traditional Arabian entertainment

traditional Arabian entertainment

top reviewed desert safari

Traditional Arabian entertainment is less a single genre than a living tapestry woven from poetry, music, dance, sport, and ceremony. It grew from the landscapes of the Arabian Peninsula-its deserts and oases, its pearl-rich coasts and bustling souqs-and from the social rhythms of hospitality and communal life. To watch a sword dance in Najd, listen to sea songs in Bahrain, or sit in a majlis as coffee is poured and verses are recited is to hear the region speak in its own voice.


At the heart of this voice is poetry. For centuries, verse has been both art and archive, carrying memories of journeys, love, praise, and satire. In the Gulf and central Arabia, Nabati poetry, composed in the vernacular, still holds pride of place. A skilled poet can turn a wedding, a tribal meeting, or an impromptu gathering into a stage, improvising lines that blend wit with wisdom. In the desert, short chanted poems called taghrooda once kept camel caravans moving in harmony; the call-and-response of the verses could stretch across the dunes, binding riders to a steady rhythm and to each other. Even today, public recitals-sometimes in friendly competition-can feel as electric as a concert, with audiences applauding a cutting metaphor or a perfectly turned line.


If poetry is the spine, music and dance are the heartbeat. The Peninsula's dances are communal, performed shoulder to shoulder, reflecting an emphasis on unity and shared pride. In Saudi Arabia's central region, the ardah brings men into a line, swords aloft, as drummers drive a stately tempo and a lead chanter intones verses about valor and heritage. Along the coasts of the UAE and Oman, the ayyala features two facing rows, men swaying in unison as thin sticks tap time and a chorus answers the drum. Emirati yowla adds an athletic twist: performers twirl and toss rifles in looping arcs that catch the light before the forearms catch the spinning wood.


The Peninsula's music carries echoes from many shores.

vegetarian food desert safari

  1. top reviewed desert safari
  2. expat desert safari deals
  3. hookah lounge desert safari
  4. children friendly desert safari
In the Gulf, trade and pearl diving created seafaring communities with their own soundscape. The deep, pulsating rhythms of fijiri-songs of pearl divers-evoke nights on the water and the hard labor beneath it. Kuwaiti and Bahraini sawt, a refined urban genre, blends oud melodies with the crisp snap of the mirwas drum. In the Hejaz, the mizmar-both an instrument and a dance-brings reedy, urgent tones to festive streets and courtyards. In Oman, liwa and razfa reveal African and Indian Ocean influences layered into local traditions.

top reviewed desert safari

  • Google reviews desert safari
  • desert safari payment options
  • bucket list Dubai experiences
  • traditional desert camp experience
  • complimentary pickup desert safari
  • desert safari Jumeirah pickup
  • live entertainment desert safari
Each performance is less a relic than a conversation: between voices and drums, between past journeys and present gatherings.


These sounds rest on a familiar set of instruments. The oud-short-necked, pear-shaped-anchors melodies with warm, resonant notes; the rababah, a single-stringed fiddle, sings with a plaintive edge that suits poetry's cadences. Drums do the heavy lifting: from the large tabl that sets an event's pulse to the nimble mirwas that snaps with precision. The mizmar's wail announces celebration, and in coastal dances, a belt of sea shells called the manjur adds a rattling shimmer. Together they make a musical language that is both precise and roomy enough to welcome improvisation.


Entertainment in the Peninsula is also kinetic and outdoors. Falconry, practiced for centuries as both hunting technique and art, is as much about training patience and trust as it is about spectacle. The relationship between falconer and bird-care, conditioning, and the exhilaration of the release-has shaped poetry, proverbs, and identity. Camel racing, once the province of festivals and tribal contests, fills dedicated tracks today; the sight of sleek racing camels surging down a sand course, followed by SUVs pacing them along the rail, is a striking blend of old and new. adventure activities Dubai Horse shows and equestrian games celebrate lineage and horsemanship. Even the sleek saluki hound, prized for speed and endurance, appears in demonstrations that recall communal hunts.


The majlis, however, is where much of traditional entertainment lives day to day. The word refers to a gathering space-a room or tent-where hosts receive guests with dates and cardamom-scented coffee poured in small cups. The etiquette is performance in itself: the order of serving, the angle of a guest's hand to signal “enough,” the casual fluency of conversation that can shift from family news to poetry without pause. In a majlis, storytelling flows easily. Tales of travel, local lore, and history are passed down, often with humor. Children listen from the edges, learning not only the stories but the rhythms of speech and the craft of a well-timed pause or punchline.


Festive occasions bring these strands together.

hookah lounge desert safari

  1. desert safari availability today
  2. evening desert safari Dubai with quad biking
  3. desert safari JBR pickup
  4. evening desert safari Dubai pickup time
  5. desert safari in winter Dubai
Weddings across the Peninsula are kaleidoscopes of sound and movement: women gather for henna nights with songs that tease and celebrate; men's dances-ardah, samri, or razfa-fill courtyards with pounding feet and shimmering blades. In Ramadan, nights stretch late with communal meals and quiet recitations, and in parts of the Gulf a mid-month children's tradition called garangao sends little ones through the neighborhood singing for sweets. National days and harvest festivals turn public squares into stages where troupes perform regional dances, artisans demonstrate crafts, and poets take the mic.

top reviewed desert safari

  1. evening desert safari Dubai booking
  2. toddler safe desert safari
  3. desert safari customer service
  4. safe dune bashing Dubai
These events are not only entertainment; they are a public reaffirmation of belonging.


What makes all of this distinctively Arabian is not only the forms themselves but the values they embody.

hookah lounge desert safari

  • desert camp Dubai evening
  • honeymoon desert safari Dubai
  • desert safari in summer Dubai
  • desert safari cash payment
  • tourist desert safari Dubai
Hospitality is a through-line: entertainment is rarely something you buy a ticket for and consume alone. It is something you share-with neighbors, guests, and strangers who become acquaintances over coffee. Community participation matters. A dance is strongest when the line moves as one; a poem lands best when the audience listens actively and even calls back; a hunting display depends on mutual care between human and animal. And because so many traditions arose from work-driving camels, diving for pearls, marking the rhythms of agriculture-there is little separation between “art” and “life.” The arts helped labor feel lighter and moments feel larger.


Of course, traditions evolve. Technology has changed the spectacle of camel racing, with robot jockeys replacing children and GPS tracking adding precision. Heritage festivals in Riyadh, Muscat, Doha, and Abu Dhabi put local arts on global stages, while music videos carry samri rhythms to new audiences. Young poets stream their performances and trade verses across borders. hookah lounge desert safari . Yet even as formats shift, the core remains. A good ardah still raises goosebumps not because it is nostalgic but because it compresses pride, place, and collective memory into a single sweep of swords and a unified chant.


Perhaps the best way to understand traditional Arabian entertainment is to imagine an evening that begins quietly and gains momentum. Guests arrive to the scent of incense and coffee. A poet warms the room with a playful couplet, answered by applause and laughter. Drums find a tempo; a chorus picks up a refrain; an uncle rises to join the line, then another, until the whole group is moving together. Outside, a falconer lets his bird ride the wind before calling it back to a gloved hand. Children weave between elders, collecting sweets and stories.

adventure activities Dubai

  • vegetarian food desert safari
  • adventure activities Dubai
  • romantic evening desert safari Dubai
  • advance booking desert safari
  • desert safari refund policy
  • desert safari Dubai Downtown pickup
  • henna tattoo desert safari
The night ends late, as most good nights do, with promises to meet again. In that arc-from welcome to crescendo to farewell-lies the essence of Arabian entertainment: communal, rhythmic, rooted, and unafraid to carry the past into the present.

 

Abu Dhabi is located in Asia
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi (Asia)
Abu Dhabi
أبوظبي
Capital city and metropolis
Abu dhabi skyline
Abu Dhabi's skyline
Emirates Palace
Emirates Palace
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Ferrari world
Ferrari World
Flag of Abu Dhabi
 
Coat of arms of Abu Dhabi
Official logo of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is located in United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Location of Abu Dhabi within the UAE

Coordinates: 24°28′N 54°22′E / 24.467°N 54.367°E / 24.467; 54.367Country United Arab EmiratesEmirate Abu DhabiMunicipal regionCentral Capital District[1]Government

 

 • TypeMunicipality • BodyAbu Dhabi City Municipality • Director-General of City MunicipalitySaif Badr al-QubaisiArea

 
 • Total

972 km2 (375 sq mi)Elevation

 

27 m (89 ft)Population

 (2024)[2][3]
 • Total

2,189,860 • Rank2nd • Density2,250/km2 (5,840/sq mi)DemonymsAbu Dhabian, DhabyaniGDP

[2]

 • TotalUS$ 118.4 billion (2023) • Per capitaUS$ 75,600 (2023)Time zoneUTC+4 (UAE Standard Time)Websitewww.tamm.abudhabi Edit this at Wikidata

Abu Dhabi[a] is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's second-most populous city, after Dubai. The city is situated on a T-shaped island, extending into the Persian Gulf from the central-western coast of the UAE.

Abu Dhabi is located on an island in the Persian Gulf, off the Central West Coast. Most of the city and the Emirate reside on the mainland connected to the rest of the country. As of 2023, Abu Dhabi's urban area had an estimated population of 2.5 million,[5] out of 3.8 million in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.[6] The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), headquartered in the city, is estimated to manage approximately US$1 trillion in assets, making it the world's third-largest sovereign wealth fund after Norway's Government Pension Fund Global and China's CIC.[7][8] Abu Dhabi itself has over a trillion US dollars' worth of assets under management in a combination of various sovereign wealth funds headquartered there.[9]

Abu Dhabi houses local and federal government offices and is the home of the United Arab Emirates Government and the Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs. The city is home to the UAE's president, a member of the Al Nahyan family. Abu Dhabi's rapid development and urbanisation, coupled with the massive oil and gas reserves and production and relatively high average income, have transformed it into a large, developed metropolis. It is the country's centre of politics and industry, and a major culture and commerce centre. Abu Dhabi accounts for about two-thirds of the roughly $503 billion UAE economy.[10]

History

[edit]
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, brother of Sheikh Zayed, ruled Abu Dhabi from 1928 to 1966

The area surrounding Abu Dhabi abounds in archaeological evidence from historical civilisations, such as the Umm Al Nar Culture, which dates back to the third millennium BC. Other settlements were also found farther outside the modern city of Abu Dhabi, including the eastern[11] and western regions of the Emirate.[12] On December 2, 1971, Abu Dhabi, along with five other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates (UAE).[13] This union was marked by the establishment of a federal government and the appointment of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the first President of the UAE.

Etymology

[edit]

"Abu" is Arabic for father, and "Dhabi" is the Arabic word for gazelle. Abu Dhabi means "Father of Gazelle."[14]

Origins of Al Nahyan

[edit]

The Bani Yas, the tribe from which the Al Nahyan family are drawn, was originally settled in the Liwa Oasis in the Emirate's western region. This tribe was the most significant in the area, having over 20 subsections. In 1761, the discovery of fresh water by a hunting party led by Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa Al Nahyan near the coast saw a settlement established there.[14] A popular story is that the hunters were pursuing a gazelle, hence the name of the settlement. The Al Bu Falah subsection of the tribe were the first to establish the new settlement and remained the source of the tribal rulers.[15] Originally consisting of a fort and twenty houses, within two years the town consisted of a settlement of some 400 houses. The fort remains at the centre of Abu Dhabi today, the Qasr Al Hosn.[14]

Pearl trade

[edit]

The pearl diving business was a key industry prior to the discovery of oil reserves. According to a source about pearling, the Persian Gulf was the best location for pearls.[16] The pearl industry boomed from the late 19th century through to the second decade of the 20th century, however it is believed to date back around 7,000 years. Pearl divers dive for one to three minutes and would have dived as many as thirty times per day. Air tanks and any other sort of mechanical device were forbidden. The divers had a leather nose clip and leather coverings on their fingers and big toes to protect them while they searched for oysters.[17] The divers were not paid for a day's work but received a portion of the season's earnings.[18] There are three main journey of pearl divers, happening between the 5th and 9th month each year. Summer was the busiest time. Pearl divers made very deep dives, about 50 dives were made a day, each about 3 minutes long.[19]

Trucial coast

[edit]

In the 19th century, as a result of treaties (known as "truces" which gave the coast its name) entered into between Great Britain and the sheikhs of the Arab States of the Persian Gulf, Britain became the predominant influence in the area.[20] The main purpose of British interest was to protect the trade route to India from pirates, hence, the earlier name for the area, the "Pirate Coast". After the suppression of piracy, other considerations came into play, such as a strategic need of the British to exclude other powers from the region. Following their withdrawal from India in the year 1947, the British maintained their influence in Abu Dhabi as interest in the oil potential of the Persian Gulf grew.[21]

First oil discoveries

[edit]
Abu Dhabi skyline, 1987

In the mid to late 1930s, as the pearl trade declined, interest grew in the oil possibilities of the region. On 5 January 1936, Petroleum Development Trucial Coast Ltd (PDTC), an associate company of the Iraq Petroleum Company, entered into a concession agreement with the ruler, Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to explore for oil. This was followed by a seventy-five-year concession signed in January 1939. However, owing to the desert terrain, inland exploration was fraught with difficulties. In 1953, D'Arcy Exploration Company, the exploration arm of BP, obtained an offshore concession which was then transferred to a company created to operate the concession: Abu Dhabi Marine Areas (ADMA) was a joint venture between BP and Compagnie Française des Pétroles (later Total). In 1958, using a marine drilling platform, the ADMA Enterprise, oil was discovered in the Umm Shaif field at a depth of about 2,669 metres (8,755 ft). This was followed in 1959 by PDTC's onshore discovery well at Murban No.3.[22]

ADMA discovered the Bu Hasa oil field in 1962 and the Lower Zakum oil field in 1963. Today, in addition to the oil fields mentioned, the main producing fields onshore are Asab, Sahil and Shah, and offshore are al-Bunduq, and Abu al-Bukhoosh.[22]

Perceived mismanagement of the emirate's oil revenues, as well as fears of a pan-Arab uprising, led to the British backing a bloodless coup by Shakhbut's younger brother Zayed Al Nahyan on August 6, 1966.[23]

Modern development

[edit]

Geography

[edit]
Abu Dhabi seen from Sentinel-2, European Space Agency

The city of Abu Dhabi is on the southeastern side of the Arabian Peninsula, adjoining the Persian Gulf. It is on an island less than 250 metres (820 ft) from the mainland and is joined to the mainland by the Maqta and Mussafah Bridges. A third, Sheikh Zayed Bridge, designed by Zaha Hadid, opened in late 2010. Abu Dhabi Island is also connected to Saadiyat Island by a five-lane motorway bridge. Al-Mafraq bridge connects the city to Reem Island and was completed in early 2011. This is a multi-layer interchange bridge and it has 27 lanes which allow roughly 25,000 automobiles to move per hour. There are three major bridges in the project, the largest has eight lanes, four leaving Abu Dhabi city and four coming in.[24]

Most of Abu Dhabi city is located on the island itself, but it has many suburban districts on the mainland, for example, Khalifa City A, B, and C; Khalifa City Al Raha Beach;[25] Al Bahia City A, B, and C; Al Shahama; Al Rahba; Between Two Bridges; Baniyas; Shamkha; Al Wathba and Mussafah Residential.

Gulf waters of Abu Dhabi holds the world's largest population of Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins.[26][27][28] To the east of the island is the Mangrove National Park, located on Al Qurm Corniche. Al-Qurm (ٱلْقُرْم) is Arabic for "The Mangrove".[29]

Climate

[edit]

Abu Dhabi has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh). Sunny blue skies can be expected throughout the year. The months of May through September are generally extremely hot and humid with maximum temperatures averaging above 40 °C (104 °F), mainly occurring during the peak summer months of July and August. During this time, sandstorms occur intermittently, in some cases reducing visibility to a few metres.[30] Due to high humidity, especially in coastal areas, the heat index (or "feels-like" temperature) can be significantly higher than the actual air temperature.[citation needed] Dust storms are common during the hot, dry months, affecting air quality and visibility.[citation needed]

Decorated stone cup from Umm Al Nar site, Abu Dhabi on display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi

The cooler season is from November to March, which ranges between moderately hot to mild. This period also sees dense fog on some days and a few days of rain. On average, January is the coolest month of the year, while August is the hottest. Since the Tropic of Cancer passes through the emirate, the southern part falls within the Tropics. However, despite the coolest month having an 18.8 °C (65.8 °F) average, its climate is far too dry to be classed as tropical.

Climate data for Abu Dhabi (International Airport) 1991-2020
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 34.3
(93.7)
38.1
(100.6)
43.0
(109.4)
44.7
(112.5)
46.5
(115.7)
48.5
(119.3)
49.0
(120.2)
48.2
(118.8)
47.7
(117.9)
43.1
(109.6)
37.9
(100.2)
33.8
(92.8)
49.0
(120.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 24.5
(76.1)
26.5
(79.7)
29.7
(85.5)
35.0
(95.0)
39.6
(103.3)
41.4
(106.5)
42.5
(108.5)
43.4
(110.1)
40.9
(105.6)
36.6
(97.9)
31.0
(87.8)
26.5
(79.7)
34.8
(94.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 19.1
(66.4)
20.6
(69.1)
23.4
(74.1)
27.7
(81.9)
31.8
(89.2)
33.7
(92.7)
35.5
(95.9)
35.9
(96.6)
33.3
(91.9)
29.7
(85.5)
25.2
(77.4)
21.1
(70.0)
28.1
(82.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 13.8
(56.8)
15.9
(60.6)
17.5
(63.5)
21.1
(70.0)
24.6
(76.3)
26.9
(80.4)
29.7
(85.5)
30.2
(86.4)
27.4
(81.3)
23.7
(74.7)
19.6
(67.3)
15.7
(60.3)
22.2
(71.9)
Record low °C (°F) 5.6
(42.1)
5.4
(41.7)
8.4
(47.1)
11.3
(52.3)
16.6
(61.9)
19.8
(67.6)
22.2
(72.0)
24.9
(76.8)
20.4
(68.7)
15.0
(59.0)
13.1
(55.6)
7.3
(45.1)
5.4
(41.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 12.5
(0.49)
8.1
(0.32)
12.9
(0.51)
5.2
(0.20)
0.3
(0.01)
0.0
(0.0)
0.7
(0.03)
0.1
(0.00)
0.0
(0.0)
0.2
(0.01)
2.4
(0.09)
7.8
(0.31)
50.2
(1.97)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 2.8 2.0 2.9 1.4 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.2 2.4 17.7
Average relative humidity (%) 68 66 61 53 50 54 55 54 60 62 65 69 59.7
Mean monthly sunshine hours 249.4 245.7 267.8 294.6 342.9 341.3 328.3 323.8 305.7 303.0 265.3 254.3 3,522
Source 1: NOAA (humidity 1981-2010)[31][32]
Source 2: Climate Yearly Report[33]

Twin cities

[edit]

For its geography, Abu Dhabi has been twinned with:

  • Bethlehem, Palestine[34]
  • Madrid, Spain (2007)[35]
  • Houston, United States (2002)[36]
  • Brisbane, Australia (2009)[37]
  • Minsk, Belarus (2007)[38]

Government

[edit]
Skyline of Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi City is the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the local government of Abu Dhabi is directly led by the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is the largest and wealthiest of the seven emirates, and it plays a crucial role in the UAE's governance and economy. The Ruler has the executive authority to issue local laws, create or merge government departments, and appoint heads of departments. The Ruler of Abu Dhabi appoints the Abu Dhabi Executive Council to lead the day-to-day management of government affairs. The Department of Municipal Affairs is responsible for municipal affairs for the entire emirate. Abu Dhabi is part of the Central Capital District,[b] which is separate from the eastern and western municipal regions of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The main settlement of the eastern region, officially "Al Ain Region" since a decree by Sheikh Khalifa in March 2017, is Al Ain City, and that of the western region, officially "Al Dhafra Region" as per the same decree,[39][40] is Madinat Zayed.[1][12]

The Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi officially leads both the city and greater emirate with agencies operating out of Abu Dhabi with branches in other cities. The Abu Dhabi Government has various agencies and organisations operating across the emirate such as the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council and the Regulation and Supervision Bureau, which are responsible for infrastructure projects in the city.

Because Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE, it also serves as the headquarters of the Federal government of the United Arab Emirates, the office of the President of the United Arab Emirates, and seat of the Federal Supreme Council.[41]

The Abu Dhabi Government Media Office (ADGMO) was formed in 2019 and is responsible for representing the government in the media, organising press conferences for the emirate and monitoring local and international media. It is a state-sponsored organisation that communicates the latest developments in the capital, and the emirate's vision, values and traditions.[42][43][44][45]

Cityscape

[edit]
 
Abu Dhabi skyline as seen from the Marina

Architecture

[edit]
ADIA Tower to the left and The Landmark at the right in Abu Dhabi

The city was planned under the guidance of Sheikh Zayed by Japanese architect Katsuhiko Takahashi in 1967 initially for a population of 40,000.[46] The density of Abu Dhabi varies, with high employment density in the central area, high residential densities in central downtown and lower densities in the suburban districts. In the dense areas, most of the concentration is achieved with medium- and high-rise buildings. Abu Dhabi's skyscrapers such as the notable Burj Mohammed bin Rashid (World Trade Center Abu Dhabi), Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Tower,[47] the National Bank of Abu Dhabi headquarters,[48] the Baynunah (Hilton Hotel) Tower,[49] and the Etisalat headquarters are usually found in the financial districts of Abu Dhabi.[50] Other notable modern buildings include the Aldar Headquarters, the first circular skyscraper in the Middle East[51] and the Emirates Palace with its design inspired by Arab heritage.[52]

The development of tall buildings has been encouraged in the Abu Dhabi Plan 2030, which will lead to the construction of many new skyscrapers over the next decade, particularly in the expansion of Abu Dhabi's central business district such as the new developments on Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island.[53] Abu Dhabi already has a number of supertall skyscrapers under construction throughout the city. Some of the tallest buildings on the skyline include the 382 m (1,253.28 ft) Central Market Residential Tower, the 324 m (1,062.99 ft) The Landmark and the 74-story, 310 m (1,017.06 ft) Sky Tower, all of them completed. Also, many other skyscrapers over 150 m (492.13 ft) (500 ft) are either proposed or approved and could transform the city's skyline. As of July 2008, there were 62 high-rise buildings 23 to 150 m (75.46 to 492.13 ft) under construction, approved for construction, or proposed for construction.[54]

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

[edit]

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque represents a key fixture of the city's architectural patrimony. Its construction was initiated under the administration of the late President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a key figure in the foundation of the modern United Arab Emirates.[55]

The mosque was constructed with materials from countries around the world, including Italy, Germany, Morocco, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Iran, China, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Greece, and the United Arab Emirates.[56] More than 3,000 workers and 38 contracting companies took part in the construction of the mosque. Consideration of durability motivated the choice of many materials specified in the design of the structure. These materials include marble, stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals, and ceramics. Construction began on 5 November 1996. The building is large enough to safely contain a maximum of approximately 41,000 people. The overall structure is 22,412 square metres (241,240 square feet). The internal prayer halls were initially opened in December 2007.[55]

As one of the most visited buildings in the UAE, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center was established to manage the day-to-day operations, as a place of worship and Friday gathering and as a centre of learning and discovery through its education and visitor programs.[57]

In July 2019, the Grand Mosque was listed among the top global attractions by TripAdvisor. As a part of its Travelers Choice Awards, the travel website placed the architectural masterpiece on number three out of the 750 landmarks considered from 68 countries.[58]

In May 2021, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center attended the Arabian Travel Market 2021 exhibition. This was part of the centre's core strategy to be active in the religious and cultural aspects of society.[59]

The Founder's Memorial

[edit]

The Founder's Memorial, a monument and visitor centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a memorial to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first President of the United Arab Emirates, who died in 2004. The memorial consists of an open Heritage Garden and Sanctuary Garden at the centre of which is a cubic pavilion housing The Constellation, an artwork dedicated to Zayed's memory.[60]

Presidential Palace

[edit]

The UAE Presidential Palace, Qaṣr Al-Waṭan ("Palace of the Nation"),[61] opened to the public in March 2019.[62][63] It was built on the grounds of Ladies beach and construction was finished in 2018. Historically, 'barza' refers to a majlis session during which important matters can be brought to the attention of a Sheikh. After the Great Hall, it is the largest space in the UAE's Presidential Palace which holds up to 300 guests.[64]

Multi-faith worship places

[edit]
St. Paul's Church, Abu Dhabi

The Abrahamic Family House, a multi-faith complex on Saadiyat Island, includes the Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque, St. Francis Church, and the Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue—the UAE's first purpose-built synagogue. The project was inaugurated on 16 February 2023 and officially opened to the public on 1 March 2023.[65][66][67]

On 22 September 2019, the Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi held a ceremony to grant licenses to 17 churches and the first-ever traditional Hindu temple. The listed churches were Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches, including St Joseph's Cathedral. The initiative was taken under the slogan "A Call for Harmony", to allow people from all religions and cultures to practice their faith in the country.[68]

Qasr Al Hosn

[edit]
Built in the 18th Century
Photograph of Qasr Al Hosn from the early 20th century

Qasr Al Hosn is the oldest building in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, built by the Bani Yas tribe in 1761. It was once the seat of the government and the palace of the ruling Al Nahyan family. Today, it is a museum open to all visitors portraying the history of Abu Dhabi and early lifestyles. It is where the visitors will notice the art Talli, a traditional form of decorative embroidery done by women, and the making of Al Sadu patterns which represent symbols of daily life. A three-screen mini-theatre is available which describes the traditional form of weaving practised by Bedouin women.[69]

Parks, gardens, zoo, and beaches

[edit]

Abu Dhabi has several parks, gardens, a zoo, and more than 400 kilometres (249 miles) of coastline, of which 10 kilometres (6 miles) are public beaches.[70]

Economy

[edit]
Yas Hotel Abu Dhabi

The UAE's large hydrocarbon wealth gives it one of the highest GDP per capita in the world and Abu Dhabi owns the majority of these resources—95% of the oil and 92% of gas.[71] Abu Dhabi thus holds 9% of the world's proven oil reserves (98.2bn barrels) and almost 5% of the world's natural gas (5.8 billion cubic metres or 200 billion cubic feet). As of April 2022, oil production in the UAE was about 3.0 million barrels per day (BPD).[72] The UAE is looking to expand its maximum production capacity from approximately 4 million BPD to 5 million BPD by 2030.[73] In recent years, the focus has turned to gas as increasing domestic consumption for power, desalination and reinjection of gas into oil fields increases demand. Gas extraction is not without its difficulties, however, as demonstrated by the sour gas project at Shah where the gas is rich in hydrogen sulfide content and expensive to develop and process.[22]

An Airbus A380 belonging to Etihad Airways, the second-largest airline in the UAE after Dubai-based Emirates

In 2009, the government diversified its economic plans. Served by high oil prices, the country's non-oil and gas GDP outstripped that attributable to the energy sector. Non-oil and gas GDP now constitutes 64% of the UAE's total GDP. This trend is reflected in Abu Dhabi with substantial new investment in industry, real estate, tourism and retail. As Abu Dhabi is the largest oil producer of the UAE, it has reaped the most benefits from this trend. It has taken on an active diversification and liberalisation program to reduce the UAE's reliance on the hydrocarbon sector. This is evident in the emphasis on industrial diversification with the completion of free zones, Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, twofour54 Abu Dhabi media free zone and the construction of another, ICAD II, in the pipeline. There has also been a drive to promote tourism and real estate with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and the Tourism and Development Investment Company undertaking several large-scale development projects. These will be served by improved transport infrastructure, with a new port, an expanded airport and a proposed rail link between Abu Dhabi and Dubai all in the development stages.[74]

Capital Gate The building is owned and was developed by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company.

Abu Dhabi's Emirate is the wealthiest of the UAE in terms of Gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita income. More than $1 trillion is invested worldwide in the city. In 2010, the GDP per capita reached $49,600, which ranks ninth in the world. Taxation in Abu Dhabi, as in the rest of the UAE, is nil for a resident or a non-bank, non-oil company. Abu Dhabi is also planning many future projects sharing with the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and taking 29% of all the GCC future plannings. The UAE has a fast-growing economy: in 2006 the per capita income grew by 9%, providing a GDP per capita of $49,700 and ranking third in the world at purchasing power parity.

Marina Shopping Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in the city

Abu Dhabi's government is looking to expand revenue from oil and gas production to tourism and other things that would attract different types of people. This goal is seen in the amount of attention Abu Dhabi is giving its International Airport. The airport experienced a 30%+ growth in passenger usage in 2009.[75] This idea of diversifying the economy is also seen in the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030[76] planned by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council. In this plan, Abu Dhabi's economy will be sustainable and not dependent on any single source of revenue. More specifically the non-oil portion of income is planned to be increased from about 40% to about 70%.[77] As of July 2019, Abu Dhabi allocated $163 million to finance global entertainment partners as part of its plan to diversify the economy and wean it off oil.[78]

Many Hollywood and other national film production teams have used parts of the UAE as filming locations. Neighbouring Dubai gets a lot of attention, but in recent years Abu Dhabi has become a popular destination. The Etihad Towers and Emirates Palace Hotel were some of the city's landmarks used as filming locations for the movie Furious 7, in which cars rush through the building and smashed through the windows of the towers.[79]

In 2018, Abu Dhabi launched Ghadan 21, a string of initiatives to diversify the economy. The total injection is AED 50 billion.[80] There are four main areas these initiatives must fall under: business and investment, society, knowledge and innovation, and lifestyle. The first phase includes over 50 initiatives that reflect the priorities of citizens, residents and investors.[81]

Utility services

[edit]

The desalinated water supply and power production are managed by the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA). As of 2006, it supplied 560.2 MiGD (million imperial gallons per day) of water,[82] while the water demand for 2005–06 was estimated to be 511 MiGD.[83] The Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD) states that groundwater is the most significant source of water, as well as desalinated potable water, and treated sewage effluent. At 40.6 MiGD, the Umm Al Nar storage is the largest water source for Abu Dhabi, followed by the rivers Shuweihat and Taweelah.[84] With falling groundwater level and rising population density, Abu Dhabi faces a severely acute water shortage. On average each Abu Dhabi resident uses 550 litres (120 imp gal; 150 US gal) of water per day.[85] Abu Dhabi daily produces 1,532 tonnes of solid wastes which are dumped at three landfill sites by the Abu Dhabi Municipality.[86][87] The daily domestic wastewater production is 330 MiGD and industrial waste water is 40 MiGD. A large portion of the sewerage flows as waste into streams and separation plants.[87]

The city's per capita electricity consumption is about 41,000 kWh and the total supplied is 8,367 MW as of 2007.[88] The distribution of electricity is carried out by companies run by SCIPCO Power and APC Energy. As part of UAE's Energy Strategy 2050 to reduce the carbon emission of power generation by 70%, Noor Abu Dhabi solar park project which is the largest solar project in the world was completed on 2 July 2019.[89][90][91] The Abu Dhabi Fire Service runs 13 fire stations that attend about 2,000 fire and rescue calls per year.

State-owned Etisalat and private du communication companies provide telephone and cell phone service to the city. Cellular coverage is extensive, and both GSM and CDMA (from Etisalat and Du) services are available. Etisalat, the government-owned telecommunications provider, held a virtual monopoly over telecommunication services in Abu Dhabi prior to the establishment of other, smaller telecommunications companies such as Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC – better known as Du) in 2006. The Internet was introduced into Abu Dhabi in 1995. The current network is supported by a bandwidth of 6 GB, with 50,000 dialup and 150,000 broadband ports.

Etisalat announced implementing a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in Abu Dhabi during the third quarter of 2009 to make the emirate the world's first city to have such a network.[92]

City planning

[edit]
Waterfront park
View of the Beach Rotana
A public park

Abu Dhabi in the 1960s and 70s was planned for a predicted topmost population of 600,000. Following the urban planning ideals of the time period, the city has high-density tower blocks and wide grid-pattern roads.[93] The population density is at its apex on the most northerly part of the island. At this point, the main streets have a large amount of 20- to 30-story towers. These towers are in a rectangular pattern, and inside is an ordinary grid pattern of roads with low rise buildings such as 2-story villas or 6-story low-rise buildings.

Due to this planning, a modern city with tall offices, apartment buildings, broad boulevards, and busy shops is present. Principal thoroughfares are the Corniche, Airport Road, Sheikh Zayed Street, Hamdan Street, and Khalifa Street. Abu Dhabi is known in the region for its greenery; the former desert strip today includes numerous parks and gardens. The design of the inner city roads and main roads are quite organised. Starting from the Corniche, all horizontal streets are oddly numbered, while all vertical streets are evenly numbered. Thus, the Corniche is Street No. 1, Khalifa Street is Street No. 3, Hamdan Street is Street No. 5, Electra Street is Street No. 7, and so on. Conversely, Salam Street is Street No. 8.[94]

Mail is generally delivered to post-office boxes only; however, there is door-to-door delivery for commercial organisations. There are many parks throughout the city. Entrance is usually free for children, however, there is often an entrance fee for adults. The Corniche, the city's seaside promenade, is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) in length, with gardens, playgrounds, and a BMX/skateboard ring.[95]

In 2007, the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) was established, which is the agency responsible for the future of Abu Dhabi's urban environments and the expert authority behind the visionary Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan that was published in September 2007.[53] The UPC is also working on similar plans for the regions of Al-Ain and Al-Gharbia.

Because of the rapid development of Abu Dhabi, a number of challenges to the city's urban organisation have developed, among them:

  • Today, the city's population far surpasses the original estimated maximum population when it was designed. This causes traffic congestion, a shortage of car parking spaces, and overcrowding.
  • Although there is an addressing system for the city, it is not widely used, causing problems in describing building locations. Directions must often be given based on nearby landmarks.
  • However, there is a new naming system under the name of Onwani which is overhauling the entire addressing system of the entire Abu Dhabi Emirate. Its phases have already been implemented and are a success. The addressing system is up to international standards.
Busy road in downtown Abu Dhabi.

Human rights

[edit]

Human rights organisations have heavily criticised violations of human rights in Abu Dhabi. As with other parts of the UAE, foreign workers are not given proper treatment[96] and many companies (both government and private) have yet to improve working conditions.[97]

In 2025, Abu Dhabi was ranked as the safest city in the world for the ninth year running by the statistical analysis website Numbeo.[98]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
Year Pop. ±%
1960 25,000 —    
1965 50,000 +100.0%
1969 46,400 −7.2%
1975 127,763 +175.4%
1980 243,257 +90.4%
1985 283,361 +16.5%
1995 398,695 +40.7%
2003 552,000 +38.5%
2009 896,751 +62.5%
2013 921,000 +2.7%
2014 1,205,963 +30.9%
2018 1,807,000 +49.8%
2023 3,800,000 +110.3%
The town of Abu Dhabi first conducted a census in 1968. All population figures in this table prior to 1968 are estimates obtained from populstat.info.
Sources:[3][99][100][101]

Abu Dhabi ranks as the 67th most expensive city in the world and the second-most in the region behind Dubai.[102]

As of 2014, 477,000 of 2,650,000 people living in the emirate were UAE nationals. Approximately 80% of the population were expatriates.[103] The median age in the emirate was about 30.1 years. The crude birth rate, as of 2005, was 13.6%, while the crude death rate was about 2%.[104]

Article 7 of the UAE's Provisional Constitution declares Islam the official state religion of the UAE.[105]

The majority of the inhabitants of Abu Dhabi are migrant workers from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Russia, Ethiopia, Somalia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, China, Uganda, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Tanzania and various countries from across the Arab world. Some of these expatriates have been in the country for decades with only a few of them awarded citizenship.[106] Consequently, English, Hindi-Urdu (Hindustani), Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Tulu, Somali, Tigrinya, Amharic and Bengali are widely spoken.[107]

The native-born population are Arabic-speaking Arabs who are part of a clan-based society. The Al Nahyan family, part of the al-Falah branch of the Bani Yas clan, rules the emirate and has a central place in society.[108] There are also Arabs who are from other parts of the Arab world.

 

Transportation

[edit]
Air Traffic Control Tower of Zayed International Airport
Terminal A at Zayed International Airport (2024)

Rapidly developing transportation in Abu Dhabi city is anchored by vast systems of highways connecting various islands and suburbs together alongside expanding public and private transport options.[109]

Road

[edit]

The main Abu Dhabi island is connected by three vast highways with their own bridges, the oldest of which is Al Maqta Bridge, built in 1968 as the first connection to the previously small fishing village on the island,[110] now part of the E22 highway. The second Mussafah Bridge was opened in 1977,[111] now part of the E20 highway that transforms into Khaleej Al Arabi Street, and the third bridge was the Sheikh Zayed Bridge opened in 2010, now part of the E10 highway and Sheikh Zayed Road, all of which connect the entire island to the Corniche Road, the 8 km promenade and beach at the tip of the island that overlooks the Persian Gulf.[29] As the city expands, new bridges and roads have been constructed, or are currently under construction to link the main island with Al Maryah Island, Al Reem Island, Saadiyat Island, and other previously undeveloped islands.[109] For example, in 2023, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan inaugurated the Umm Yifeenah Bridge, an 11 km highway connection between Al Reem Island and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street.[112] This change, and many other, are a part of Abu Dhabi's 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan.[113]

Air

[edit]

Zayed International Airport (AUH) is the city's main aviation hub and the second busiest airport in the UAE. Passenger numbers at Zayed International Airport rose by 17.2 percent in 2015, with more than 23 million travelers passing through its terminals during that year. A second runway and new terminal was also built recently.[114] In July 2024, it was reported that the airport launched the world's first-of-its-kind "Smart Travel" biometric.[115]

On 30 June 2019, the Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi officially inaugurated a multi-faith prayer room at Zayed International Airport. Located away from the main airport, the prayer room aims at enhancing the country's "position as an international hub for tolerance".[116]

Abu Dhabi City is additionally served by the Al Bateen Executive Airport, situated on the main Abu Dhabi island, which was the old international airport for Abu Dhabi until AUH opened in 1982. The airport underwent renovation and expansion in 2022 to accommodate twin-aisle jets and resumed operation to private, business, and VIP traffic in addition to hosting an Abu Dhabi Police search and rescue base.[117]

On December 5, 2024, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi (AUH) won the title of "World's Most Beautiful Airport" at the Prix Versailles, a prestigious award for architecture and design. The award recognised its impressive architectural design in the Airports category. (WAM)[118]

Rail

[edit]

Abu Dhabi City is connected to the second phase of the Etihad Rail network, completed in 2023, for freight operations across the seven emirates. Passenger traffic has been confirmed and will allow for travel from Abu Dhabi city to other emirates on the network, however no date on commencement of operation has been set.[119]

Public transport

[edit]
City Bus Number 56

Public transport systems in Abu Dhabi include public buses, taxis, ferries, and hydroplanes.[120] A massive expansion of public transport is anticipated within the framework of the government's Surface Transport Master Plan 2030.[121] The expansion was expected to see 130 km (81 mi) of metro and 340 km (210 mi) of tramways and bus rapid transit (BRT) routes. The city has nonetheless planned for further smart public transport options in various areas within the city, such as Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, in addition to expected rail service to other nearby cities.[122]

Abu Dhabi Bus Service

[edit]

The first town bus entered service in about 1969 but this was all part of a very informal service. There are other inter-city buses departing the Abu Dhabi central bus station; these inter-city buses are not only intra-emirate buses, but also inter-emirate services. On 30 June 2008, the Department of Transport began public bus service in Abu Dhabi with four routes.[123] There are also public buses serving the airport. In an attempt to entice people to use the bus system, all routes were zero-fare until the end of 2008.[124] The four routes, which operate between 6 am and midnight every day, run at a frequency of 10 to 20 minutes.[124] Within the first week of service, the bus network had seen high usage. Some of the buses, which have a maximum capacity of 45 passengers, only had room for standing left. Some bus drivers reported as many as 100 passengers on a bus at one time.[125] Due to the new, zero-fare bus service success, many taxi drivers were losing business. Taxi drivers have seen a considerable decrease in the demand for taxis while lines were forming for the buses.[126]

As of 2021, the Abu Dhabi public bus system had completed 53.3 million passenger trips, with a fleet of 583 buses for the city of Abu Dhabi.[127]

Public bus at a bus stop in Abu Dhabi

Smart Public Transportation

[edit]

In 2022, Abu Dhabi launched autonomous self-driving public transport options in Yas Island and Saadiyat Island. The route in Saadiyat Island stops at cultural and tourist stops such as Louvre Abu Dhabi, NYU Abu Dhabi, and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi whereas the Yas Island route focuses on the attractions in the island such as Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. The expansion include autonomous trams (Automated Rapid Transit or "ART"), taxis, and minibuses.[6][128]

During October 2023, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) launched the ART Service on mainland Abu Dhabi as a pilot phase as part of the Smart Mobility project. It spans approximately 27 kilometres from Reem Mall, Al Reem Island, until Marina Mall, serving 25 stations in total.[129]

In 2025, WeRide and Uber announced the launch of Level 4 fully driverless Robotaxi commercial operations. Public commercial operations commenced on 26 November without a vehicle specialist inside the AV, starting with Yas Island. This initiative is supported by Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Centre.[130]

Water transport

[edit]

The Emirate has many ports. One is Port Zayed. The others are Musaffah Port and Khalifa Port, which opened in 2012.[131] They are owned by Abu Dhabi Ports Company and managed by Abu Dhabi Terminals.[132] Water transport includes water taxis which can accommodate up to 12 passengers, and ferries which can carry up to 100 passengers on board. Water taxis can be hired for point-to-point travel across the city's waterways, offering a convenient option for shorter trips, and ferry transport system is a convenient and scenic way to travel between the city's islands and mainland.[133]

In 2021, the number of passengers who used public ferries reached 114,093.[127]

Toll Gates

[edit]

Abu Dhabi introduced four toll gates in 2021 on all bridges (Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqtaa Bridge, Mussafah Bridge, and Sheikh Khalifa Bridge) entering the main Abu Dhabi island that only operate during peak hours, and by year-end had over 1.8 million registered cars in the system. Drivers must manually create an account to add balance to their toll gate allowance. Crossing the toll gate costs 4 AED.[127] Abu Dhabi's toll gate system, known as Darb, is aimed at reducing traffic congestion and promoting smoother traffic flow. Drivers must register their vehicles on the Darb app or the official website. The system automatically deducts the toll charges from a prepaid account.[134]

Flying Taxi Vertiport

[edit]

Abu Dhabi's first flying taxi vertiport will open at the Zayed Port Cruise Terminal by late 2025.[135] It will serve helicopters and eVTOLs, offering direct access to Saadiyat Island, the Corniche, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Culture

[edit]
Louvre Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has a diverse and multicultural society.[136] The city's cultural imprint as a small, ethnically homogeneous pearling community was changed with the arrival of other ethnic groups and nationals—first by the Iranians in the early 1900s, and later by various African, Asian, European, and Middle Eastern ethnicities in the 1950s and 1960s. Abu Dhabi has been criticised for perpetuating a class-based society, where migrant workers are in the lower classes, and suffer abuse which "is endemic to the system".[137]

Major holidays in Abu Dhabi include Eid al Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan, Eid ul-Adha which marks the end of Hajj, and National Day (2 December) which marks the formation of the United Arab Emirates.[138]

This unique socioeconomic development in the Persian Gulf has meant that Abu Dhabi is generally more tolerant than its neighbours, including Saudi Arabia.[139] Emiratis have been known for their tolerance; Christian churches, Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras (with the first synagogue commencing construction in 2020), and Buddhist temples can be found alongside mosques. The cosmopolitan atmosphere is gradually growing; as a result, there are a variety of African, Asian, European, Middle Eastern, and Western schools, cultural centres, and themed restaurants.

Abu Dhabi is home to several cultural institutions, including the Cultural Foundation and the National Theater. The Cultural Foundation, while closed for reconstruction as of spring 2011, is home to the UAE Public Library and Cultural Center.[140] Various cultural societies such as the Abu Dhabi Classical Music Society have a strong and visible following in the city. The recently launched Emirates Foundation offers grants in support of the arts and to advance science and technology, education, environmental protection, and social development. The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) will be based in Abu Dhabi. The city also stages hundreds of conferences and exhibitions each year in its state-of-the-art venues, including the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), which is the Persian Gulf's largest exhibition centre and welcomes around 1.8  million visitors every year.[141]

The Red Bull Air Race World Series has been a spectacular sporting staple for the city for many years, bringing tens of thousands to the waterfront.[142] Another major event is the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC).[143]

The diversity of cuisine in Abu Dhabi reflects the cosmopolitan nature of society. Arab food is trendy and is available everywhere in the city, from the small shawarma to the upscale restaurants in the city's many hotels. Fast food and South Asian cuisine are also trendy and are widely available. The sale and consumption of pork, though not illegal, is regulated and sold only to non-Muslims in designated areas.[144] Similarly, the sale of alcoholic beverages is regulated. A liquor permit is required to purchase alcohol; however, alcohol is[further explanation needed] available in bars and restaurants within four or five stars hotels. Shisha and qahwa boutiques are also popular in Abu Dhabi.

Poetry in Abu Dhabi and the UAE is highly regarded and often centres around satire, religion, family, chivalry, and love. According to an article from an Abu Dhabi tourism page, sheikhs, teachers, sailors, and princes make up a large bulk of the poets within the UAE. al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi formed a unique form of poetry to the UAE in the 8th century and was written in 16 metre. Another Emirati poet, Ibn Daher, is from the 17th century. Daher is important because he used Nabati poetry (AKA Bedouin poetry), a type of poetry written in the vernacular instead of classical/religious Arabic. Other important poets from the UAE are Mubarak Al Oqaili (1880–1954), Salem bin Ali al Owais (1887–1959), and Abdulla bin Sulayem (1905–1976). These poets made headway in Classical Arabic poetry as opposed to the Nabati poetry of the 17th century.[145]

Today in Abu Dhabi, a group called the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation works to preserve the art and culture of the city. According to an article from the English Pen Atlas, Al Jawaher wal la'li was the first manuscript to come out of the UAE. According to another article, this book was written in the 1990s and was banned in the city for some time for making accusations about the ruling family.[146]

For cultural influences, Abu Dhabi, since 2010, has become one of the major shooting spots for many film companies, including Hollywood. Some of the most famous films featuring Abu Dhabi are: The Kingdom (2007), Arrambam (2013), Baby (2015),[147] Furious 7 (2015), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Dishoom (2016), War Machine (2017), Tiger Zinda Hai (2017), Race 3 (2018), Saaho (2019), Six Underground (2019), The Misfits (2021), Dune (2021), Vikram Vedha (2022), Crew (2024), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024) and War 2 (2025).

In 2024, the Madison Square Garden Company confirmed that a second Sphere venue, identical to the Sphere in Las Vegas would be built in Abu Dhabi.[148] The following year in 2025 it was confirmed that Disney would build a theme-park in Abu Dhabi called Disneyland Abu Dhabi. It will be located on Yas Island.[149]

Education

[edit]
Abu Dhabi University
New York University Abu Dhabi campus on Saadiyat Island

Abu Dhabi is home to international and local private schools and universities, including government-sponsored INSEAD, New York University Abu Dhabi, Khalifa University, Higher Colleges of Technology, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi University. New York University opened a government-sponsored satellite campus in Abu Dhabi in September 2010.[150]

All schools in the emirate are under the authority of the Abu Dhabi Education Council. This organisation oversees and administers public schools and licenses and inspects private schools. From 2009, the council has brought over thousands of licensed teachers from native English speaking countries to support their New School Model Program in government schools.

Every year in the season of admissions, an exhibition is launched in Abu Dhabi Exhibition Center under government supervision.[151] Universities from every corner of the world exhibit their career programs and scholarship programs. Heriot-Watt University, University of Bolton, Cambridge University, Oxford University, the Petroleum Institute, Khalifa University, and Abu Dhabi University attend.

In October 2019, Abu Dhabi announced the world's first graduate-level AI research institution, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). It enables graduation for students, businesses and governments to advance artificial intelligence. The university began accepting applications for masters and PhD programmes a year before the classes, which are scheduled to begin in September 2020.[152]

Sports

[edit]
Abu Dhabi Zayed Sports City Stadium

Abu Dhabi has a diverse and expanding sporting culture underpinned by investments in sporting infrastructure and the hosting of global sporting events. Liwa Motorsport and traditional sports such as camel racing and equestrian sports have developed alongside popular modern sports such as Jiu-jitsu and football. Abu Dhabi follows the UAE's National Sport Strategy 2031 which aims to increase general participation in sports and expand the types and frequency of sport facilities available in the city.[153]

Zayed Sport City

[edit]

Zayed Sport City (ZSC) is a large free zone complex in the heart of Abu Dhabi city with a mixed-use of properties and sporting facilities to encourage sport participation. ZSC offers practice facilities for basketball, billiards, football, paintball, and a dedicated ice rink.[153] The complex is also home to the Zayed Sports City Stadium, the largest in the UAE with a seating capacity of 45,000 and is the headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, which is responsible for hosting events in the city and Mubadala Arena, the home of the UAE Jiu Jitsu team.

Jiu Jitsu

[edit]

Jiu Jitsu is a popular sport in the city with a dedicated complex in the Mubadala Arena. It is a 'Soft Art' originated from the ancient martial art of the Samurai in Japan several centuries ago and it has been adopted by Brazil in the early 1900s. Jiu Jitsu does not include punches or kicks, but it applies the techniques such as throws, control positions and locks.[154] Abu Dhabi government's Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) maintains a comprehensive after-school program for interested and talented jiujitsu students.[155] The Abu Dhabi Jiujitsu Schools Program began in 2008 under the patronage of crown prince (now President) Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a keen Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor. The program launched in 14 schools for pupils in grades 6 and 7 and has since expanded to 42 government schools, with 81 Brazilian coaches brought in as instructors.[156]

9 to 13-year-old students are taught Brazilian jiu-jitsu as part of the curriculum. The plan is for up to 500 schools to be participating in the school-Jitsu program by 2015. The project was set up by special request of Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the head coach of the Emirates jiu-jitsu team, Carlos "Carlão" Santos, now also the managing director of the School-Jitsu Project.[157]

Football

[edit]

Football is the most popular sport in the city and the city has four football stadiums, namely Al Jazeera Stadium, Al Wahda Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Football Stadium (Zayed Sports City) and Hazza Stadium.[158] The city hosts the Al Jazira Club, Al Wahda FC, and Baniyas Club, all of which compete at the UAE Pro League. In addition to local tournaments, the city has hosted international football events including five FIFA Club World Cup and the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.[159]

Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix

[edit]

The city hosts the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix of Formula One, which has been held at the Yas Marina Circuit since 2009.[160] The race takes place late in the Formula One season in November or December, and it is usually the last race of the season. The Yas Marina Circuit is one of the most expensive racing tracks built and regularly hosts various other local races and tours.[161] The circuit has also hosted other events such as the V8 Supercars series of Dubai.

Yas Marina Circuit

Abu Dhabi Grand Slam

[edit]

Abu Dhabi regularly hosts the International Judo Federation Abu Dhabi grand slam. Engendering some criticism, the International Judo Federation refused to allow the Israeli flag and the Israeli national anthem at the international games in 2017. Some referred to this action as anti-Semitic.[162][163] The ban on Israeli symbols was lifted in 2018 and Israeli flag and the national anthem was allowed to be displayed.[164] Israeli minister of sports Miri Regev was also allowed to attend the event.[164]

Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019

[edit]

In March 2019, Abu Dhabi hosted the first Special Olympics World Games in the Middle East. The event took place from 14 to 21 March 2019 and featured more than 7,500 athletes participating in 24 sporting disciplines. The official World Games Flame of Hope was lit in Athens and flown to Abu Dhabi, where it then embarked on the torch run, visiting all seven emirates of the UAE.[165] It was the first time the Special Olympics World Games were hosted in the Middle East and North Africa region, with Abu Dhabi being the host city. More than 2,500 coaches and 20,000+ volunteers were available in the Olympics.[166]

Other sporting events

[edit]

The city has hosted multiple international cricket tournaments, such as the ICC Men's T20 World Cup,[167] and tennis events such as the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.It has also hosted many UFC events.

Sites and attractions

[edit]

Abu Dhabi has many sites and attractions that include the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Mariam Umm Eisa Mosque, Emirates Palace, Qasr Al Watan, Six Flags Qiddya City Yas Marina Circuit, The Corniche, Hayyatii Towers, Etihad Towers, Yas Marina, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and Jubail Mangrove Park.[168]

On 29 April 2022, Abu Dhabi announced a 100% capacity for commercial activities, tourist attractions and events in the emirate.[169]

The Walt Disney Company announced on 7 May 2025 that it plans to build its seventh worldwide theme park resort in Abu Dhabi on Yas Island.[170]

See also

[edit]
  • Abu Dhabi Fund for Development
  • Abu Dhabi Investment Council
  • Abu Dhabi Global Market
  • Abu Dhabi Vegetable Market
  • Abu Dhabi Mall
  • Archaeology of the United Arab Emirates
  • Department of Municipal Affairs (Abu Dhabi)
  • Dubai-Abu Dhabi Highway
  • Marawah
  • National Center for Documentation and Research
  • Postage stamps and postal history of Abu Dhabi

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ UK: /ˌæbˈdæbi/, US: /ˌɑːbˈdɑːbi/; Arabic: أَبُو ظَبِي, ʾAbū Ẓabī, pronounced ['ɐbu ˈðˤɑbi][4]
  2. ^ Not to be confused with the Central Business District of the city[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c The Report Abu Dhabi 2016. Oxford Business Group. 9 May 2016. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-910068-58-8. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  2. ^ a b "TelluBase—UAE Fact Sheet (Tellusant Public Service Series)" (PDF). Tellusant. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Middle East :: United Arab Emirates". Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  4. ^ "How did Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other cities get their names? Experts reveal all". UAE Interact. 3 October 2007. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Abu Dhabi Population 2023". Abu Dhabi Census. 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Abu Dhabi Census 2023" (PDF). scad.ae. 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2018. Alt URL
  7. ^ "Top 100 Sovereign Wealth Fund Rankings". Global SWF. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Abu Dhabi's $1 Trillion Wealth Hub Grows in Influence". Bloomberg. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  9. ^ Bloomberg (2 March 2021). "Wealth fund newbie comes into focus in Abu Dhabi's $1 trillion sovereign hub". Gulf Business. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Abu Dhabi economy grows 5.2 pct in 2013, slower than expected". gulfnews.com. 3 June 2014. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  11. ^ Potts, Daniel (2003). Archaeology of the United Arab Emirates. Trident Press.
  12. ^ a b "Annual Report 2017" (PDF), Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, vol. 1, p. 119, 2017, archived (PDF) from the original on 8 December 2022, retrieved 9 March 2019
  13. ^ "History of the UAE | the Official Portal of the UAE Government".
  14. ^ a b c McNabb, Alexander (2025). Children of the Seven Sands. Dubai: Motivate Media Group. pp. 182–3. ISBN 978-1-86063-512-0.
  15. ^ "Bani Yas". His Highness Sheikh Maktoum. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  16. ^ "Pearl Diving in the United Arab Emirates". Travel Tips – USA Today. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  17. ^ Trench, Richard (1995). Arab Gulf Cities. Oxford: Archive International Group.
  18. ^ "Pearl Diving". His Highness Sheikh Maktoum. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  19. ^ Butalia, Nivriti. "11 facts about pearl diving in the UAE". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  20. ^ Trucial Gulf Sheikdoms and Great Britain Archived 24 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ Morton, Michael Quentin (February 2016). Keepers of the Golden Shore: A History of the United Arab Emirates. London: Reaktion Books. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-78023-580-6. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  22. ^ a b c Morton, Michael Quentin, "The Abu Dhabi Oil Discoveries", GEO Expro article, issue 3, 2011.GEO ExPro – The Abu Dhabi Oil Discoveries Archived 17 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ Bismarck, Helene von (25 March 2013). British Policy in the Persian Gulf, 1961-1968: Conceptions of Informal Empire. Springer. ISBN 978-1-137-32672-0. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  24. ^ "Abu Dhabi Municipality | Media Center". Municipality of Abu Dhabi City. Archived from the original on 2 February 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  25. ^ "Al Raha Beach Hotel ***** – Luxury Hotel Abu Dhabi – OFFICIAL SITE". Archived from the original on 24 November 2012.
  26. ^ WAM 2017 Abu Dhabi has world's largest population of humpback dolphins Archived 21 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Emirates 24/7. Retrieved 21 September 2017
  27. ^ Gulf News. 2017. Abu Dhabi proves a haven for humpback dolphins Archived 20 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 21 September 2017
  28. ^ Sanker A.. 2017. Abu Dhabi leads world in humpback dolphin numbers Archived 21 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Khaleej Times. Retrieved 21 September 2017
  29. ^ a b c Dennehy, John (1 April 2019). "Motorists face major roadworks on busy Abu Dhabi street". The National. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  30. ^ McClenaghan, Gregor (13 February 2009). "Sandstorms sweep across region". The National. Abu Dhabi, UAE. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012.
  31. ^ "Climate Normals for Abu Dhabi". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  32. ^ "Climate Normals 1981-2010". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  33. ^ "Climate Yearly Report Abu Dhabi International Airport". The UAE National Center of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  34. ^ "Twinning Cities". bethlehem-city.org. Bethlehem. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  35. ^ "Agreements with cities". madrid.es. Madrid. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  36. ^ "Sister Cities". houstontx.gov. City of Houston. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  37. ^ "Brisbane Sister Cities". brisbane.qld.gov.au. Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  38. ^ "Twin towns of Minsk". minsk.gov.by. Minsk. Archived from the original on 9 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  39. ^ "Khalifa renames Eastern and Western Regions". Gulf News. WAM. 16 March 2017. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  40. ^ "Sheikh Khalifa renames Abu Dhabi regions". The National. 16 March 2017. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  41. ^ "Abu Dhabi Presidential Palace". The National. 4 March 2019. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  42. ^ "Abu Dhabi Government Media Office launched". The National. 5 May 2019. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  43. ^ "Abu Dhabi Government Media Office Launched". www.tamm.abudhabi. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  44. ^ "Abu Dhabi Government Media Office set up". gulfnews.com. 14 December 2017. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  45. ^ "Abu Dhabi Government Media Office Launched". wam.ae. 5 May 2019. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  46. ^ "Building a city from the sands – The National". 11 September 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 February 2017.
  47. ^ GmbH, Emporis. "Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Tower, Abu Dhabi – 131499 – EMPORIS". Archived from the original on 11 March 2014.
  48. ^ National Bank HQ Archived 3 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  49. ^ "Hilton Abu Dhabi Hotel – United Arab Emirates". Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  50. ^ GmbH, Emporis. "Etisalat Headquarters, Abu Dhabi – 203736 – EMPORIS". Archived from the original on 11 March 2014.
  51. ^ "Abu Dhabi". SkyscraperPage.
  52. ^ "Luxury 5 Star Hotel in Abu Dhabi – Emirates Palace". Archived from the original on 23 November 2012.
  53. ^ a b "Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council – Abu Dhabi Vision 2030". Archived from the original on 31 May 2011.
  54. ^ "Skyscrapers of Abu Dhabi". Emporis.com. 15 June 2009. Archived from the original on 12 May 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
  55. ^ a b [SZGMC www.szgmc.ae SZGMC]
  56. ^ "Theory & Implementation – Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center". Archived from the original on 12 February 2015.
  57. ^ "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre Abu Dhabi". Archived from the original on 4 January 2017.
  58. ^ "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Listed Amongst Top Global Landmarks". Mirror Herald. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  59. ^ "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque joins travel expo". Arab News. 24 May 2021. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  60. ^ Report, Gulf News (26 February 2018). "Founder's Memorial opens in Abu Dhabi". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  61. ^ Abdul Kader, Binsal (11 March 2019). "Inside Qasr Al Watan: Palace in Abu Dhabi opens doors to public". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  62. ^ Nandkeolyar, Karishma H. (11 March 2019). "Qasr Al Watan opens to the public: First-person account of a visit". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  63. ^ "Qasr Al Watan". Qasr Al Watan. Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  64. ^ Reporter, A. Staff. "UAE: Qasr Al Watan's stunning majlis now open to visitors". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  65. ^ "Abrahamic Family House opens in Abu Dhabi". Reuters. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  66. ^ "Abrahamic Family House officially opens in Abu Dhabi". Abu Dhabi Media Office. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  67. ^ "Inside the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi". Architectural Digest. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  68. ^ "18 Non-Muslim Places of Worship Granted Licences in Abu Dhabi". 7Dnews. Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  69. ^ Kumar, Ashwani. "Relive history at Qasr Al Hosn, UAE's royal ancestral house". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  70. ^ "Welcome to Abu Dhabi – Beaches and Coasts". Visitabudhabi.ae. Archived from the original on 23 July 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
  71. ^ Kapur, Shuchita (31 March 2010). "Abu Dhabi's oil reserves to last another 150 years". Archived from the original on 27 February 2015.
  72. ^ "United Arab Emirates Crude Oil: Production, 2002 – 2022 | CEIC Data". www.ceicdata.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  73. ^ "UAE Fast-Tracks Goal To Reach 5 Million Bpd Production Capacity". OilPrice.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  74. ^ "Abu Dhabi – Economic Base Diversifying". Entrepreneur.com. 5 January 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2009.[dead link]
  75. ^ Abu Dhabi's Urban Development Plan Archived 16 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Forbes Custom. 8 April 2011
  76. ^ Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council – Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 Archived 31 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Abu Dhabi 2030. 8 April 2011
  77. ^ Asset-backed insecurity. The Economist. 17 January 2008 Archived 31 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  78. ^ "Abu Dhabi creates US$163 million funds for 'mega-events'". CNA. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  79. ^ "Abu Dhabi is buzzing with Fast & Furious 7 filming rumours – The National". Archived from the original on 22 June 2015.
  80. ^ "Ghadan 21: Abu Dhabi to boost business and ecotourism with major new reforms". The National. 25 June 2019. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  81. ^ "Government Accelerators – The Official Portal of the UAE Government". www.government.ae. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  82. ^ 2006 statistical report indd[dead link] (PDF), adwec.ae. Retrieved 16 July 2009. [dead link]
  83. ^ State of the Environment Abu Dhabi – Themes – Water. Soe.ae. Retrieved 16 July 2009. [dead link]
  84. ^ 2006 statistical report indd[dead link] (PDF), adwec.ae. Retrieved 16 July 2009. [dead link]
  85. ^ Abu Dhabi faces water crisis – The National Newspaper Archived 19 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Thenational.ae (22 March 2009). Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  86. ^ "Agedi.ae" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2010.
  87. ^ a b State of the Environment Abu Dhabi – Themes – Waste, Soe.ae. Retrieved 16 July 2009. [dead link]
  88. ^ 2006 statistical report indd[dead link] (PDF), adwec.ae. Retrieved 16 July 2009. [dead link]
  89. ^ "World's largest 1.17GW solar project completed in Abu Dhabi". 4 July 2019. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  90. ^ 2006 statistical report indd[dead link] (PDF), adwec.ae. Retrieved 16 July 2009. [dead link]
  91. ^ 2006 statistical report indd[dead link] (PDF), adwec.ae. Retrieved 16 July 2009. [dead link]
  92. ^ "Breaking News, UAE, GCC, Middle East, World News and Headlines – Emirates 24/7". Business24-7.ae. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  93. ^ "www.OfficePlusUAE.com – Contact Us". Archived from the original on 6 January 2013.
  94. ^ "Google Map of Abu Dhabi". Google Maps. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  95. ^ "The Corniche". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013.
  96. ^ "Questions and Answers: Migrant Worker Abuses in the UAE and COP28 | Human Rights Watch". 3 December 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  97. ^ Saul, Stephanie (16 April 2015). "N.Y.U. Labor Guidelines Failed to Protect 10,000 Workers in Abu Dhabi, Report Says". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  98. ^ Rasheed, Abdulla (24 July 2025). "Abu Dhabi named safest city in the world for 9th consecutive year". Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  99. ^ "The UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: urban population". Populstat.info. Archived from the original on 9 August 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  100. ^ "tedad.ae". tedad.ae. Archived from the original on 19 June 2008.
  101. ^ "Abu Dhabi Census - 2023".
  102. ^ "Gulfnews: Cost of living rises for ex-pats in Abu Dhabi and Dubai". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 9 July 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  103. ^ "Updated version of "Explore Abu Dhabi through Statistics, 2015" released". UAE interact. Archived from the original on 29 October 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  104. ^ "The People: AbuDhabi". Abudhabi.info. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  105. ^ Al-Muhairi, Butti Sultan Butti Ali (1 January 1996). "The Position of Shari'a within the UAE Constitution and the Federal Supreme Court's Application of the Constitutional Clause concerning Shari'a". Arab Law Quarterly. 11 (3): 219–244. doi:10.2307/3381877. JSTOR 3381877.
  106. ^ "Moving to Abu Dhabi – expats living in Abu Dhabi – Expat Arrivals". 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013.
  107. ^ Focus, Expat. "Abu Dhabi – Speaking the Language". Archived from the original on 4 April 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  108. ^ Pendleton, Devon (11 March 2009). "The Gulf's Newest Billionaire – Forbes". Forbes. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013.
  109. ^ a b Kumar, Ashwani; Times, Khaleej. "Abu Dhabi is driving on path to sustainable mobility solutions". www.zawya.com. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  110. ^ National, The (13 April 2022). "Abu Dhabi's Al Maqta Bridge set for major restoration". The National. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  111. ^ Langton, James (24 July 2022). "From the ground up: how the 'most complicated bridge' was built in Abu Dhabi". The National. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  112. ^ "Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed inaugurates Umm Yifeenah Bridge". www.mediaoffice.abudhabi. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  113. ^ "Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 – The Official Portal of the UAE Government". u.ae. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  114. ^ "Passenger numbers at Abu Dhabi airport up 17% on the year". The National. Abu Dhabi. 30 January 2016. Archived from the original on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  115. ^ "Abu Dhabi Airports and ICP partner to launch the world's first-of-its-kind Smart Travel project". www.mediaoffice.abudhabi. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  116. ^ "Abu Dhabi International Airport officially opens its multi-faith prayer room". Arabian Aerospace. Archived from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  117. ^ Dennehy, John (3 August 2022). "Abu Dhabi's Al Bateen airport to welcome wide-body aircraft as it looks to new era". The National. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  118. ^ "WAM". Emirates News Agency.
  119. ^ Staff Writer; Projects, Zawya. "UAE's Etihad Rail: Freight railway launched, what's next?". www.zawya.com. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  120. ^ Kahveci, Mehmet. "Abu Dhabi Travel Guide | Turizm.com: Your One-stop Travel Partner". Turizm.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  121. ^ "Mohamed bin Zayed Views 'The Surface Transport Master Plan 2030'". Department of Transport, Abu Dhabi. 1 April 2009. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  122. ^ National, The (15 May 2023). "Middle East Rail 2023: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed outlines UAE's transport vision". The National. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  123. ^ "Abu Dhabi bus network". The National. 29 June 2008. Archived from the original on 12 July 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
  124. ^ a b "All aboard for a free ride". The National. 30 June 2008. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
  125. ^ Kwong, Matt (5 July 2008). "Buses bulge with passengers". The National. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  126. ^ "Taxis suffer as bus business booms". The National. 1 July 2008. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  127. ^ a b c Release, Press. "The Integrated Transport Centre's Achievements of 2021". www.zawya.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  128. ^ "Top 100 Largest Sovereign Wealth Fund Rankings by Total Assets". Saudi 24 News. 16 August 2020. Archived from the original on 8 May 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  129. ^ Release, Press. "The Integrated Transport Centre launches pilot phase of the Automated Rapid Transit Project in Abu Dhabi Island". www.zawya.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  130. ^ "WeRide and Uber Launch Middle East's First Fully Driverless Robotaxi Commercial Operations in Abu Dhabi, UAE". investor.uber.com. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  131. ^ "Khalifa Port now fully operational". Emirates24/7. 9 December 2012. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  132. ^ Nambiar, Meenakshi (29 December 2012). "ADT signs 30-year concession for first Khalifa port container terminal". Technical Review Middle East. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  133. ^ "Abu Dhabi steps up water transport plans". gulfnews.com. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  134. ^ "Abu Dhabi toll gates: What you need to know about 'Darb' before it comes into effect on January 2". gulfnews.com. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  135. ^ "UAE: Midnight flying taxis to use existing helipads in Abu Dhabi". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  136. ^ "Metropolitan Dubai Area United Arab Emirates (UAE)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2012.
  137. ^ Hari, Johann (7 April 2009). "The Dark Side of Dubai". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 November 2009.
  138. ^ "Official holidays in UAE". Gowealthy.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  139. ^ "United Arab Emirates". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  140. ^ "بوابة حكومة أبوظبي الإلكترونية". abudhabi.ae. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  141. ^ "Latest News". ADNEC. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012.
  142. ^ "Red Bull Air Race airport officially opens in Abu Dhabi". 1 February 2013. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013.
  143. ^ "ADIPEC 2020 highlights". Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  144. ^ Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Archived 26 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine. GAIN Report. United States Department of Agriculture
  145. ^ "Literature and poetry". Welcome to Abu Dhabi. Archived from the original on 18 September 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  146. ^ "UAE". English Pen World Atlas. Archived from the original on 18 April 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  147. ^ "Baby | Visit Abu Dhabi". visitabudhabi.ae. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  148. ^ Another Sphere Is Being Built, This Time In Abu Dhabi
  149. ^ Disney to open its next global theme park in Abu Dhabi
  150. ^ Timm, Jane C. (13 September 2010). ""NYU Abu Dhabi: the story from concept to classroom", Washington Square News". Nyunews.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  151. ^ "Najah Education Training Careers 2012". Archived from the original on 11 October 2012.
  152. ^ "Abu Dhabi opens world's first graduate-level AI university". Netimperative. 17 October 2019. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  153. ^ a b "Sports and recreation – The Official Portal of the UAE Government". u.ae. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  154. ^ Reporter), (Staff. "Jiu Jitsu to improve confidence". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  155. ^ "36 Winners Awarded at Abu Dhabi Public Schools Jiu-Jitsu Cup". 26 April 2010. Archived from the original on 20 June 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  156. ^ "Judo federation wants younger state pupils to take up the sport". 6 July 2010. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.
  157. ^ "Brazilian instructors boost School-Jitsu scheme". Abu Dhabi Week. 13 August 2009. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.
  158. ^ "Sports Activities in Abu Dhabi | Experience Abu Dhabi". visitabudhabi.ae. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  159. ^ Ahmed, Zubina (13 August 2022). "Showcasing Abu Dhabi as a global sporting and entertainment hub". Retrieved 2 July 2023.[permanent dead link]
  160. ^ "Abu Dhabi 'on track' with Grand Prix Circuit construction". AME Info. 16 July 2007. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  161. ^ "The UAE's rise as a global hub for sports diplomacy". gulfnews.com. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  162. ^ "Antisemitism in Abu Dhabi". 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017.
  163. ^ "Antisemitism in Abu Dhabi". The Times of Israel. 28 October 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017.
  164. ^ a b Eglash, Ruth (27 November 2018). "At a sporting event in an Arab capital, an unexpected sound: The Israeli national anthem". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  165. ^ "Special Olympics World Games 2019: Tickets, Opening Ceremony, and the Torch Run". The National. 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  166. ^ "World Games Abu Dhabi 2019". SpecialOlympics.org. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  167. ^ "T20 World Cup: How the UAE became a world cricket hub". gulfnews.com. 7 November 2021. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  168. ^ "Mangrove Walk Abu Dhabi". Jubail Island. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  169. ^ "COVID-19: Abu Dhabi announces return to 100% capacity for commercial activities, tourist attractions, events". gulfnews.com. 29 April 2022. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  170. ^ "Disney announces new theme park coming to Abu Dhabi". ABC News. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
  • Abu Dhabi Government Services
  • Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities. Archived 3 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine.

 

 

KTM AG
Industry Motor vehicles
Founded 1934 (92 years ago) (1934)
Founder Hans Trunkenpolz
Headquarters
Mattighofen, Upper Austria
,
Austria
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Gottfried Neumeister (chairman and CEO of the executive board)[1]
Products Motorcycles, sports cars
Owner Bajaj Auto (≈75% via Bajaj Mobility AG)[2]
Number of employees
Increase 2,931 (2017)[3]
Subsidiaries Husqvarna Motorcycles
GasGas
WP Suspension
Website ktmgroup.com
ktm.com
KTM Fahrrad GmbH
Company type Private
Industry Bicycles
Founded 1934; 92 years ago (1934)
Founder Hans Trunkenpolz
Headquarters
Wels, Upper Austria
,
Austria
Key people
Carol Urkauf-Chen
Johanna Urkauf
Stefan Limbrunner
Number of employees
800 (2022)[4]
Website www.ktm-bikes.at

KTM AG ( German pronunciation: [kˌɑːtˌeːˈɛm]) is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and motorsports brand. It traces its foundation to 1934 as Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. Today, Bajaj Mobility AG (formerly Pierer Mobility AG) operates as the manufacturer of KTM-branded motorcycles, and KTM Fahrrad GmbH operates as the manufacturer of KTM-branded bicycles.

KTM is known for its off-road motorcycles and as a reputed MotoGP constructor.

In November 2025, it was announced that Bajaj Auto had completed the acquisition of a controlling stake in KTM for €800 million, increasing its indirect holding to approximately 75%.[5]

History

[edit]
Hans Trunkenpolz and Ernst Kronreif

Early years

[edit]

In 1934, Austrian engineer Johann (Hans) Trunkenpolz (1909–1962)[6] set up a fitter's and car repair shop[7] in Mattighofen. In 1937, he started selling DKW motorcycles, and Opel cars the following year. His shop was known as Kraftfahrzeug Trunkenpolz Mattighofen, but the name was unregistered. During the Second World War, his wife took care of the business which was thriving mainly on account of diesel engine repairs.[8]

After the war, demand for repair works fell sharply and Trunkenpolz started thinking about producing his own motorcycles. The prototype of his first motorcycle, the R100, was built in 1951.[9] The components of the motorcycle were produced in house, except for the Rotax engines which were made by Fichtel & Sachs. Serial production of the R100 started in 1953. With just 20 employees, motorcycles were built at a rate of three per day.[10]

Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Era [1953–1991]

[edit]

In 1953, businessman Ernst Kronreif became a major shareholder of the company, which was renamed and registered as Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. In 1954, the R125 Tourist was introduced,[11] followed by the Grand Tourist[12] and the scooter Mirabell[13] in 1955.

The company secured its first racing title in the 1954 Austrian 125cc national championship.[14] In 1956, KTM made its appearance at the International Six Days Trials, where Egon Dornauer won a gold medal on a KTM machine.[15]

In 1957, KTM built its first sports motorcycle, the Trophy 125cc.[16] KTM's first moped, named Mecky, was launched in 1957, followed by Ponny I in 1960 and Ponny II in 1962 and Comet in 1963.[17] The 1960s also saw the beginning of bicycle production in Mattighofen.

Ernst Kronreif died in 1960.[18] Two years later in 1962,[19] Hans Trunkenpolz also died of a heart attack. His son, Erich Trunkenpolz, took charge of the company's management.

As the company continued to expand, the workforce totaled 400 in 1971, and forty years after it was founded, KTM was offering 42 different models. Additionally, KTM was able to produce motorcycles for the racing industry. During the 1970s and 80s, KTM also started to develop and produce engines and radiators. Radiators sold to European car manufacturers constituted a sizable part of the company's business in the 1980s.[20]

In 1978,[21] US subsidiary KTM North America Inc. was founded in Lorain, Ohio.

In 1980, the company was renamed KTM Motor-Fahrzeugbau KG.[20] One year later, KTM had about 700 employees and a turnover of 750m. Schilling (about 54.5m. euros). International business then amounted to 76% of the company's turnover.[20]

However, scooter and moped turnover sank rapidly, and production had to be halted in 1988.[20] Erich Trunkenpolz died in 1989. Takeover of a 51% interest in the company by the Austrian investment trust GIT Trust Holding controlled by Austrian politician Josef Taus in 1989 was followed by unsuccessful attempts to turn the indebted company around,[22] and in 1991, management of KTM was transferred to a consortium of creditor banks.

In 1991, the company was split into four new entities: KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH (motorcycles division), KTM Fahrrad GmbH (bicycles division), KTM Kühler GmbH (radiators division) and KTM Werkzeugbau GmbH (tooling division).

Bicycles: Urcauf Family Era [1992 Onwards]

[edit]

After the split, Urcauf family took over the bicycle division KTM Fahrrad GmbH in 1992.

In 1994, they started producing bikes with aluminium frames and electric bikes.

In 1996, Carol Urkauf-Chen takes over the company.

In 1998, They adopt orange colour in their logo.

In 2006 they launch bikes with full carbon frame.

In 2007, they shift to a new headquarter in Wels, Upper Austria.

In 2018 Owner Carol Urkauf-Chen moves to the supervisory board, Johanna Urkauf and Stefan Limbrunner act as managing directors.

Motorcycles: Stefan Pierer Era [1992-2025]

[edit]

Austrian Automotive entrepreneur Stefan Peirer took control of KTM Motorcycles in 1992 and later took over the sibling tooling division KTM Werkzeugbau. In the following years, while steadily increasing production and turnover, investing in new production and R&D facilities,[23][24][25] introducing new models and successfully sponsoring and taking part in various sports racing events, the company underwent a series of restructurings and stakeholder changes guided by KTM's managing director Stefan Pierer.

In 1994, KTM started production of the Duke series of road motorcycles; in 1996, KTM motocross machines were first decked out in KTM's signature orange color,[26] and 1997 saw the introduction of liquid-cooled two-cylinder Supermoto and Adventure motorcycles. In 2007, the company debuted the KTM X-Bow sports car.[27]

In 1995, KTM acquired Swedish motorcycle maker Husaberg AB and took control of the Dutch company WP Suspension.

In 2007, Indian motorcycle manufacturer Bajaj Auto acquired a 14.5% stake in KTM; which by 2013, increased to 47.97%.

In 2010 KTM Kühler divested their automotive radiator business to Mahle GmbH and the motorcycle radiator business to WP Suspension under WP Radiator brand.[28]

In 2013, KTM acquired the formerly Swedish motorcycle maker Husqvarna Motorcycles from its prior owner BMW.[23] The same year, KTM re-integrated the brand Husaberg into Husqvarna Motorcycles from which it had spun off in the 1990s when Husqvarna was sold to the Italian company Cagiva. In 2019, KTM acquired a majority stake of 60% in the Spanish enduro motorcycle brand GasGas.[29] In 2020 GasGas became a wholly owned subsidiary of KTM.[30]

In 2021 Bajaj Auto sold 46.5% of KTM's shares to Pierer Mobility AG in exchange for 49% shares in the latter company[31] and thus became an indirect stakeholder in KTM.

In 2022, KTM's Parent Company Pierer Mobility acquired a 25.1% stake in Italian motorcycle company MV Agusta;[32] and increased to a majority 50.1% in 2024.[33]

In 2023 Pierer Mobility's financial situation became increasingly unsustainable and by 2024 they had a heavy debt to pay off.[34] In 2024 KTM went into self imposed administration.[35] Pierer Mobility was compelled to sell their stake in MV Agusta back to the previous owners the Sardarov family.[36]

In the early 2025 Stefan Pierer started exiting from executives roles in KTM and its affiliates, making way for new investors.[37]

Motorcycles: Bajaj Auto Era [2025 onwards]

[edit]

In 2025, Bajaj Auto, who were until now holding 49% stake in Pierer Mobility had offerred to take full control of KTM and its sister concerns by an 800 million Euro debt package. The deal was concluded in November 2025. Pierer Mobility is due to be rennamed as Bajaj Mobility which will hold 74.94% shares in KTM; rest of which lies in public hands.

Operations

[edit]

At present, KTM brand is operated by two corporate houses-

  • Bajaj Auto — motorcycles & affiliated businesses
  • KTM Fahrrad GmbH — bicycles & related businesses

KTM Motorcycles

[edit]

KTM has facilities in Austria, India (partnership with Bajaj), and China (partnership with CFMoto) producing over 380,000 motorcycles (290,000 KTM models) in 2023.[38][39] The main production site located at Mattighofen, Austria manufacturers majority of the models. In collaboration with Bajaj, the facilitiy located in Pune, India is responsible for producing smaller displacement motorcycles, including the Duke and RC series, for both the domestic and international markets.[40] KTM and CFMOTO oversee the global production of the two LC8c models (790 Duke and 790 Adventure) in Hangzhou, China.

Furthermore, KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH and Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH operate 24 and 8 distribution subsidiaries worldwide, respectively, most of them in European and Asian countries and in the US.

Joint ventures

[edit]

KTM started exporting their GS model to the US in 1968 through an American importer, John Penton under the Penton brand. This joint venture lasted until KTM established KTM America Inc. in Ohio in 1978.[41]

In 2005, KTM-Sportmotocycle began a partnership with ATV manufacturer Polaris Industries with the goal of shared research, and more importantly shared distribution networks. This partnership was a two-year trial arrangement, at the end of which both parties had the option of merging the two companies into one. In 2006, KTM announced that the partnership with Polaris had been downgraded, and would instead only supply their 450cc and 510cc RFS engines to Polaris.[42]

In January 2008, Bajaj announced that it would jointly develop two new 125cc and 200cc bikes for Europe and the Far East. The bikes would be badged KTM.[43] In January 2012, Bajaj launched the Duke 200 model in India.[44]

In November 2022 KTM acquired a 25,1 % stake in the Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta.[45]

KTM Bike Industries

[edit]

KTM as a brand is also used by KTM Fahrrad GmbH, which, as the exclusive licensee, manufactures bicycles and bicycle accessories. This company originated by the spin-off of KTM in 1991 and shares the same history and heritage as that of KTM Motorcycles.

Motorsports

[edit]
Mika Kallio's 125 cc road race motorcycle
Samuli Aro's WEC E2 class bike
Tony Cairoli's 350 SX bike

KTM entered motorsports competing in motocross racing. KTM won its first championship in 1974 when Gennady Moiseyev claimed the 250cc Motocross World Championship.[46] By the end of 2016, KTM had won more than 260 world championship titles, making the company one of the most successful brands in motorsports.[23] KTM has claimed 96 MXGP, MX1 and MX2 world titles since 1974 and 114 E1, E2, E3 and Super Enduro world titles since 1990. With Ryan Dungey's 2015, 2016 and 2017 victories in the supercross world championship, KTM gained a successful presence in supercross racing as well. In 1994, a KTM factory team debuted at the Dakar Rally. In 1998, KTM riders won second to twelfth place. With consecutive wins from 2001 to 2019, the manufacturer has dominated the rally for 18 years now. KTM teams successfully compete in other rally raid events like the Atlas Rally or the Rallye du Maroc. KTM has won 37 cross country rallies world titles since 2003 and has won the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship 15 times, most recently in 2015.

In 2003, KTM started sponsoring and supporting road racing in various capacities, with the most successful results stemming from their supermoto efforts. From 2003 to 2009, a KTM factory team competed in the 125 cc class of the motorcycle Grands Prix, and between 2005 and 2008 in the 250 cc class. Notable successes in the 125 cc class were the second and third place in the overall ranking scored in 2005 by KTM riders Mika Kallio and Gábor Talmácsi, the second place in 2006 by Mika Kallio, the third place in 2007 by Tomoyoshi Koyama and the 2005 KTM victory in the 125 cc constructor's championship. In the 250 cc class, Mika Kallio won third place in 2008. Since the first Rookies Cup season in 2007, KTM has supplied the bike for the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

[edit]

In 2009, KTM announced their withdrawal from Grand Prix motorcycle racing in all classes, and did not return until 2012 in the new Moto3 class.

In 2012, KTM won the Moto3 manufacturers' championship. During the next season, KTM riders prevailed in every race of the Moto3 class and won the world title as well as second and third place, making KTM the obvious victor of the manufacturers' standing. KTM won the manufacturer title in the 2014 and 2016 as well as the world title in 2016 in the Moto3 class. Starting in 2017, KTM fields bikes in both MotoGP and Moto2 classes as well. The main class team features Jack Miller and Brad Binder as full-season riders, Mika Kallio as wildcard rider, and Dani Pedrosa as test/development rider. The Moto2 KTM Ajo team features Pedro Acosta and Albert Arenas. Steadfastly independent and confident of their company's abilities, KTM chose to use a steel trellis frame where all other manufacturers used aluminum. In addition, KTM insisted on developing their own racing suspension through their WP subsidiary (all other manufacturers used Öhlins). KTM demonstrated their prowess in doing things their own way by winning their first Moto GP premier class race on August 9, 2020, with rookie Brad Binder crossing the finish line in first place.

From 2009[47] to 2011,[48] KTM teams competed in the IDM, the Superbike International German Championships. There were speculations about a possible KTM foray[49] into the superbike world championship. Due to the company's focus shifting away from the RC8 and generally superbike design, these plans are off the table for the foreseeable future.[50]

KTM's official company/team colours are orange, black and silver. To create a strong brand identity, all competition-ready KTMs come from the factory with bright orange plastic with "KTM" emblazoned on the side of the radiator shrouds. All KTM bikes also come from the factory with a Motorex sticker on the outside of the motor. All first fills of oil come from Motorex as well. Some official KTM teams use different colors for their bikes, most noticeably in the Dakar Rally.

Products

[edit]

Off-road motorcycles

[edit]

KTM manufactures a wide range of off-road motorcycles. Not all of their models are available in every country. The following section lists bikes that are sold in the US.

Motocross – The current Motocross line designated by SX includes 50, 65, 85, 105, 125, 150, 250 and 300 cc single-cylinder two-stroke models (the 50 SX, 65 SX and 85 SX models are kids' and youth bikes), and 250, 350 and 450 cc single-cylinder four-stroke models (SX-F).[51] In 2005 KTM released the new 250SX-F to the general public. Since 2007, the SX-F's have been KTM's new racing motocross range. Current versions of the KTM SX-F line have a dual overhead camshaft engine dubbed the “RC4”.

Cross-Country – The current cross-country line designated by XC includes 150, 250 and 300 cc two-stroke models and 250, 350 and 450 cc four-stroke models. The two-stroke XC machines except the 150 cc model are available with either wide-ratio or close-ratio transmission (when switching gears, there is a more or less pronounced rpm change). The four-stroke models are fitted with a semi-close ratio gearbox. Most models are equipped with an electric starter.[52]

The very lightweight XC bikes are competition bikes only; they do not meet homologation regulations.

Enduro – The street-legal EXC enduro versions of KTM's XC cross-country bikes are supplied with plusher non-linkage suspensions, a wider-ratio gear box and lights.

The current line available in the US consists of 350, 450 and 500 (actually 510 cc) four-stroke EXC models.[52]

Free Ride – A KTM original class of off-road motorcycle that could be described as a cross between Enduro and trials bikes. The Freeride 250R is powered by a lighter, modified version of the 250 EXC Enduro engine and has a specially developed six-speed gearbox with close transmission ratios in the lower gears and a wide ratio for the sixth gear.[53] A four-stroke 350 cc free ride model with similar characteristics,[54] and the all-electric single-speed models Freeride E-SX, Freeride E-XC as well as their street version Freeride E-SM are available in Europe.[55]

KTM Motorcycles Models List
Category Model Engine Type Engine Designation Status Picture
Motocross SX 2-Stroke 50cc; 65cc; 85cc; 125cc; 250cc; 300cc In Production
450 SX-F
SX-F 4-Stroke 250cc; 350cc; 450cc In Production
SX-E Electric 1.8KW; 3.8KW; 5.0 KW In Production
Freeride E-XC Electric 18KW In Production
Freeride E-XC
Enduro EXC 2-Stroke 125cc; 150cc; 250cc; 300cc In Production
350 EXC-F
XC-W 2-Stroke 150cc; 250cc; 300cc In Production
EXC-F 4-Stroke 450cc Old
EXC-F
Plated
4-Stroke 350cc; 500cc In Production
XCF-W 4-Stroke 450cc In Production
Cross Country XC 2-Stroke 250cc; 300cc In Production
300XC
XC-F 4-Stroke 250cc; 350cc; 450cc In Production
Dual Sport Enduro R 4-Stroke 125cc; 390cc; 690cc In Production
690 Enduro R
Adventure Adventure 4-Stroke 390cc, 890cc In Production
2022 390 Adventure
Super Adventure LC8c: 4-Stroke; 75° V-twin 1290cc In Production
Rally Replica 4-Stroke 450cc In Production
Sports Tourer Super Duke GT 4-Stroke 1290cc In Production  
SMT 4-Stroke 890cc In Production
Supermoto SMR 4-Stroke 450cc In Production
690 SMC R
SMC R 4-Stroke 125cc; 390cc; 690cc In Production
Naked Duke LC4c: 4-Stroke; Single Cylinder
LC8c: 4-Stroke; Parallel Twin
250cc; 390cc; 990cc In Production
2018 Duke 790
Super Duke LC8: 4-Stroke; 75° V-twin 1390cc In Production
Brabus 4-Stroke; 75° V-twin 1400cc In Production
Supersport RC 4-Stroke 390cc In Production
RC 390
RC 8C 4-Stroke; Parallel Twin 890cc In Production
990 RC R Parallel-twin, 4-stroke 990cc In Production

Two-stroke development

[edit]

In the 1990s, AMA rule changes put the cheaper, simpler two-stroke machines at a disadvantage to four-stroke bikes in motocross competitions by limiting two-stroke displacement at 125 cc for the 250 cc class and 250 cc for the 450 cc class.[56] While other manufacturers have decided to discontinue their two-stroke models, KTM has continued with creating and improving their two-stroke engines and has consequently taken up a very high proportion of the two-stroke bike market.

New European emission laws have increased the pressure on two-stroke bikes, as their engines are less fuel efficient and produce more pollution than four-stroke engines. However, with newer advances in technology, two-strokes have begun to burn cleaner and pass stricter environmental standards. Starting in 2017, all newly registered motorcycles must conform with the Euro 4 regulations for emissions management. In May 2017, KTM unveiled a new two-stroke engine with direct fuel injection. By pressure-injecting an electronically controlled amount of fuel into the transfer port of the cylinder, the new TPI (transfer port injection) engines will be more fuel efficient and cleaner than classic carburetor two-stroke engines, albeit more complex and expensive. By 2018, 250 and 300 EXC TPI enduro models will be powered by the new engine.[57]

Street and Dual Purpose Bikes

[edit]
KTM Duke 620 – KTM's first stock supermoto bike

The first KTM street bike was the 1994 Duke 620.[58][59][60]

Standard/Naked – With the Duke and Superduke models, KTM currently offers naked bikes with 250, 390, 990 and 1390 cc displacement. The 125 (not available in the US), 250 and 390 models have a single-cylinder four-stroke LC4 motor. The 990 Duke use a new twin-parallel engine. The 1390 R Superduke model is equipped with a 75 degree V-twin four-stroke motor (LC8).[61]

The 200, 250 and 390 Duke models are currently produced by Bajaj Auto in Pune, India. The 250 is only available in Asia, with only the Duke 390 and Duke 200 being exported to European countries and North America.

Dual Sport – KTM currently produces the 390 Enduro R and 690 Enduro R Dual sport models which are basically road bikes suitable for off-road excursions. These bikes typically have lower seat heights and more comfort features than a "street legal" off-road bike.

Adventure touring – KTM currently produces the 390 Adventure, 890 Adventure R, and 1290 Super Adventure dual-sport adventure bikes in versions with different seat height, wheels and suspensions that endow the machines with a road (S), off-road (R – for rally) or touring (T) bias.[62] Not all versions are available on the US market.

The 1090 Adventure and 1290 Super Adventure bikes are powered by 75 degree V-twin four-stroke motors (LC8). The 790 Adventure is powered by the new LC8c parallel twin four-stroke motor. All 3 feature a slipper clutch, electronically controlled riding modes (sport, street and rain) with the 1290 and 790 featuring a TFT display and the 1090 featuring a twin (analog plus LCD) display.

Sport – KTM sport bikes currently offered in the supersport category include the RC 125 (not available in the US) and the RC 390. Both are street-legal versions of bikes that compete in street races. With the RC16, KTM has presented a 1000 cc sport bike that will race in the MotoGP class of the 2017 Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix.[63] Whether there will be a street-legal production version of the RC16 at a later point in time is yet unclear.

In Asia, KTM also markets RC 200 and RC 250 street bikes. KTM is also planning to introduced a new 150cc bike in its RC lineup in the Asian countries. This would be the KTC RC 150, that will powered by a 149cc, single-cylinder engine and 6-speed gearbox. This will be launched at a more affordable price, so everyone can opt for it.[64]

Sports Touring – The KTM sports tourer 1290 Superduke GT (Gran Turismo) is a version of the 1290 Superduke R naked bike that has been modified for more touring comfort with a longer and more robust frame, modified handlebar, larger fuel tank and modified 75 degree V-twin four-stroke LC8 motor. Like the 1290 Super Adventure, the 1290 Superduke GT features three electronically controlled riding modes.[65]

Supermoto – KTM was the first manufacturer to offer a competition-ready supermoto bike to the public. However, the company stopped supermoto production in 2016 to focus on stock 690 SMC R machines. For the 2019 Model year, the 690 SMC R model was completely renewed. The bike now has the latest version of the single cylinder LC4 power unit, introduced for the MY2016 Duke. The previous supermoto models included the 625 SMC and the race version 560 SMR. The 141 kg light 690 SMC R model has a 48 kW liquid-cooled one-cylinder four-stroke motor (LC4) and a hydraulically actuated APTC slipper clutch.[66]

X-Bow

[edit]
KTM X-Bow GT4

The KTM X-Bow (pronounced cross-bow) is a series of lightweight, two-seater sports cars known as the X-Bow R, the X-Bow RR, the X-Bow GT and the X-BOW GT4.[67] The R and GT versions of the X-Bow are street-legal in Europe, North America, China and Australia. It uses an Audi engine and a carbon fibre chassis developed in cooperation with Italian racing car manufacturer Dallara, making it the world's first street-legal car with a full carbon fibre monocoque.

Discontinued

[edit]

KTM retired from superbike production and competitions.[50] From 2008 to 2015, the company produced the 1190 RC8 superbike, a light, powerful homologated (street-legal) bike for superbike competitions with an LC8 motor and without any of the electronic driving aids that the otherwise comparable Superduke and Super Adventure models offer.

KTM has ceased production of 450SX, 450XC, 505SX and 525XC All-terrain vehicles

Design

[edit]

Since 2016,[68] KTM motorcycles have been designed by KISKA GmbH, a Salzburg-based design firm. KISKA also designed four versions of the X-Bow and is responsible for the overall branding for KTM and Husqvarna.

Parts and Wear

[edit]

Under the Powerparts label, KTM sells tuning and styling parts for its street and off-road motorcycles and the X-Bow.[69] The Powerwear label offers race gear and equipment, clothing, accessories and merchandise articles.[70]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Executive Board".
  2. ^ "Bajaj Auto Completes Full Acquisition of KTM". NDTV. 19 November 2025.
  3. ^ "KTM – Company Summary". Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  4. ^ Tillman Lambert (2021). "KTM Fahrrad investiert in Mattighofen". SAZbike.de. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Bajaj Auto completes majority acquisition of KTM after regulatory nod". The Economic Times. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Hans Trunkenpolz". salzburg.com. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  7. ^ "KTM Group" (PDF). ktmgroup.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  8. ^ "KTM-Motorfahrzeugbau KG, Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen". salzburg.com. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  9. ^ "A Short Background of KTM Bicycles". ktm-bikes.co.za. Archived from the original on 10 August 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  10. ^ "A Look Back – Motorcycles". web.pdx.edu. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  11. ^ "R125 Tourist". 25 March 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "Grand Tourist". 6 March 2015. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Mirabell Scooter". ktm.com. 11 December 2015. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  14. ^ "KTM Motorcycle History". Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Dornauer wins on KTM". Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Trophy 125cc". web.pdx.edu. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  17. ^ "KTM stages a comeback at the six days on factory bikes". 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Ernst Kronreif". Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  19. ^ "Hans Trunkenpolz". salzburg.com. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  20. ^ a b c d "KTM Geschichte". ktm-ulrich.ch (in German). Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  21. ^ "1978 in KTM history". motorcycle-usa.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  22. ^ "Cycle World Magazine, April 1992". Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  23. ^ a b c "KTM Annual Report 2015" (PDF). ktmgroup.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  24. ^ "Die Firmengeschichte von KTM" (in German). Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  25. ^ "Die Firmengeschichte von KTM" (in German). Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  26. ^ "KTM goes orange". 10 November 2016. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  27. ^ "The KTM X-Bow makes its debut at the Geneva International Motor Show". 7 March 2017. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  28. ^ "Renovation KTM KÜHLER successfully completed". 3 April 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  29. ^ "KTM announces joint venture with Gas Gas". Australasian Dirt Bike. 27 September 2019. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  30. ^ "GasGas Brand Milestones". GasGas. 14 August 2025. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  31. ^ "Bajaj swaps shares in KTM with Pierer Group". www.thehindubusinessline.com. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  32. ^ "Pierer Mobility and MV Agusta agree on strategic cooperation". Pierer Mobility AG. 3 November 2022. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  33. ^ "Pierer Mobility: Early takeover of majority stake in MV Agusta". Pierer Mobility AG. 15 March 2024. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  34. ^ "KTM: produrre in Europa costa troppo, 300 dipendenti in meno in Austria". dueruote.it. dueruote.it. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  35. ^ "Bankruptcy looms as KTM enters self-administration". New Atlas. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  36. ^ "KTM's insolvency administrator puts shares of MV Agusta on sale". Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  37. ^ "KTM crisis: Stefan Pierer is out!". 4 March 2025.
  38. ^ "Production Facility | KTM". www.ktm.com. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  39. ^ "KTM Owner Moves Production to Chinas". Cycle World. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  40. ^ "Global milestone for PIERER Mobility: The 1,000,000th KTM motorcycle leaves the production plant of the strategic partner Bajaj in Pune/India | PIERER Mobility AG". www.pierermobility.com. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  41. ^ "KTM Motorcycle History". Motorcycle USA. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  42. ^ Gardiner, Mark (January 2010). "KTM Motorcycle History". motorcycle.com. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  43. ^ "Bajaj & Ktm To Jointly Develop New Bikes". Biker Voodoo. 20 June 2007. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  44. ^ "Bajaj launches Duke 200 in India, specifications". Gujaratglobal.com. 20 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  45. ^ "Superveloce 800 Serie Oro". roadracingworld.com. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  46. ^ "1974 250cc motocross world championship results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  47. ^ "KTM To Campaign 1190 RC8 R In 2009 IDM/German Superbike Championship". roadracingworld.com. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  48. ^ "Motorex-KTM's Bauer Wins IDM/German Superbike Championship". roadracingworld.com. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  49. ^ "KTM move forward in Superbike development". Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  50. ^ a b "No More Superbikes for KTM – CEO Says They're Too Dangerous For Public Roads". therideadvice.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  51. ^ "KTM MX". Archived from the original on 26 May 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  52. ^ a b "KTM Enduro". Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  53. ^ "KTM Freeride 250 R 2017". Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  54. ^ "KTM Freeride 350 2017". Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  55. ^ "KTM Freeride E". Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  56. ^ "Motocross Action Magazine - MXA'S Two-Strok Tuesday: The AMA Displacement Rule". 28 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  57. ^ "KTM unveils world's first 2-stroke fuel injection enduro machines". Archived from the original on 27 May 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  58. ^ Lapalme, Julia (March 2017), "ORANGE THEORY", Motorcyclist, pp. 51–53
  59. ^ Duke, Olly (August 1994), "KTM Duke: supermotard styling strikes again", Cycle World, pp. 62 (2)
  60. ^ "Off-the-Shelf Racers; KTM's Supermoto three-pack", American Motorcyclist, vol. 58, no. 4, American Motorcyclist Association, p. 20, April 2004, ISSN 0277-9358, retrieved 4 May 2011
  61. ^ "KTM Naked Bike". Archived from the original on 27 May 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  62. ^ "The 2017 KTM 1090 Adventure and 1090 Adventure R Add To KTM's Adventure Bike Lineup". Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  63. ^ "First Look: KTM RC16". Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  64. ^ Dahiya, Ravi (5 August 2022). "KTM RC 150". ARDwheels. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  65. ^ "2017 KTM Super Duke GT – Ride Review". Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  66. ^ "KTM 690 SMC R 2017". Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  67. ^ Rated X: KTM unveils X-Bow sketches – Autoblog
  68. ^ How one design studio took KTM from bankrupt dirtbike company to giant-slayer lanesplitter.jalopnik.com, 15 February 2016. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2021
  69. ^ "KTM powerparts". Archived from the original on 2 May 2017.
  70. ^ "KTM Powerwear". Archived from the original on 5 May 2017.
[edit]
  • Official website Edit this at Wikidata

 

Reviews for Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates


Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates

capatina ana

(5)

A unique experience. We had a wonderful time with our driver, Arham, who took some amazing photos of us. We wholeheartedly recommend him!

Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates

Martti Garden

(5)

It was an amazing experience driving through the desert with a 4x4, having a great dinner in the camp with good entertainment. And our driver Mohammed was awesome: very friendly, always pointing out interesting things to see and thankfully very skilled when driving through the dunes.

https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUMyNk1XZWR3EAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xa81ee7236b46ad2b!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIC26MWedw%7CCgwInpLRkgYQ2N6tqQM%7C?hl=en-US

View GBP

About Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Driving Directions in Dubai


Google Maps Location
Click below to open this location on Google Maps
Google Maps Location
Click below to open this location on Google Maps
Arabic tea coffee welcome
25.155906148581, 55.262117832681
Starting Point
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Destination
Open in Google Maps
desert safari with dinner
25.209668321417, 55.280433964748
Starting Point
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Destination
Open in Google Maps
Arabic tea coffee welcome
25.16517077674, 55.285961150235
Starting Point
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Destination
Open in Google Maps
fire show desert camp
25.142427375278, 55.292602648476
Starting Point
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Destination
Open in Google Maps
Tanura dance Dubai
25.158189084696, 55.300979731565
Starting Point
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Destination
Open in Google Maps
overnight desert experience UAE
25.182604043535, 55.271210628041
Starting Point
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Destination
Open in Google Maps
Dubai evening tour
25.18315113028, 55.312641192188
Starting Point
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Destination
Open in Google Maps
desert safari Dubai
25.216579035944, 55.300136283109
Starting Point
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Destination
Open in Google Maps
Al Awir desert Dubai
25.222888417133, 55.23112909121
Starting Point
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Destination
Open in Google Maps
Dubai desert camp
25.146518802271, 55.283980461461
Starting Point
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy Rental & ATV Quad Bike Tours - Marasi Drive - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Lake Central Tower 4th Floor - Office 404 مراسي درايف - الخليج التجاري - دبي - United Arab Emirates
Destination
Open in Google Maps
Google Maps Location
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=25.168410381057,55.275802349968&destination=Desert+Safari+Dubai+-+Dune+Buggy+Rental+%26+ATV+Quad+Bike+Tours+-+Marasi+Drive+-+Dubai+-+United+Arab+Emirates%2C+Lake+Central+Tower+4th+Floor+-+Office+404+%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A+%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%81+-+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AC+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A+-+%D8%AF%D8%A8%D9%8A+-+United+Arab+Emirates&destination_place_id=ChIJi9i_obKP9T4RK61GayPnHqg&travelmode=driving&query=desert+safari+with+dinner
Click below to open this location on Google Maps
Google Maps Location
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=25.195172807975,55.309668740179&destination=Desert+Safari+Dubai+-+Dune+Buggy+Rental+%26+ATV+Quad+Bike+Tours+-+Marasi+Drive+-+Dubai+-+United+Arab+Emirates%2C+Lake+Central+Tower+4th+Floor+-+Office+404+%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A+%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%81+-+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AC+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A+-+%D8%AF%D8%A8%D9%8A+-+United+Arab+Emirates&destination_place_id=ChIJi9i_obKP9T4RK61GayPnHqg&travelmode=transit&query=sunset+desert+Dubai
Click below to open this location on Google Maps
Google Maps Location
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=25.171896438972,55.251918310185&destination=Desert+Safari+Dubai+-+Dune+Buggy+Rental+%26+ATV+Quad+Bike+Tours+-+Marasi+Drive+-+Dubai+-+United+Arab+Emirates%2C+Lake+Central+Tower+4th+Floor+-+Office+404+%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A+%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%81+-+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AC+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A+-+%D8%AF%D8%A8%D9%8A+-+United+Arab+Emirates&destination_place_id=ChIJi9i_obKP9T4RK61GayPnHqg&travelmode=walking&query=Land+Cruiser+4x4+Dubai
Click below to open this location on Google Maps
Google Maps Location
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=25.187114243637,55.220438497945&destination=Desert+Safari+Dubai+-+Dune+Buggy+Rental+%26+ATV+Quad+Bike+Tours+-+Marasi+Drive+-+Dubai+-+United+Arab+Emirates%2C+Lake+Central+Tower+4th+Floor+-+Office+404+%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A+%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%81+-+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AC+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A+-+%D8%AF%D8%A8%D9%8A+-+United+Arab+Emirates&destination_place_id=ChIJi9i_obKP9T4RK61GayPnHqg&travelmode=bicycling&query=dune+bashing+Dubai
Click below to open this location on Google Maps
Google Maps Location
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=25.146821565157,55.261341967803&destination=Desert+Safari+Dubai+-+Dune+Buggy+Rental+%26+ATV+Quad+Bike+Tours+-+Marasi+Drive+-+Dubai+-+United+Arab+Emirates%2C+Lake+Central+Tower+4th+Floor+-+Office+404+%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A+%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%81+-+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AC+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A+-+%D8%AF%D8%A8%D9%8A+-+United+Arab+Emirates&destination_place_id=ChIJi9i_obKP9T4RK61GayPnHqg&travelmode=walking&query=Land+Cruiser+4x4+Dubai
Click below to open this location on Google Maps
Google Maps Location
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=25.222888417133,55.23112909121&destination=Desert+Safari+Dubai+-+Dune+Buggy+Rental+%26+ATV+Quad+Bike+Tours+-+Marasi+Drive+-+Dubai+-+United+Arab+Emirates%2C+Lake+Central+Tower+4th+Floor+-+Office+404+%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A+%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%81+-+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AC+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A+-+%D8%AF%D8%A8%D9%8A+-+United+Arab+Emirates&destination_place_id=ChIJi9i_obKP9T4RK61GayPnHqg&travelmode=driving&query=Al+Awir+desert+Dubai
Click below to open this location on Google Maps
Google Maps Location
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=25.149910080292,55.257597125676&destination=Desert+Safari+Dubai+-+Dune+Buggy+Rental+%26+ATV+Quad+Bike+Tours+-+Marasi+Drive+-+Dubai+-+United+Arab+Emirates%2C+Lake+Central+Tower+4th+Floor+-+Office+404+%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A+%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%81+-+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AC+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A+-+%D8%AF%D8%A8%D9%8A+-+United+Arab+Emirates&destination_place_id=ChIJi9i_obKP9T4RK61GayPnHqg&travelmode=walking&query=desert+sunset+photography+Dubai
Click below to open this location on Google Maps
Google Maps Location
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=25.210033386837,55.320378304865&destination=Desert+Safari+Dubai+-+Dune+Buggy+Rental+%26+ATV+Quad+Bike+Tours+-+Marasi+Drive+-+Dubai+-+United+Arab+Emirates%2C+Lake+Central+Tower+4th+Floor+-+Office+404+%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A+%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%81+-+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AC+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A+-+%D8%AF%D8%A8%D9%8A+-+United+Arab+Emirates&destination_place_id=ChIJi9i_obKP9T4RK61GayPnHqg&travelmode=driving&query=desert+BBQ+buffet
Click below to open this location on Google Maps
Google Maps Location
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=25.179962950101,55.250153528354&destination=Desert+Safari+Dubai+-+Dune+Buggy+Rental+%26+ATV+Quad+Bike+Tours+-+Marasi+Drive+-+Dubai+-+United+Arab+Emirates%2C+Lake+Central+Tower+4th+Floor+-+Office+404+%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A+%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%81+-+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AC+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A+-+%D8%AF%D8%A8%D9%8A+-+United+Arab+Emirates&destination_place_id=ChIJi9i_obKP9T4RK61GayPnHqg&travelmode=driving&query=Dubai+dune+tour
Click below to open this location on Google Maps
Google Maps Location
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=25.179067956087,55.259198871796&destination=Desert+Safari+Dubai+-+Dune+Buggy+Rental+%26+ATV+Quad+Bike+Tours+-+Marasi+Drive+-+Dubai+-+United+Arab+Emirates%2C+Lake+Central+Tower+4th+Floor+-+Office+404+%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A+%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%81+-+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AC+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A+-+%D8%AF%D8%A8%D9%8A+-+United+Arab+Emirates&destination_place_id=ChIJi9i_obKP9T4RK61GayPnHqg&travelmode=transit&query=UAE+desert+adventure
Click below to open this location on Google Maps

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes alcohol is available at our desert camp during Evening Desert Safari Dubai at additional charges. We offer a selection of beverages for adult guests who wish to enjoy drinks with their BBQ dinner.

Wear comfortable loose clothing and closed shoes for your Evening Desert Safari Dubai experience. Avoid sandals or flip-flops as they may fall off during activities. Sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended for the early evening hours.

Our Evening Desert Safari Dubai price starts at AED 375 per person which includes all activities