Dhabi

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A city serving as the capital of the United Arab Emirates ; a major political, economic, and cultural center located on an island in the Persian Gulf ; a prominent metropolitan area known for modern skyscrapers and luxury attractions
2. The principal city and administrative hub of the United Arab Emirates ; a key urban area situated off the coast in the Arabian Peninsula ; an influential center famous for its oil wealth and futuristic architecture
3. An emirate capital recognized as the seat of government for the United Arab Emirates ; a vital port city on the Persian Gulf distinguished by rapid urban development ; a renowned location for business, tourism, and cultural events

Etymology: "Abu Dhabi" is Arabic for "father of the gazelle." "Abu" means "father," and "Dhabi" comes from "ẓabī," a gazelle, an animal once common on the desert lands around the island. The second half of the name is therefore the animal, not a later coinage for the city. A traditional local legend offers a more concrete origin, telling of a hunter who chased a gazelle to a freshwater well on the island and named the site after it. Such stories are passed down rather than documented, so the gazelle meaning is the part that rests on firmer ground.