Timeline of Abu Dhabi

Prior to 20th century

1761 - Drinking water found on Abu Dhabi Island; settlement begins.^[1]
1790s - Abu Dhabi Island becomes "capital of the Bani Yas tribal confederation."^[1]
1818 - Shakhbut bin Dhiyab Al Nahyan and Tahnun bin Shakhbut Al Nahyan become rulers of Abu Dhabi.
1855 - Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan becomes ruler of Abu Dhabi.

20th century

1928 - Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan becomes ruler of Abu Dhabi.^[2]
1939 - Abu Dhabi Petroleum Company established.^[3]
1948 - Dubai-Abu Dhabi border dispute.^[1]
1952 - Population: 4,000 in sheikdom (estimate).^[4]
1955 - The city's first airfield opens
1958 - Oil discovered in Abu Dhabi.^[3]
1962 - Oil exportation begins from offshore Das Island.^[5]^[2]
1963 - The Trucial rulers sign an agreement to issue a decree to abolish slavery.
1966 - Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan becomes ruler of Abu Dhabi.^[5]
1968 - Population: 46,375.^[6]
1969 - Al Bateen Airport begins operating on Abu Dhabi Island.
1971
- December: Abu Dhabi becomes part of the newly formed United Arab Emirates.^[5]
- Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established.^[7]
1972 - Al-Ittihad newspaper in publication.^[8]
1974 - Al Fajr newspaper begins publication.
1980
- E 11 road (Dubai-Abu Dhabi) completed.
- Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates headquartered in Abu Dhabi.
- Population: 242,975.^[9]
1981 - Regional Gulf Cooperation Council meets in Abu Dhabi.^[5]
1982 - Zayed International Airport (then called Abu Dhabi International Airport) established on the mainland.
1991 - July: "Bank of Credit and Commerce International collapses. Abu Dhabi's ruling family owns a 77.4% share."^[5]
1993 - International Defence Exhibition begins.^[10]
1994 - Baynunah Hilton Tower built.^[11]
2000 - Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange established.

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21st century

Summarize

Perspective

2001 - Abu Dhabi Mall and Marina Mall in business.
2002 - Population: 527,000.^[12]
2003 - July: Etihad Airways founded ^[13]
2004 - Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan becomes ruler of Abu Dhabi.^[2]
2005 - Emirates Palace hotel in business.
2007
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque built.^[11]
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre opens.
2008 - Abu Dhabi Bus service begins.
2009
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix car race begins.
- Construction begins on Abu Dhabi National Oil Company headquarters and Saadiyat Island's Louvre Abu Dhabi.
2010
- Sky Tower built.
- Ferrari World amusement park in business on Yas Island.
2011
- Sheikh Zayed Bridge,^[14] Capital Gate, and Etihad Towers built.
- Guggenheim Abu Dhabi construction begins on Saadiyat Island.^[15]
2012 - The Landmark built (tallest in city).
2014
- Yas Mall in business.^[16]
- New York University Saadiyat Island campus built.^[17]
2019 - Pope Francis becomes the first Pope ever to visit the Arabian Peninsula and the UAE, specifically Abu Dhabi, from

February 3–5.

2020 - On August 31, at around 10:15 a.m., a gas explosion occurred in a restaurant in a building along Rashid Bin Saeed Street (Airport Road). At least three persons were killed and several others were injured. A misalignment in the gas container fittings following refuelling was found to have caused the accident.^[18]^[19]^[20]
2022
- 2022 Abu Dhabi attack
- Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan becomes ruler of Abu Dhabi.
2023
- Airport Terminal A is open for public

Prior to 20th century