Where to Live

How Abu Dhabi was built

49 dated places from Wikidata (districts, towers, metro stations, malls, schools, hospitals, hotels) plus 16 curated milestones, by decade. Wikidata is incomplete: a missing tower means nobody has entered its date yet, not that it does not exist.

Also: Dubai · data as of 2026-10-30

  1. Before 1900

    1761 · milestone
    Bani Yas settle Abu Dhabi island

    Fresh water is found on the island; Qasr Al Hosn is built as the watchtower and later the ruler's fort.

    Source: Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi

  2. 1950s

    1958 · milestone
    Oil discovered at Umm Shaif / Bab

    Offshore and onshore finds turn a pearling town into the richest emirate.

    Source: ADNOC history

  3. 1960s

    1966 · milestone
    Sheikh Zayed becomes ruler

    The grid city plan by Katsuhiko Takahashi (1968) sets the island's superblocks and the Corniche.

    Source: Wikipedia: Abu Dhabi

  4. 1970s

    1971 · milestone
    Capital of the UAE

    Abu Dhabi becomes the federal capital on 2 December 1971.

    Source: UAE Government portal

  5. 1980s 6 places

    1982 · milestone
    Abu Dhabi International Airport

    The airport moves to its current site on the mainland; Khalifa City grows next to it.

    Source: Wikipedia

  6. 1990s 2 places

  7. 2000s 4 places

    2004 · milestone
    Sheikh Khalifa succeeds; Plan Abu Dhabi 2030

    The 2030 urban structure framework (2007) defines Saadiyat, Yas, Reem and Masdar as new districts.

    Source: Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council
    2005 · milestone
    Investment zones for foreign ownership

    Law No. 19 of 2005 lets non-nationals own property (then as 99-year leases) in designated zones: Reem, Raha Beach, Saadiyat, Yas, Al Reef.

    Source: Abu Dhabi Government
    2007 · milestone
    Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

    The mosque opens; Yas Marina Circuit and Ferrari World follow in 2009–2010.

    Source: Wikipedia
    2008 · milestone
    Masdar City breaks ground

    The zero-carbon city next to the airport; the first residents and Masdar Institute arrive in 2010.

    Source: Masdar

  8. 2010s 10 places

    2011 · milestone
    Al Raha Beach and Reem Island first handovers

    Al Bandar, Al Muneera, Marina Square and Sun & Sky Towers deliver the first expat-owned homes.

    Source: Aldar; Wikipedia
    2015 · milestone
    Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

    Opens on Al Maryah Island next to the ADGM financial free zone (2013).

    Source: DoH
    2017 · milestone
    Louvre Abu Dhabi

    Saadiyat Cultural District opens its first museum; NYU Abu Dhabi had moved there in 2014.

    Source: Louvre Abu Dhabi
    2019 · milestone
    Full freehold for foreigners

    Law No. 13 of 2019 converts investment-zone ownership into freehold.

    Source: Abu Dhabi Government

  9. 2020s 2 places

    2021 · milestone
    Abu Dhabi tops the Numbeo safety index

    Ranked safest city in the world for the fifth year running.

    Source: Numbeo
    2023 · milestone
    Reem Island joins ADGM

    The financial free zone expands from Al Maryah to Al Reem; Reem Mall opened in 2023.

    Source: ADGM
    2024 · milestone
    Record real-estate year; Disney announced for Yas

    DARI reports AED 96bn of transactions; Disneyland Abu Dhabi announced for Yas Island in 2025.

    Source: ADREC; Miral