The city was founded in the 18th century and was originally known as Umm al-Nar, meaning "Mother of Fire." In the 19th century, the city was renamed Abu Dhabi, meaning "Father of the Gazelle."
Abu Dhabi served as the traditional seat of power for the ruling Al Nahyan family and was declared the capital of the newly formed UAE in 1971. It has since experienced significant growth and development and is now a bustling metropolis and the cultural and political hub of the country.
