The Environmental Atlas of Abu Dhabi Emirate

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Ra's al- Khaimah

Qaffay Prior to 1970, Abu Dhabi Emirate was largely undeveloped with a population of 46,375 (1968 Census Data). The increased commercial production of oil over the past forty years spurred urban development and industrial growth, which led to a dramatic rise in population. Census data from 2005 indicate the population of the Emirate was 1.4 million. By the end of 2008, Abu Dhabi had a total of 1.57 million people, and was the most heavily populated of the seven emirates that make up the UAE. Seventy-five per cent of the population are expatriates, while the remaining twenty-five per cent are Emirati. A majority of the population resides in the urban centres of Abu Dhabi City and Al Ain City; other population centres are found in smaller towns and cities in the Western Region such as Madinat Zayed, Mirfa, and Ghayathi. The population is projected to more than triple by 2030; these increases will occur mainly in Abu Dhabi City and Al Ain City, with projected growths of greater than 3 million and 1 million, respectively. Muhayyimat Mkasib P OPULATION 2005 C ENSUS & P ROJECTED I NCREASE IN U RBAN P OPULATION 2030

Projected Population Change of Between: 2005 to 2030 >325,000 Increase

250,001 and 325,000 Increase 200,001 and 250,000 Increase 150,001 and 200,000 Increase 100,001 and 150,000 Increase 50,001 and 100,000 Increase 25,001 and 50,000 Increase 5,001 and 25,000 Increase No change and 5,000 Increase No change and -4,999 Decrease -5,000 and -14,9999 Decrease < -15,000 Decrease

Ghantoot

Umm al-Qaiwain

Until the middle of the past century, population centres in the Emirate were restricted to seasonal settlements in and around Abu Dhabi, Dalma Island and inland at Ghayathi, Liwa and Al Ain. The population consisted of a number of different tribal groups with their strong ties of kinship and distinct traditions. The most prominent of these groups were the Bani Yas, Manasir and Baharinah. In 1904 the tribal population in the Emirate was approximately 18,000, with settled groups and nomads who would camel herd, hunt and fish. Nomadism declined, specifically among the Bedouin of the dominant Bani Yas tribe, as the economy in the region diversified. T RIBAL P OPULATION IN 1904

Ajman

Sharjah

Saadiyat Island

Dubai

Capital District

Abu Dhabi Island

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Abu DhabiTown 1904 Population: 5,195

Taweela

Shwaib

Al Faq

Samha

Al Hayer

A r a b i a n G u l f

Al Bateen 1904 Population: 650

Abu Dhabi

Shahama

Sweihan

Ghaghah

Musaffah

Bani Yas

Dalma Island 1904 Population: 75

Yahir

Al Ain

As Sad

Al-Sulaimat

Jebel Dhanna

Bu Samra

Remah

Al Khatim

Al Khazna

Ruwais

Mirfa

Az Zahir

Sila'a

Al Hamra

Tarif

Mezyed

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24°N

Abu Dhabi Western Region

Al Arad

Al Ain Abu Dhabi

Ghayathi

Habshan

Bid al-Mutawah

Al Ain and Buraimi Oasis 1904 Population: 5,500

Al Wijan

Madinat Zayed

Towns

Large/Medium Towns Small Towns Regions Dual Carriageway Roads Roads

Bu Hasa

Ships at the Abu Dhabi Coast in 1904

Al Qua'a

Al Ain

Liwa and Ghayathi 1904 Population: 6,570

Western Region

2005 Population Per Census Block

Shah

0 - 250 251 - 500 501 - 650 651 - 1250 1251 - 2000 2001 - 3000 3001 - 7000

Mouzaira’a

Khannur

Liwa

HILI

CENTRAL DISTRICT

Qiesah

AL MUWAIJI

Aradah

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23°N

Hamim

ASHAREJ

AL MAQAM

Projected Population Change of Between: 2005 to 2030 >325,000 Increase

7001 - 10500 10501 - 17000 17001 - 26000

250,001 and 325,000 Increase 200,001 and 250,000 Increase 150,001 and 200,000 Increase 100,001 and 150,000 Increase 50,001 and 100,000 Increase 25,001 and 50,000 Increase 5,001 and 25,000 Increase No change and 5,000 Increase No change and -4,999 Decrease -5,000 and -14,9999 Decrease < -15,000 Decrease

A musician in Abu Dhabi, 1904

The late Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan and his subjects at Al Hosn Palace in Abu Dhabi, 1904

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