Abu Dhabi as one of the most green cities in the region. Despite rise of technologies, this city still keeps the east charm and the unique charm. Magnificent fountains and sculptures – an integral part of Abu Dhabi. It isn't surprising that the city is called "the City of Gardens of the Persian Gulf", - but it on east manners; Europeans prefer to call him "small New York".
Abu Dhabi is rich with sights … The palace Al-Husn famous as the Old or White fort, has been built at the end of the 19th century. He - the oldest architectural a construction in the capital where the age of "old" buildings doesn't exceed 30 years. In the past - it is the residence of local governors, and now - historical archive. Near Abu Dhabi exhibition complex on Al-Mussafakh Road there is a Cultural and ethnographic village where traditional life and tenor of life of various regions of the country is reproduced. The most popular vacation spot - (Cornysh) Embankment well-known for the sparkling fountains.
Not without shopping and to the markets are interesting. Fans of such adventures derive invariable pleasure, having visited the new Central market representing a magnificent construction with white-blue domes: in one place more than 400 shops, countless multitudes of administrative and household offices, cafes, a "winter" garden are concentrated. If you are interested in antiquities and legends of old times treasured, then by An-Nasr Street not to pass. Here it is possible to find original, genuine things: wooden caskets and trunks, "handzhara" - "I have given" local daggers, ancient coffee pots, Bedouin jewelry of silver and other knickknacks.
Flag of Abu Dhabi
