Further to my last post on the
new street signage in Abu Dhabi , it has been announced that a number of major roads will be renamed in Abu Dhabi. It looks like they are doing away with the road numbering system too, which I think is a shame because it really is the easiest way to find your way around (even numbers East to West and odd numbers North to South). The numbers make a grid system similar to New York or Milton Keynes (H & V roads), so places can be easily referenced as e.g. on the corner of 4th and 19th (Muroor Rd and Saada St - aaghh, see below, now Sultant bin Zayed First Street and Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street....doesn't quite trip off the tongue quite the same does it!?)
Anyway, below are the changes and a short explanation courtesy of The National (
full article here).
Fatima Bint Mubarak Street (6th Street, popularly known as Al Najda Street)
“The
Mother of the Nation” and the wife of Sheikh Zayed, Sheikha Fatima is
the chairman of the Family Development Foundation, head of the General
Women’s Union and a sponsor of numerous organisations in the UAE and
overseas
Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street (Al Salam Street, Street 9)
Ruler
of Abu Dhabi from 1966 until 2004 and the first President of the UAE.
The street named in his honour is the main highway into the capital and
crosses the Sheikh Zayed Bridge
Khalifa Bin Zayed First Street (Khalifa Street, Street 3)
The
eldest son of Zayed the First, often known as Zayed the Great, who died
in 1909. Sheikh Khalifa refused to become Ruler of Abu Dhabi twice, in
1909 and 1912, but later assisted in the succession of Sheikh Shakhbut
bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Sultan bin Zayed First Street (4th Street or Muroor Road)
Father of Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Shakhbut and the fourth son of Sheikh Zayed the First. Ruler from 1922-1926
Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street (Al Saada Street, Street 19)
Became
Ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1928, stepping down in favour of his younger
brother, Sheikh Zayed in 1966. Under his rule, oil was discovered in Abu
Dhabi in 1958, ensuring the country’s prosperity after the economic
hardships of the previous three decades
Mubarak bin Mohammad Street (26th Street)
Father
of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the Minister of Culture Youth
and Social Development. Sheikh Mubarak was the former Minister of the
Interior and the grandson of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed the First. He died
in 2010
Salama bint Butti Street (23rd Street)
The mother
of Sheikh Zayed, of Al Hamed family and Al Qubaisi tribe. A major
influence on her sons, Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Shakhbut
Al Bateen Street (32nd Street)
Now
perhaps best known for the Intercontinental Hotel, Al Bateen was once a
fishing village and boat building community distinct from Abu Dhabi. It
was eventually swallowed by the city in the 1970s
Al Dhafra Street (25th Street)
The
desert interior of Abu Dhabi, with Madinat Zayed, the home of Al Dhafra
football club, as the main population centre. Each year, Al Dhafra
Festival sees thousands of camels from the region compete for around
Dh46 million in prizes. Al Dhafra is also home to an airbase and the
Shams solar power station, the largest of its kind in the world
Dhafeer Street (31st Street)
Now
on the outskirts of Liwa, Dhafeer Fort is one of a chain of
fortifications in the Western Region and was built by the Bani Yas, one
of the Emirate’s main tribes
Dihan Street (21st Street)
Another old name for Abu Dhabi. The name may also be descriptive, with another Dihan found in Ras Al Khaimah
Mawgab Street (27th Street)
Mawgab
is a fort built on the orders of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed, the father of
Sheikh Zayed and located in one of the villages in the Liwa known as
Mahather. The area is low lying, circular in shape and had only one
entrance, making it easier to defend
Rabdan Street (29th Street)
The
celebrated mount of Sheikh Zayed the First, Rabdan was gift from the
Sharif of Mecca, Abdullah bin Hashem, and said to be descended from the
horse of the Prophet Muhammed. Rabdan was the subject of several poems,
with his bloodline is still present in horses ridden by the Nahyan
family.
