No longer the barren desert it was some fifty years ago, Abu Dhabi is now a thriving metropolis as cosmopolitan as most other capital cities. It’s less well known that it’s neighbouring emirate, Dubai, but Abu Dhabi is catching up fast. Not only is it a place worth visiting today, it’s also a city heading towards establishing itself as a holiday destination of the future!
Unique Adventures in and Around Abu Dhabi
With activities on the ground, in the air and on the water, there is much to do, see and enjoy for the whole family. However, a ‘not to be missed’ adventure is the desert safari. Enjoy an experience which includes seeing and speeding across desert dunes in a 4 x 4, riding camels, sandboarding, dining al fresco, smoking sheisha and being entertained by a belly dancer. A truly, never to be forgotten, Middle Eastern experience!
Hotels in Abu Dhabi
As any good tourist destination does, Abu Dhabi has an ever growing number of hotels to meet the needs of every traveller from the budget conscious to the no-expense-to-be-spared visitors.
The most famous and most expensive hotel, The Emirates Palace, is one of only two 7-star hotels in the UAE. It’s a stunning hotel situated on a prime beachside location overlooking the Arabian Gulf, and a place worth visiting even if one’s budget doesn’t extend to the booking of a room! Take a guided tour in the hotel where all that looks gold is reputed to be gold and delight in afternoon tea with gold-topped signature cakes!
Dining in Abu Dhabi
With approximately 80% of the population made up of expatriates from every nation conceiveable, it’s little wonder that restaurants providing dishes from the four corners of the world abound. Of course, no visit to the United Arab Emirates wuld be complete without feasting on delicious Arabian food from lamb and camel meat to Oum Ali, a dessert not to be missed!
Shopping in Abu Dhabi
From super malls to family-owned backstreet treasure troves, Abu Dhabi has it all. In four specially designed shopping centres such as Abu Dhabi Mall, Marina Mall, Al Wadha Mall and Khalidiya Mall, visitors can find supermarkets and a range of internationally renowned stores and eateries from Tiffany’s to Giordano and Debenhams to Baskin & Robbins. As one would expect in any modern shopping mall, cinemas, ice-skating, bowling and a variety of entertainment options are also available.
Abu Dhabi’s Future Development
In 2009, Abu Dhabi played host to Formula 1 on a newly created circuit on Yas Island, but that was only the beginning. The island continues to be developed as does the neighbouring island of Saadiyat.
Abu Dhabi has already made it onto the tourism map, and the future looks rosy as it continues to develop towards the goal of becoming the cultural centre of the UAE if not the Middle East.
