Abu Dhabi

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Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi.png
Government type Absolute Monarchy
Ruling party Sheikhs Council (conservative)
Capital Abu Dhabi (ID 1167)
Population 16.15 thousand
Primary culture Bedouin
Literacy 30.0%
National value Order
Tech school Uncivilized
Status Uncivilized nation
Arabian Peninsula in 1836

Abu Dhabi in Victoria 2 represents the various emirates that now make up the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar. A small nation, it is not for the faint of heart, but it's not impossible either.

Historical Path

As mentioned above, 'Abu Dhabi' is not actually the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as it exists today, but rather, for game purposes, the contraction of several states. Historically, they were small coastal states making most of their business through trade on the Indian Ocean and pearl fishing. Later large oil and natural gas deposits were found off the coast of these emirates. Over the course of the 19th century, the Gulf emirates were made what was essentially a protectorate by Britain, as a way of expanding British influence in the Persian Gulf.

Starting situation

Abu Dhabi is hardly doomed from the start, though things may seem bleak, there are some upsides. The tiny population is probably the greatest constraint. However, Abu Dhabi's neighbours are of the same culture, and considerable more populous(although still relatively small). Bedouin, Abu Dhabi's Main Culture, makes up all of Nejd Nejd, mainland Oman Oman, much of Yemen Yemen and Hedjaz Hedjaz, and spreads as far as Sudan. The problem is conquering those larger nations. Abu Dhabi can form Arabia Arabia if it westernizes and becomes great power.


Abu Dhabi's small size is not entirely a handicap. It makes managing the country very easy: one can easily get to the required level of Clergymen and Bureaucrats with National foci alone, and generating Soldiers will go quickly as well. One will rarely be able to field more than 3 regiments from the start however. The only chance of making it is by being opportunistic: One will have to wait for the neighbours to get into a war, and then pick up the carrion. Especially with the Research Points bonuses from taking States of other Uncivilized nations, trying to grab land should be the main priority.

The one other thing of note for Abu Dhabi is, of course, Oil. There are two Oil RGOs in Abu Dhabi itself, and one more nearby in Nejd. Through they won't be a Horn of Plenty due to the small population managing those RGOs. One might still consider the investment in a Fuel Refinery for some added cash. Fuel is almost always profitable, after all.