in Abu Dhabi, dating to the 18th century Parts of Abu Dhabi were settled millennia ago, and its early history fits the nomadic herding and fishing pattern typical of the broader region. The Emirate shares the
historical region of Al-Buraimi or Tawam (which includes modern-day
Al Ain) with Oman, and is demonstrated to have been inhabited for over 7000 years. Modern Abu Dhabi traces its origins to the rise of an important tribal confederation, the
Bani Yas, in the late 14th century, which also assumed control of
Dubai. In the late 18th century Abu Dhabi was formed. In the early 19th century, Dubai and Abu Dhabi branches parted ways. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi was first established in 1540 after the fall of the
Jabrids as the Emirate of Al Dhafrah. It was ruled by the
Bani Yas, who are originally from the
Bani Hilal tribe. Their rule in Al Dhafrah was cemented by the construction of the Al Dhafrah fort in 1543. Around 1761, the tribe discovered freshwater sources on
Abu Dhabi Island, which led them to establish the Abu Dhabi Emirate. From 1881 to 1893, the emirate, under
Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, was embroiled in a fierce
war with
Qatar. This culminated in the
Battle of Khannour near the village of Maza'a from January to February 1889, which extended to several regions within the emirate, including
Liwa,
Al Dhafra and Al Ain. The emirate also had several victories over
Qatar. Abu Dhabi demolished the capital, Doha, twice and occupied the broader Al Hasa region after Ottoman intervention. In 1893, an agreement jointly brokered by the British and Ottomans resolved the long-standing conflict between Qatar and Abu Dhabi. The Emirate at its greatest extent stretched from
Sohar, Oman to
Al Hasa, Saudi Arabia, during the wars of the 3rd & 4th Destruction of Doha, when the Emirate declared war on the Ottoman Empire and Qatar over a dispute. Contrary to popular belief, the emirate and the other six emirates were not under Omani rule but independent and self-governing. The name Omani Coast refers to the emirate’s location within the historical and cultural region of Oman, not the
Sultanate of Muscat & Oman.
Abu Dhabi was a base for the tribe to trade, dive for pearls, and for other maritime activities. Into the late 19th century, Abu Dhabi's economy continued to flourish mainly by
camel herding, production of
dates and vegetables at the inland
oases of Al-Ain and
Liwa, and fishing and
pearl diving off the coast of Abu Dhabi city, which was occupied mainly during the summer. Most dwellings in Abu Dhabi city were, at this time, constructed of
palm fronds (
barasti), with the wealthier families occupying
mud huts. These businesses were very profitable and a strong source of income for the local Dhabyanis, until
cultured pearls were invented in the early 19th century in Japan, causing the pearl trade to crash. This continued until the late 1950s, when oil was discovered in the emirate and its coastlines. In 1939,
Sheikh Shakhbut Bin-Sultan Al Nahyan granted petroleum concessions, and oil was first found in 1958. At first, oil money had a marginal contribution. A few low-rise concrete buildings were erected, and the first paved road was completed in 1961, but Shakbut, uncertain whether the new oil royalties would last, took a cautious approach, preferring to save the revenue rather than invest it in development. , the emir of Abu Dhabi and founder of the federation (stamp from 1967) His brother, Sheikh
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, saw that oil wealth had the potential to transform Abu Dhabi. The ruling Nahyan family decided that Sheikh Zayed should replace his brother as ruler and carry out his vision of developing the country. On August 6, 1966, with the assistance of the British, Zayed became the new ruler. With the announcement by the UK in 1968 that it would withdraw from the area of the
Persian Gulf by 1971, Zayed became the main driving force behind the formation of the UAE. After the Emirates gained independence in 1971, oil wealth continued to flow to the area, and traditional mud-brick huts were rapidly replaced with banks, boutiques and modern highrises. ==Geography==