The decade that was: the greatest moments in the UAE from 2010 to 2019

The UAE has achieved some incredible milestones throughout this decade, from the moment the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, opened its doors in 2010, until the minute Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati astronaut, entered space in 2019.

Here, we review some of the most memorable moments in the past 10 years.

2010

The Burj Khalifa skyscraper opened on January 4, 2010. Bloomberg
Royston Ffrench guides Down On Da Bayou (US) at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai. Alamy Stock Photo
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

On Monday, January 4, Burj Khalifa opened to the public
Meydan Racecourse opened on Saturday, March 27, replacing Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai
Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central, opened on Sunday, June 27, initially for cargo operations
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi became Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah on Wednesday, October 27
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi opened on Thursday, November 4. It took is home to the world's fastest roller coaster, Formula Rossa
Sheikh Zayed Bridge, designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, opened in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, November 25

Population in 2010: 8.3 million

2011

Al Ain Oasis, the UAE's first Unesco World Heritage Site. Victor Besa / The National
RAK Maritime City, Ras Al Khaimah's fifth port facility and a UAE maritime free zone. Courtesy RAK Maritime City
Ramin Salsali, founder of the Salsali Private Museum in Al Quoz, Dubai. Jeff Topping / The National
The 'leaning tower' Capital Gate building. Courtesy Hyatt Corporation

Al Ain Oasis became the UAE's first Unesco World Heritage Site on Monday, June 27
RAK Maritime City, a multimillion dirham industrial free zone and port, opened on Monday, May 16. It cost Dh520m to build and spans about 800 hectares
Palm Deira Dubai Metro station opened on the green line on Friday, September 9
Salsali Private Museum opened in Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, on Friday, November 11. It was the first private museum in the region for contemporary Middle Eastern and international art
Capital Gate, also known as the Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi, opened on Wednesday, December 21. The year before, it was officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's farthest man-made leaning building

2012

The Princess Tower in Dubai Marina. Michael Merola
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Dubai. Courtesy Marriott International
Devotees pray at the Sikh Gurudwara, Guru Nanak Darbar in Dubai. Satish Kumar / The National

The Landmark opened in Abu Dhabi, becoming the tallest building in the capital at the time, standing at 324 metres
Princess Tower opened in Dubai Marina with 101 floors – it was the tallest residential building in the world until 2015, when it was overtaken by 432 Park Avenue in New York City
Work on both towers of JW Marriott Marquis Dubai was completed and the 355-metre hotel was the tallest in the world until Gevora Hotel opened in the city in 2018
Sunday, July 15 was the first day of operation for an oil pipeline that runs 403 kilometres from Habshan to the waters off Fujairah, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz
On Tuesday, January 17, the region's first official Sikh Gurudwara (temple), called Guru Nanak Darbar, was opened in Jebel Ali Village, Dubai, for more than 50,000 devotees in the UAE

2013

Dubai's winning bid for the World Expo 2020 reflects Sheikh Zayed legacy. Ali Hadier / EPA
Isobel Abulhoul is the chief executive and trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation. Antonie Robertson / The National
The Galleria Al Maryah Island. Photo: Victor Besa
UAE Flag Day was first celebrated in 2013. Pawan Singh / The National

On Wednesday, November 27, Dubai famously won the bid to host Expo 2020
The Emirates Literature Foundation was established by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, with Magrudy's book shop cofounder Isobel Abulhoul named as one of the trustees on the board
The Galleria Al Maryah Island opened on Tuesday, August 27, becoming the first high-end shopping mall in the capital
On Sunday, March 17, Shams 1 power plant opened at Madinat Zayed. It was the largest solar energy project in the Mena region at the time
A new passenger terminal opened at Al Maktoum International Airport on Sunday, October 27, with capacity for up to seven million passengers per year
The first UAE Flag Day was celebrated on Sunday, November 3, marking the anniversary of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed's presidency of the UAE

2014

Dubai Tram opened in 2014. Courtesy RTA
Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Yas Mall
The Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. Courtesy Four Seasons Hotels Limited
In 2014, the Drones for Good award was launched. Christopher Pike / The National

Dubai Tram opened on Tuesday, November 11, offering residents a new type of public transport in the emirate, servicing various areas near Al Sufouh
World Trade Centre Abu Dhabi complex was completed, along with Burj Mohammed bin Rashid, now the tallest building in the capital, standing at 382 metres
Sharjah was named the Islamic Cultural Capital of the Arab World and, to mark the occasion, Al Majaz Amphitheatre was opened in the emirate
In February, the Drones for Good Award was launched to encourage useful and positive applications for drone technology
In July, the UAE announced its plans to send an unmanned probe to Mars in what would make it the first Arab country to do so
Four Seasons Resort Dubai opened its doors in November at Jumeirah Beach, making it the first Four Seasons property in the UAE
Yas Mall opened on Wednesday, November 19, just in time for that year's Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

2015

The UAE's Mars mission probe was named Amal, or Hope. AP
The yet-to-open Museum of the Future in Dubai. WAM
Part of Star Wars: The Force Awakens was filmed on location in the UAE, in the deep sands near Liwa, on the edge of the Empty Quarter. AP
Emirati Women's Day was first announced in 2015. Pawan Singh / The National

The UAE's Mars mission probe was given a new name: Hope, or Al Amal in Arabic, on Wednesday, May 6
Plans for the Museum of the Future in Dubai were announced on Wednesday, March 4
This became the Year of Innovation, in a bid to make the UAE a world innovation leader, as part of a strategy of 30 national initiatives
On Monday, March 9, Solar Impulse 2 took off from Abu Dhabi's Al Bateen Executive Airport for the first leg of its round-theworld flight – on its way to becoming the first solar-powered plane to circumnavigate the earth
The first Emirati Women's Day was celebrated on Friday, August 28
On Thursday, December 17, 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' was released in UAE cinemas, featuring scenes shot in the capital's Liwa desert, as the Abu Dhabi dunes were the setting for the planet of Jakku

2016

Dubai Opera. Alamy
Wahat Al Karama memorial. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sergiu Toma won bronze for the UAE at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. AFP
Dubai Parks and Resorts includes Motiongate Dubai, Legoland Dubai and Bollywood Parks Dubai. Courtesy Dubai Parks and Resorts
Hyperloop is a proposed mode of transportation capable of moving people or goods in capsule-like vehicles in a tube at a very high speed. Courtesy Hyperloop Transportation Technologies

Dubai Opera opened on Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Dubai Water Canal was inaugurated on Wednesday, November 9
The Wahat Al Karama memorial was opened on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. It honours and records the names of those who died serving their country
Sergiu Toma won a bronze medal for the UAE at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics after he had competed in the Men's 81 kg judo category
It was declared that 2016 was the Year of Reading in the UAE, as a way to create a new generation of book lovers and cement the country's position as a hub for culture and knowledge
On Tuesday, July 26, Solar Impulse 2 landed at Abu Dhabi's Al Bateen Executive Airport as it became the first plane to circle the world using solar power and not a drop of fossil fuel, covering more than 40,000kms
Dubai Parks and Resorts opened its doors on Monday, October 31, 2016, bringing with it Legoland and Riverland on the same day, followed by the opening of Bollywood Parks on Thursday, November 17 and Motiongate on Friday, December 16
It was announced the world's first Hyperloop would come to the UAE, shortening the commute between Abu Dhabi and Dubai down to just 12 minutes

2017

Jean Nouvel-designed Louvre Abu Dhabi. Alamy
Dubai Festival City Fitness Village at the Dubai Fitness Challenge 2019
La Mer beach in Dubai. Reem Mohammed / The National
The UAE plans to establish the first human colony on Mars in 2117. Courtesy Dubai Media Office

Louvre Abu Dhabi opened to the public on Saturday, November 11, making it the first Louvre to open outside of Paris
The Dubai Font, the city's own sans-serif typeface, was launched on Sunday, April 30
President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed declared this the Year of Giving, encouraging people to volunteer and show compassion towards others
UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, a major initiative within the UAE Centennial 2071 objectives, was launched on Monday, October 16
The first Dubai Fitness Challenge took place, as Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, challenged the city's residents to do 30 minutes of exercise every day for 30 days
La Mer opened in October to the public in Jumeirah 1
The UAE's plans to build the first city on Mars by 2117 were announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai

2018

The Dubai Frame. Bloomberg
Gevora Hotel, the world's tallest hotel. Reuters
The historic Al Hosn area, which comprises Qasr Al Hosn, Cultural Foundation and House of Artisans. Courtesy Al Hosn
This painted staircase adds a vibrant touch to Reem Central Park. Courtesy Aldar Properties
The world's longest zipline at Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah. Courtesy RAK Tourism

Dubai Frame opened on Monday, January 1
Gevora Hotel opened in February in Dubai, becoming the world's tallest hotel at 356 metres tall
Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi's oldest standing structure, reopened to the public on Friday, December 7, as a dedicated attraction, educating tourists on the culture and heritage of the UAE
In December, Reem Central Park, a one-million-square-foot recreational space, opened on Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. It includes a canal walk, skateboard park, basketball pitch and food outlets
On Monday, October 29, KhalifaSat, the first satellite designed, tested and manufactured entirely by Emirati engineers, was successfully launched from an island off the southern tip of Japan
The UAE passport became the world's most powerful on Saturday, December 1, as holders are now able to gain visa-free entry to 167 countries worldwide
A 2.83-kilometre-long zipline opened in Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah, in February, becoming the world's longest

2019

Pope Francis and Egypt's Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb greet each other after signing documents during the Human Fraternity Meeting at the Founders Memorial in Abu Dhabi in February. AFP
A fireworks display marking the end of the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi. Hamed Al Mansoori for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs
Hazza Al Mansouri has become a national hero since his mission to ISS. AP Photo
Etihad landed the first ultra-long-haul flight in Brisbane, Australia on April 22, 2019, World Earth Day. Courtesy Etihad Airways

Pope Francis became the first Pope to ever visit the Arabian Peninsula when he came to Abu Dhabi in February. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed commemorated the milestone visit by announcing the construction of an interfaith complex called Abrahamic Family House
Special Olympics World Games took place in Abu Dhabi between Thursday and Thursday, March 14 and 21
Emirati astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri was the first person from the UAE to go to space when he headed to the International Space Station on Wednesday, September 25
Sharjah was named the World Book Capital 2019
Etihad Airways completed the world's first ultra-longhaul flight without using any single-use plastics, touching down in Australia on Monday, April 22, or World Earth Day

Population in 2019: 9.8 million

_________________

The Middle East 2010-19 - in pictures

From Banksy to the $120,000 banana: the 9 biggest art moments of the decade