UAE National Day 2020
The UAE's achievements over the last 49 years of its nationhood came as a result of clear vision, transformative leadership and grit.
Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918-2004) was the ruler of Abu Dhabi for more than 30 years. His vision and hard work extended beyond Abu Dhabi’s borders. Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Dubai's late ruler, took the lead in the formation of the United Arab Emirates 49 years ago, on December 2, 1971. As the founding father of the federation, Sheikh Zayed was the Union's first president, a post he held for nearly 33 years. He was known for reaching out with helping hands to the farthest corners of the world, a practice for which the UAE is known until today.
Sheikh Zayed was a respected leader whose decisions were based on consensus. He kept an open “majlis” (council), maintained close ties with his people, and personally oversaw the implementation of numerous projects and reforms. He was dedicated to national unity by helping out in the development of other emirates. On the international stage, Sheikh Zayed is known for his generosity: adopting orphans and building hospitals in Europe, Asia and Africa. Most of all, Sheikh Zayed demonstrated his leadership by example and putting into practice a culture of tolerance towards all other faiths. He was respected around the world for his strong, unifying influence.
To this day, Sheikh Zayed’s vision continues to inspire leaders and all generations not only in this region but across the world.
President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces
His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah
His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah
His Highness Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman
His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain
His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah
Pipelines in Abu Dhabi's first oil well on Das Island, about 160 km north-west off the UAE mainland.
An aerial view of oil facilities on Das Island, Abu Dhabi. On July 4, 1962, the BP tanker British Signal left the harbour at Das Island with Abu Dhabi's first oil export: 254,544 barrels of crude destined for Japan.
In 1973, the UAE adopted the UAE dirham as its currency. Before the dirham came to be, the currency used in the UAE was the Gulf rupee.
Umm Al Nar (Arabic for "Mother of Fire") is the UAE's first refinery. It opened in 1976 to handle 15,000 barrels per day (bpd). Further upgrades boosted its capacity almost six-fold to 85,000 bpd.
On December 11, 1980, the UAE Central Bank was founded as the state institution responsible for managing the country's currency, monetary policy and banking regulation.
Dubai-based Emirates first flew on October 25, 1985 with two small aircraft to serve destinations in the Sub-continent. Today, it has become the world's biggest international airline.
Jafza, the first free zone in the Middle East region, was established in 1985 with 19 companies. It grew to host nearly all the Global Fortune 500 companies, offering connectivity to 140 locations, an air-sea corridor, a free zone and trade facilitation that's unrivalled in the region.
The first Dubai Airshow (1989), opened with 200 exhibitors and 25 aircraft on display. Twenty years later (2019) the biennial show gathered 1,300 exhibitors, 165 aircraft and 78,000 visitors. The next Dubai Airshow (2021) is slated on November 14-18, 2021.
DSF had humble, but ambitious beginnings. The first DSF (1996) drew more than 1.5 million people who spent more than $500 million during the month-long event. Since then, the mega shopping event has become a game-changer for the Dubai retail and tourism sectors.
Dubai's most iconic hotel is set on a man-made island in a striking sail-shaped building. This luxury property offers opulent suites, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with Gulf or city views, top-class linens, designer toiletries, whirlpool baths and butler service.
The so-called "twin cities" — Dubai Internet City (1999) and Dubai Media (2000) were stablished as the emirate’s free zone for the internet and media sectors.
Palm Islands are a trilogy of artificial islands: Palm Jumeirah, Deira Island and Palm Jebel Ali, off the Dubai coast. Reclamation and construction started in 2001.
Dubai hosted the annual meeting of the World Bank and the IMF in 2003, hailed as the best-ever gathering of the two financial institutions.
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) was established to position Dubai as a hub for institutional finance, and the regional gateway for capital and investment to the Middle East.
flydubai made its inaugural commercial flight on June 1, 2009. The budget carrier complements Emirates by flying to underserved destinations and enhancing connectivity by air.
The Burj Khalifa, inaugurated in 2010 (at 828 metres) is currently the world's tallest man-made structure. Its LED screen skin is the biggest media facade on the planet.
An initiative launched to position Dubai as a hub for innovation and creativity for a region that covers more than 2 billion people.
The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) and First Gulf Bank (FGB) merged and became the First Abu Dhabi Bank. It became the UAE’s largest bank, and one of the largest in the MENA region, with Dh788 billion in assets in 2019.
The UAE started getting clean electricity on August 19, 2020 when the UAE grid was connected Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi.
On November 21, 2020, the UAE's Supreme Petroleum Council announced new discoveries of an estimated 24 billion barrels of oil in Abu Dhabi.
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