Abu Dhabi over 50 years: timeline map to be unveiled

Abu Dhabi: One of the world’s largest statistical timeline maps portraying almost every socio-economic area in the capital over the last 50 years will be constructed at Abu Dhabi Corniche and unveiled on Sunday to commemorate the 42nd National Day, it was announced on Wednesday.

The history and socio-economic aspects of Abu Dhabi between 1960 and 2010 will be presented by figures, pictures and drawings and the timeline will do a good job of showcasing the high notes and most significant events over roughly 50 years, said Khaled Al Safi Al Hashemi, executive director of strategy and corporate excellence at the Statistics Centre-Abu Dhabi.

The Statistics Centre-Abu Dhabi has submitted an application for a record-breaking attempt to the Guinness World Records for the world’s largest timeline map, Al Hashemi added.

“The Statistical Timeline: Abu Dhabi Over Half a Century” will also have an additional futuristic map dedicated to the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, so that the map will show, not only for how things used to be in Abu Dhabi for the past 50 years, but also how the Emirate sees its future; and the most prominent features of how life will look like in 2030.

He explained that the map contains 25 statistics indicators, each of which covers one important development sector; and that the area on which the event will take place on Abu Dhabi Corniche is 170 metres long, 4 metres wide and 3 metres high.

Al Hashemi pointed out that the map contains five time series, with each one covering 10 years of events. Each time series occupies an area of 10 metres square, divided into three parts, illustrated by images, statistics indicators for a period of 10 years and connected through the map with the remaining years to constitute the full map, with economic, investment, demographics, health, education, environment and other important indications.

The map will show the most important developments during the past 10 years, with selected sayings by the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Nahyan, the Founder of the Nation, and by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahayan, General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to be displayed in each time series.

On the occasion, the latest smart electronic statistical applications for adults and children will also be launched.

An exhibition of police cars over years, in addition to police official uniforms during the past 50 years, will be opened along the launch of the map. Old police uniforms will be worn by policemen and displayed to the audience to represent all time periods for a week starting from December 1. A gallery of rare photos will also be organised. Moreover, the National Anthem of the UAE will be broadcast with in a new way, with new voices for the first time, apart from the latest documentary films being screened.

The organisers have said a kids area would be equipped with colouring books and toys and activities such as face-painting to create a family-friendly atmosphere.