Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, officially Abu Dhabi Region (Arabic: مِنْطَقَة أَبُو ظَبِي, romanized: Minṭaqat Abū Ẓabī), also known as Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area, is the municipal region in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi that contains the city of Abu Dhabi, distinct from the Eastern and Western municipal regions of the Emirate. Abu Dhabi City is the capital of both the Emirate and the United Arab Emirates, and has its own local government.
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Geography and description
Besides the city and island of Abu Dhabi, the region contains nearby settlements such as Al-Bahiyah, Mussafah, Khalifa City and Mohammed Bin Zayed City, and nearby islands such as Al-Aryam and Al-Saadiyat. Khalifa City is in the vicinity of Zayed International Airport, and Mafraq and Mussafah are industrial areas, with the latter having a sea port. As such, the region is economically important. Settlements:
Abu Dhabi City (main settlement)
Abu al Abyad
Al-Aryam Island
Al Bandar
Al-Bahiyah
Al Falah
Al Lulu Island
Al Maryah Island
Al Rahah
Al Rahbah
Al Reem Island
Al Samhah
Al-Shahamah
Al-Wathbah
Al Shamkha
Bani Yas City
Ghantoot
Halat al Bahrani
Jubail Island
Khalifa Industrial Zone
Khalifa Port
Masdar City
Mina' Zayed
Mussafah
Saadiyat Island
Yas Island
Ecology
To the east of the island of Abu Dhabi is a national park with grey mangroves. Arabic for "the Mangrove" is al-Qurm (ٱلْقُرْم), and it is the name of a corniche that is popular amongst residents of the city, near Salam Street.
The satellite town of al-Wathba has a Ramsar wetland nearby.
Transportation
Abu Dhabi island has four highways and four road bridges which all connect the island to the mainland namely Sheikh Zayed road (E10) with Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Abu Dhabi-Al Ain road (E22) with Maqta Bridge, Abu Dhabi-Sweihan highway (E20) with Mussafah Bridge and The Abu Dhabi-Al Falah highway (E12) with Sheikh Khalifa Bridge. The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street, also known as Salam Street, is one of the busiest streets in Abu Dhabi Island, and goes near the mangroves located to the east of the island. It connects Abu Dhabi with the mainland through the Sheikh Zayed Bridge. The Abu Dhabi-Al Falah highway (E12) connects Abu Dhabi island to Saadiyat Island, Yas Island and other islands and to the mainland.
Emirates Park Zoo and Resort
The Emirates Park Zoo And Resort (Arabic: مُنْتَجَع وَحَدِيْقَة ٱلْإِمَارَات لِلْحَيْوَانَات, romanized: Muntajaʿ Wa-Ḥadīqat Al-ʾImārāt Lil-Ḥaywānāt) is located in the area of Al-Bahiyah, near the Abu Dhabi – Dubai highway and close to Yas Island. It houses over 1,400 animals, including rescued ones, and allows visitors to engage with them. The zoo offers interactive and educational experiences aimed at promoting wildlife awareness and conservation.
As of 2025, the zoo features animal engagement programs that include opportunities for visitors to have breakfast with giraffes, dinner with elephants, and lunch with leopards. These initiatives are designed to raise awareness about endangered species such as the Amur leopard and to support wildlife education in the region.