Coming into Abu Dhabi, put together to be welcomed by cheerful sunshine, an azure sea, the mesmerising scent of oud in bustling markets and malls, the sight of palatial inns and hovering skyscrapers and rather more. They certain don’t scrimp on one of the best of one of the best on this a part of the world!
Simply accessible from key European, Asian, African, American and Australian hubs, Abu Dhabi is shortly gaining a status as being one of many world’s most family-friendly locations of the second – and it’s no shock. Because the Emirate opens its doorways to all vaccinated guests (with out quarantine), the ‘Time is Now’ to go to Abu Dhabi. Due to the Emirate’s pioneering Go Secure Certification programme, the tourism business has been revived, inspiring client confidence in tourism and hospitality institutions throughout the town. The Go Secure certification behind the programme is being awarded to inns, malls, museums, theme parks, leisure spots, household sights and eating places that meet rigorous hygiene requirements, with Abu Dhabi’s implementation of an accelerated vaccination programme additionally seeing a 90 p.c vaccination charge within the UAE capital.
So, why go to Abu Dhabi now?
In simply over 50 years, Abu Dhabi has reworked itself from a humble fishing village right into a thriving Twenty first-century metropolis – one that continues to be deeply loyal to its tradition and roots. It goes with out saying that regional historical past, custom and tradition thrive in Abu Dhabi in numerous varieties. From historic tombs at UNESCO World Heritage Websites in Al Ain (about an hour and a half from the town by automotive) to the oldest standing construction and exquisite conventional handicrafts at Qasr Al Hosn and Home of Artisans, unbelievable structure at Qasr Al Watan, the Emirate’s working Presidential Palace, and rather more. In case you’re searching for journey, Abu Dhabi additionally provides adrenalin-fuelled enjoyable throughout the town – from dune bashing and sandboarding within the Rub’ al Khali desert to exhilarating and academic rides and sights at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and 6 magical and immersive worlds on the world’s largest and totally air-conditioned indoor theme park Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. Don’t get us began on nature, with unbelievable wildlife and gorgeous sights to be seen at Sir Bani Yas Island, Mangrove Nationwide Park and lots of different magical spots.
Abu Dhabi metropolis and Saadiyat Island are house to unbelievable artwork, tradition and nature.
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the magnificent Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island is a must-visit for artwork and tradition aficionados. There’s loads to see right here, with a everlasting gallery of native, regional, worldwide artefacts and paintings on supply. In case you want a second to take a breath and simply chill out, Saadiyat Public Seashore is right, overlooking the inviting waters of the Gulf. It’s right here that the island’s oldest visitors – Hawksbill sea turtles – make their house. Continued conservation work on the island ensures that the turtles and their nesting grounds are protected, with a whole lot of eggs efficiently hatched on Saadiyat’s shores.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
One other sight to behold, and never too removed from Saadiyat Island, is Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Overlaying virtually 30 acres with the house to welcome over 40,000 folks, it is among the world’s most outstanding locations of worship. That includes a shocking mixture of conventional and fashionable types, it is among the world’s largest mosques and the one one which captures the distinctive interactions between Islam and different world cultures. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque celebrates cultural range by making a religious oasis that’s genuinely welcoming and inspirational in its basis. Designed by British, Italian and Emirati architects, the mosque was constructed with design concepts borrowed from components of Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan and Egypt, amongst different Islamic nations. As quickly as you enter the mosque, you’re welcomed by its 1,096 amethyst-and-jasper-embedded columns, 82 white marble domes, reflective swimming pools, gold-plated Swarovski chandeliers, iconic prayer corridor, and a courtyard that includes one of many largest marble mosaic artworks on the earth. The mosque holds a Guinness World Report for the biggest hand-woven carpet and boasts probably the most huge chandeliers in a mosque, making it a shocking place to discover and take images.
For a glimpse into the Emirate’s historical past, head to Al Ain.
Al Ain, about an hour and a half away from the town by automotive, is a UNESCO World Heritage metropolis and one of many world’s oldest completely inhabited settlements. It envelops seven oases and is stuffed with charming forts. When visiting, keep at Telal Resort Al Ain, an expensive boutique desert resort set amidst an Arabian oasis. This stunning property sits on the outskirts of Al Ain metropolis within the expansive Remah Desert. In case you love sightseeing, think about Al Jahili Fort, erected in 1891 to protect the town and defend its valuable palm groves. It is among the UAE’s most celebrated monuments and encompasses a putting assortment of images by British adventurer Sir Wilfred Thesiger, that includes his Nineteen Forties’ crossing of the Rub’ al Khali desert. One other must-see is the redeveloped Al Qattara Fort, now house to an arts centre and gallery providing a whole lot of recent displays and workshops, from pottery to portray, music and calligraphy. Al Qattara Arts Centre boasts a everlasting venue for archaeological and heritage displays, and studios for artwork lessons, whereas the onsite artwork gallery shows work by expatriate and Emirati artists.
Abu Dhabi’s journey capital, Yas Island, is the right alternative for households and thrill-seekers.
Yas Marina Circuit
Yas Marina Circuit is the UAE’s most epic motorsports, sporting and enterprise venue created to raise Abu Dhabi’s standing as a world-class sporting and leisure vacation spot. This spectacular mega-budget circuit attracts travellers from world wide. This world-famous Components 1® circuit performs host to a number of scorching occasions all year long, from the Components 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (this yr the occasion kicks off on 12 December 2021 itself to kart racing at Yas Kartzone, drag racing at Yas Drag Evening or race coaching at Yas Racing Faculty. The circuit additionally boasts strolling, operating and biking tracks as a part of the TrainYAS programme. The property can also be nice for company wants, providing you with the possibility to rent the entire observe or host group constructing, occasions, gatherings or conferences as a part of the observe’s Venue and Monitor Rent providers. Yas Marina Circuit is the Assembly Place of Champions, enabling folks of all ages and from all walks of life to benefit from the thrill of go-karting with their household, testing the boundaries at over 200km/hour in an Aston Martin GT4, getting match with associates, participating in one among many sporting occasions, or doing enterprise with track-side views.
For a keep on the observe itself, select the enduring W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island. That is your gateway to a world of experiences, highlighting inspirational design and jewel-tone furnishings portraying hues of liquid gold. The 499 visitor rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling home windows supply magnificent views of Yas Marina and Yas Marina Circuit. Savour multi-culinary delights at Storage restaurant, absorb spectacular views at W Lounge or high up your tan at WET Deck. Have to recharge with out the children? Head to FIT, the lodge spa, whereas your little ones hang around safely at SUN Deck, a recent child’s zone.
Fancy driving the world’s quickest rollercoaster? Head to close by Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. This huge and principally indoor Ferrari-themed park boasts greater than 20 exhilarating rides and sights, together with The Tyre Change Expertise that exams should you can match the tempo of F1™ pit crews. In the meantime, Turbo Monitor provides an epic zero-gravity fall, with Bell’Italia, being a journey that allows you to traverse a mini Italy in a Ferrari 250 California, circa 1958. The journey additionally showcases different Italian landmarks such because the Amalfi Coast, Monza Racetrack, the Colosseum di Roma, Venezia and Maranello, the house of Ferrari.
Warner Bros World TM Abu Dhabi – an indoor theme park on the island – is epic too, bringing your favorite Warner Bros characters to life by way of spectacular set designs in six themed areas, with 29 rides and interactive leisure good for all ages.
In case you’re into golf, try the Yas Hyperlinks Golf Course. Boasting a nine-hole academy course, a par three course for children and a whole 18-hole hyperlinks course for the extra skilled, that is the perfect place to get some contemporary air with the household.
A nature lover’s paradise, Abu Dhabi surprises you with wildlife and exquisite surroundings.
Al Ain Zoo
Explorer Sir Wilfred Thesiger mentioned of the magical Rub’ al Khali (Empty Quarter desert), “it was very nonetheless, with the silence which we now have pushed from our world”. The world’s largest uninterrupted sand mass nonetheless provides the identical serene silence that it did when Thesiger explored it together with his Emirati and Omani companions within the Nineteen Forties. Its advantageous, golden and pink sands shift with the winds to type dunes a whole lot of toes excessive for so far as the attention can see, with its starry skies being a number of the clearest on the earth.
Rub’ al Khali Desert
You possibly can take pleasure in this dramatic desert surroundings by heading inland to the Al Dhafra Area to spend an evening amidst the dunes. Set in the midst of the Rub’ al Khali, Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara is the perfect place to discover this enchanting panorama. Staying on the lodge, you’ll be able to indulge within the property’s lushest desert experiences, from dune daybreak walks to camel trekking, campfire barbecues, to heart-pounding dune bashing.
Sir Bani Yas Island is a nature-based vacation spot house to gorgeous wildlife, a variety of family-friendly journey actions, five-star boutique inns, luxurious villas, purpose-built stables and historic websites, Sir Bani Yas Island is one among eight islands making up the desert islands of Al Dhafra. For safari-style wildlife recognizing, you’ll wish to head to the Arabian Wildlife Park – spanning greater than half of the island and residential to over 17-000 free-roaming animals, together with Arabian oryx, gazelles, hyenas and cheetahs. Take a wildlife safari to identify giraffes at eye degree from the viewing platform. There are a number of opulent inns situated on the island. Visitors of the boutique Desert Islands Resort and Spa by Anantara lodge can take 4X4 nature and wildlife drives of the park in specifically made autos. Not one however three Anantara retreats sit on the island, the place visitors can bask in luxurious five-star lodging. There’s Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara, Anantara Al Yamm Villa Resort on the jap shores, and Anantara Al Sahel Villa Resort. This historic island can also be house to the UAE’s solely found Christian church and monastery, which will be visited throughout a Desert Islands Resort and Spa Tradition Tour. It’s believed to have been buried for hundreds of years, and was found within the early Nineties on Sir Bani Yas Island to light up the proof of early Christianity within the area. Open to the general public, that is the UAE’s solely identified historic Christian web site.
Mangrove Nationwide Park
The sprawling Mangrove Nationwide Park is a jewel within the UAE capital’s crown, sitting simply outdoors Abu Dhabi’s metropolis centre. A great place for households, fowl watchers and photographers trying to escape the town’s hustle for just a few hours, this stunning and shocking park continues to be one of many Emirate’s most important ecological belongings, protected by the Surroundings Company Abu Dhabi (EAD). Mangrove Nationwide Park constitutes about 75 p.c of the whole mangrove forest space within the UAE and is a biodiversity hotspot that features mangrove forests, salt marshes, mudflats, and algal communities. In case you want to “stay” among the many mangroves, select Anantara Jap Mangroves Abu Dhabi Lodge. The lodge provides serene lagoon views, and the spacious rooms and suites are distinguished by considerable private house and décor that displays the brilliance of the area’s desert and mangrove panoramas. Unwind on the lodge’s infinity pool that boasts views of the mangrove forest.
Abu Dhabi is a vacation spot marked with outstanding contrasts, surreal eating, luxurious procuring experiences and extra.
Min Zaman
In the case of consuming in Abu Dhabi, you’re spoilt for alternative. Savour the style of conventional Lebanese, Arabian and Center Jap cooking as a singer and stomach dancer carry out at Min Zaman restaurant. Within the gentle and kooky atmosphere of Min Zaman, on the Al Ain Rotana, patrons can dine indoors or on the terrace going through the pool backyard, enjoyable with a shisha pipe whereas listening to an oud participant. There are cold and warm mezzes, grills served together with your alternative of home fries, grilled greens, oriental rice or aspect salad, in addition to sandwiches and markouk (paper skinny Lebanese flat bread). The specials from the oven embody Sujuk lamb sausage with kashkawan, and za’atar with greens. Sweets embody umm Ali (much like bread pudding), halawet el jibn (candy cheese rolls) and Arabic ice cream.
Nusr-Et Steakhouse
Meat connoisseurs will inform you that Nusr-Et Steakhouse at The Galleria is the place to get top-quality steak, burgers and extra. The place is called after its proprietor, Nusret Gökçe, also referred to as an web sensation, Salt Bae. Nusr-Et provides a laid-back environment in a boutique idea restaurant boasting a slick fashionable house with leather-backed chairs, vivid murals, floor-to-ceiling home windows and an outside terrace with sweeping views over the bay. You don’t wish to miss their starters, together with steak tartare, beef carpaccio or smoked ribeye. For mains, take your choose from a number of ribs, tenderloin beef, steaks, beef fillets, lamb, burgers, meatballs or sucuk (barbecued Turkish sausage), and don’t neglect a salad or your alternative of garnish (mashed croquet, mushroom, potato chips and extra).
In case you take pleasure in vegetarian meals, head to the 2017 winner of the What’s On Award for Greatest Worldwide Restaurant beneath AED 400 – C.Style at Centro Capital Centre – Abu Dhabi. It lives as much as its expectations of bringing one of the best and most reasonably priced number of worldwide delicacies to Abu Dhabi. We’re informed that their breakfast buffet is very standard amongst lodge visitors.
In the case of discovering a spot to put your head for just a few nights, you’ll be happy to know that Abu Dhabi has a number of the greatest inns on the earth.
The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi
If opulence is your jam, no one can do it higher than The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal. Watch the dawn over Al Maqta Creek and luxuriate in sunsets that illuminate Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque fantastically. Situated inside ten Venetian-inspired buildings that type a crescent round one of many metropolis’s largest outside swimming pools, with eight eating places, five-star lodging, a holistic spa and 23,000 sq. toes of occasion house out there, this is among the greatest inns to go to within the Emirate.
Then there may be Emirates Palace – an iconic Abu Dhabi landmark. This elegant lodge combines Arabian splendour with fashionable lavishness to create a fascinating and unforgettable expertise. The lodge’s golden color enhances its contemporary inexperienced gardens, silvery water fountains, and blue sky in the course of the daytime. The lodge’s lighting modifications subtly at evening, highlighting an imposing rainbow-changing impact over the central arch. Gold, mom of pearl and jewels, dominate its inside, and the palace has 1,002 chandeliers, the biggest weighing 2.5 tonnes. One other extraordinary hallmark is its two handmade wall-display carpets, portraying the property itself and every weighing a ton. Visitors and guests can wander by way of the majestic halls and corridors – a showcase of Arabian design, with grand central passageways and arched ceilings – and select from over 200 rooms, all adorned in a snug but stylish fashion and boasting lavish cultural touches. Culinary highlights embody up to date Chinese language delicacies at Hakkasan, advantageous French fare at Le Vendôme and award-winning native dishes at Mezlai Emirati Restaurant.
Etihad TowersProviding a stark distinction to the palatial construction of the Emirates Palace is Etihad Towers. This five-tower complicated is a dramatic architectural assertion on the Abu Dhabi Corniche. It welcomes residents and travellers to stay, work, keep, store and dine in a single vacation spot boasting gorgeous panoramic metropolis and Arabian Gulf views. The complicated’s benchmark for luxurious contains three residential towers, one enterprise tower, and the 280-metre tall, five-star Conrad at Etihad Towers lodge. On Tower 2’s 74th flooring, the Commentary Deck at 300 provides a number of the metropolis’s greatest views. Suppose you are searching for a wonderful place to buy. In that case, The Avenue at Etihad Towers is house to a number of the world’s most luxurious and unique boutique retailer collections, with many boasting non-public rooms for VIP procuring.
So, what are you ready for? With all that’s on supply, now could be clearly the time to go to Abu Dhabi.
Disclaimer: This text has been produced on behalf of the Division of Tradition and Tourism – Abu Dhabi by Instances Web’s Highlight group.