Abu Dhabi has 809,000 cars

Abu Dhabi had nearly 809,000 cars at the end of June, an average of around one vehicle for every two people, one of the highest ratios in the world.

Police data showed the number of cars in the emirate, including the capital, the eastern oasis town of Al Ain, and the western region, has grown by a whopping 18-20 per cent annually over the past few years.

Police gave no reason for the high growth but Abu Dhabi has one of the highest population growth rates in the world, standing at an average seven per cent.

The emirate, a major oil and gas producer, also has one of the highest GDP per capita incomes, exceeding Dh400,000 in current prices in 2011. According to the Abu Dhabi Statistics Centre, the emirate’s nominal GDP stood at Dh805 billion in 2011.

“Our records show that there were 809,042 cars in Abu Dhabi at the end of June, an average annual growth of between 18 and 20 per cent,” the semi official daily Alittihad said, quoting Lt Colonel Suhail Alkhaily, director of the vehicle licensing department at the Abu Dhabi Traffic Police.

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