Abu Dhabi is the capital of U.A.E. and largest among the seven Emirates forming the United Arab Emirates. According to the 1995 statistics, it form 86% of the total UAE area with a population of 928,360 inhabitants. As far as oil production and reserve are concerned, Abu Dhabi comes the first among other Emirates forming the UAE. Alone it owns 11% of the total world reserve, that is about (100) billion barrels of oil and (60) billion cubic meters of natural gas.

Due to its strategic geographical situation, with borders with Qatar; Saudi Arabia and Sultanate of Oman, Abu Dhabi is also counted as a major re-export trade centre in the whole region. Adopting a freemarket economic policy with no taxes levied on profit or income, the Emirate became a focus polarizing money and businesses, as well as a starting point for international firms hunting for other neighboring and Asian markets.

Abu Dhabi is t divided for administrative purposes into three major regions. The first region encompasses the city of Abu Dhabi which is both the capital of the emirate and the federal capital. Abu Dhabi's second region, known as the Eastern Region, has as its capital Al Ain city. This fertile area is rich in greenery with plenty of farms, public parks and important archaeological sites and Al Ain is connected to the outside world through Al Ain International Airport.

The Western Region, the emirate's third administrative sector, comprises 52 villages and has as its capital Bida Zayed, or Zayed City. Extensive afforestation covers at least 100,000 hectares, including more than 20 million evergreens. The country's main onshore oil fields are located here, as is the country's largest oil refinery, at Al Ruwais.

In addition to the three mainland regions of Abu Dhabi there are a number of important islands within the emirate including Das, Mubarraz, Zirku and Arzanah, near where the main offshore oil fields are located. Closer inshore are Dalma, Sir Bani Yas, Merawah, Abu al-Abyadh and Saadiyat, together with many other islands.

Important Telephone Nos.

International access code for Abu Dhabi : 00971 2
National access code for Abu Dhabi : 02

Abu Dhabi Police : 999
Abu Dhabi Fire Dept. : 997
Abu Dhabi Ambulance : 998/999
Abu Dhabi 24 Hrs Airport & Flight Information : 5757500
Abu Dhabi 24 Hrs Gulf Air Reservation : 5757500
Abu Dhabi Electricity and Water Dept. : 991