![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F5UPD32PLBYOF35IKAQWADWXMA.jpg?smart=true&auth=18ecc45da97b161f684304c50b5e667a4d3fea197bd8013d998149352ea623dd&width=400&height=225)
Fishermen’s Wharf at Mina Zayed. Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U4JMHFF4SOFAXSQ2EQHBRPTKFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a9f9106f16d11da622041cec08ce8d3d6d54d6acc0f86789b80f943c4bff247&width=400&height=225)
Madinat Zayed Gold Souq. Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IITF5NPNOFBC6IQ6PYOZBBASUA.jpg?smart=true&auth=b19107d6a8b5aa234192f2a9c742880e67d64de8221f2d851bdd605c28772c30&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi's Cultural Foundation was established in 1981. Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WDWAMOM23MSHP2Y6FU5NYHISBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=877bdefc9fa35b2f7d1b231b68181fee4160750e67c7a496faf413418f68b9ae&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi's Cultural Foundation was established in 1981. Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XEAANEUW6XPCKS6MS2PXOPF3TQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=198b84237cd6348a586cfae541d7d0781f1acca48910fa2a81d0ba50afbc4f68&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SJGO5J4LAPVYOFFR7VIJOBJNP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6459b3ec0d0f6f17b6d9c38604d7de0ff5165b56b4c586af52a8d57c9a01b2aa&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AMO7FO7USJZYKENPU3TCUTH4RU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6700a827b5be7aa7e89738000e9d8d02990045c019b42644eab5cf436fe921e5&width=400&height=225)
The Al Ibrahimi Building (Saeed Al Kalili) was built in the metabolist style, a fusion of nature and technology found in many Japanese cities. Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7TKGSE7JKUEMLXMBFOKSZCEFBM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b11e0b0f9e06efc9119b1a7915372919e15bc58e3e9a841670d2e9760ad299a8&width=400&height=225)
The Al Ibrahimi Building (Saeed Al Kalili) was built in the metabolist style, a fusion of nature and technology found in many Japanese cities. Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PCCGN5JOWFI4DQWKLNGQQBDTVQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=0e6b30853a1ed489cd92fcc92054f501d22043e3011239405cd849b59c40d960&width=400&height=225)
The Iran Bank has also been protected to provide physical evidence of the city’s continued development. Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F5UPD32PLBYOF35IKAQWADWXMA.jpg?smart=true&auth=18ecc45da97b161f684304c50b5e667a4d3fea197bd8013d998149352ea623dd&width=400&height=225)
Fishermen’s Wharf at Mina Zayed. Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U4JMHFF4SOFAXSQ2EQHBRPTKFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a9f9106f16d11da622041cec08ce8d3d6d54d6acc0f86789b80f943c4bff247&width=400&height=225)
Madinat Zayed Gold Souq. Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IITF5NPNOFBC6IQ6PYOZBBASUA.jpg?smart=true&auth=b19107d6a8b5aa234192f2a9c742880e67d64de8221f2d851bdd605c28772c30&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi's Cultural Foundation was established in 1981. Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WDWAMOM23MSHP2Y6FU5NYHISBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=877bdefc9fa35b2f7d1b231b68181fee4160750e67c7a496faf413418f68b9ae&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi's Cultural Foundation was established in 1981. Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XEAANEUW6XPCKS6MS2PXOPF3TQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=198b84237cd6348a586cfae541d7d0781f1acca48910fa2a81d0ba50afbc4f68&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SJGO5J4LAPVYOFFR7VIJOBJNP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6459b3ec0d0f6f17b6d9c38604d7de0ff5165b56b4c586af52a8d57c9a01b2aa&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AMO7FO7USJZYKENPU3TCUTH4RU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6700a827b5be7aa7e89738000e9d8d02990045c019b42644eab5cf436fe921e5&width=400&height=225)
The Al Ibrahimi Building (Saeed Al Kalili) was built in the metabolist style, a fusion of nature and technology found in many Japanese cities. Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7TKGSE7JKUEMLXMBFOKSZCEFBM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b11e0b0f9e06efc9119b1a7915372919e15bc58e3e9a841670d2e9760ad299a8&width=400&height=225)
The Al Ibrahimi Building (Saeed Al Kalili) was built in the metabolist style, a fusion of nature and technology found in many Japanese cities. Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PCCGN5JOWFI4DQWKLNGQQBDTVQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=0e6b30853a1ed489cd92fcc92054f501d22043e3011239405cd849b59c40d960&width=400&height=225)
The Iran Bank has also been protected to provide physical evidence of the city’s continued development. Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F5UPD32PLBYOF35IKAQWADWXMA.jpg?smart=true&auth=18ecc45da97b161f684304c50b5e667a4d3fea197bd8013d998149352ea623dd&width=400&height=225)
Fishermen’s Wharf at Mina Zayed. Courtesy: Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
How Abu Dhabi was built: a tale told through its multi-cultural architecture
The stories of these buildings and their tenants tell of the transition from pearling village to glass metropolis.
Anna Zacharias
04 May, 2020
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic