History of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi’s history, according to the latest findings go back to late 2500BC. The historical heritage of Abu Dhabi is majorly in the restoration of the architectural marvels built in the late 17th and 18th century. The mosques and forts built during that period, are well preserved by the government of Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi entered in its first ever exclusive treaty that linked it with the Great Britain in 1892. Since the location of Abu Dhabi was strategic to its connection with India and the eastern countries, the emirate was established as the Trucial coast. Just the time when the wealth of Abu Dhabi was beginning to accumulate, it was badly hit by the intervention of Japan’s pearl industry along with the global recession of the 1930s. Moreover, the passing away of the ruler Sheik Zayed Bin Khalifa added more uncertainty to Abu Dhabi’s prosperity.
But Abu Dhabi fought back. In 1939 Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan granted petroleum concession to the Trucial Coast Development Oil Company, (further renamed as the Abu Dhabi Petroleum Company, ADPC, in 1962) in order to search for large oil reserves. In the year 1958, huge offshore oil reserves were discovered and just a year later again, onshore reserves were found. When the oil exports began in 1962, it lead Abu Dhabi on the roads of development and unbelievable wealth.
Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was crowned as the new ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966 and in two years he formed the federation of the United Arab Emirates. This move was done in response to the Britishers threatening to extract from the region by 1971. It wasn’t unknown that the connection to the British was important to sustain a strong hold in the oil industry.