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TwoContinents
12 December 2025

When planning a trip to the United Arab Emirates, many people wonder how to correctly name the country's capital – Abu Zabi or Abu Dhabi? The correct pronunciation and spelling of the city's name are important for both tourists and those interested in the culture and geography of the UAE. Why is it sometimes called Abu Dhabi? How is Abu Dhabi pronounced in Arabic and Polish? You will find answers to these and other questions in the article below.
The correct pronunciation and spelling of the name of the UAE capital is a key issue for both tourists and people who follow the news in the media. Abu Dhabi is one of several correct names and pronunciations referring to the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The pronunciation “Abu Dhabi” is often found in tourism and the media in simplified versions, such as Abu Zabi.
Does the pronunciation of Abu Dhabi differ depending on the language? Yes, in English-language sources it sounds slightly different than in Arabic.
The correct pronunciation of the name of the UAE capital is important for tourists. How do you say Abu Dhabi correctly? The name of the city is pronounced approximately as “Abu Dabi,” which corresponds to the spelling and phonetics of Abu Dhabi in Arabic. Knowing the correct pronunciation of the Emirates is useful when sightseeing and enjoying free attractions and top attractions such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, as well as when giving the name of the city in conversations with taxi drivers.
The same applies to Dubai and sightseeing there. Information about the largest city in the Emirates can be found in the Dubai Guide, which includes accommodation in Dubai and trips to Dubai.

Questions often arise such as - is it Abu Zabi or Abu Dhabi and which form is official - Abu Dhabi or Abu Zabi? Both forms are correct in pronunciation - this is how the capital of the UAE is pronounced in Polish and English. It is only a difference in the spelling of place names. In everyday speech, Poles often use the form “Abu Zabi,” which is also considered correct in the context of the Polish language.
Is Abu Zabi the correct written form of the name of the UAE capital? In this case, we would lean towards the second option – the official written name of the UAE capital is Abu Dhabi. The differences mainly result from the adaptation of the city's name in Polish and English and differences in phonetic spelling.
How should the name of the UAE capital be written in documents and guidebooks? In official documents and tourist guidebooks, the spelling Abu Dhabi is always used, both in English and Arabic.
1. How is Abu Dhabi pronounced correctly?
The name of the city is pronounced approximately as “Abu Dabi,” which corresponds to the spelling and phonetics of Abu Dhabi in Arabic.
2. Is Abu Zabi the correct written form of the name of the capital of the UAE?
In this case, we would lean towards the second option - the official written name of the capital of the UAE is Abu Dhabi.
3. How should the name of the UAE capital be written in documents and guidebooks?
In official documents and tourist guides, the spelling Abu Dhabi is always used.
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