A vibrant city, rich of history, a city with a blend of modernism and culture, the Capitol of United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi offers a unique vibe, from excellent attractions to amazing architecture; this Emirate has a lot to offer.
In this article, we will dive into the soul of the city and find out what is best in this city, what to do and what to see. We will discuss the must visit attractions, about the city, and more.
Attractions:
1) Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque:
The world famous mosque is located in the Capitol of UAE. It is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture, with stunning design, peaceful atmosphere and very delicate details. This mosque is based on 30 acres and the building is based on approximately 950 by 1380 feet. The capacity of this mosque is to accommodate approximately 40,000 worshippers. It was built under the tenure of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and was designed by a Syrian Architect Youssef Abdelke. Materials like gold, marble stones, ceramics, crystals and semi precious stones were used in the construction of the Mosque.
It features the carpet made by Iran’s carpet company and it’s world largest carpet. Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque has 7 imported Chandeliers from Munich Germany with swarovski crystals incorporated in them. Mosque has pools which get illuminated at night and reflects the mosques columns. Main prayer hall has 96 columns which are clad with marble and mother of pearls.
Mosque has a library aswell which offers books with Islamic and science subjects along with classic books, it is located in the northeast minaret.
2) Louvre Abu Dhabi:
It is an art museum, which features the cultural exhibits and art collection from around the world, a museum like no other. Louvre Abu Dhabi is located on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, with the total area of 260,000 square feet. It is the largest museum in the Arabian Peninsula.
Timings
The opening timings of museum are from 10:00 am to midnight. The exhibitions and galleries on weekdays close at 06:30 p.m. and on weekends, they close at 08:30. A restaurant Fouquet’s is also located in the museum, whose menu was created in partnership of Chef Pierre Gagnaire.
Louvre Abu Dhabi features the work by famous Claude Monet, Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent Van Gogh. This museum is also a part of big development, which will include some other cultural institutions like the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum.
3) Qasr Al Watan:
It was a presidential palace and later turned into a museum which shows the UAE’s culture, governance and history. Qasr Al Watan, as the name implies it is “Palace of the Nation”, it serves as presidential palace of UAE. In 2019, it was opened for the public. This palace hosts meetings and government events. This place is an attraction for the tourists, it is also known as House of Knowledge, because it has library with more than 50,000 books and important artifacts.
4) Yas Marina Circuit:
This is iconic race track offers guided tours and thrilling experiences to home to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Some interesting details about Yas Marina Circuit are that it is located on the Yas Island of Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates. It was designed by Hermann Tilke. Gulf 12 Hours, Asian Le Mans Series, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 24H Series Middle East Trophy and Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific events like these happen here.
The length of this place is 3.281 mile (5.3 km), with about seating capacity of 60,000). This place has a FIA Grade 1 license and circuit was built by main contractor Cebarco-WCT WLL, with permanent lighting system. The surface of the track is made of graywacke aggregate. In October, 7, 2009, the final approval was granted to hold Formula One races by the FIA. The first driver to complete a test run on the circuit was Bruno Senna.
5) Ferrari World Abu Dhabi:
This is a theme park which features record-breaking roller coasters and attractions, Paradise for an adrenaline junkie. A full guide to Ferrari world and things to do in this place are below. One of the world’s first themed park is Ferrari World, which is located on the Yas Island of Abu Dhabi. This theme park has the world’s fastest roller coaster with 40 other record breaking rides and attractions. It is open everyday around the year. This theme park is indoor based and fully climate controlled. The passes for this theme park are available annually.
Attractions around Abu Dhabi
Corniche:
This is a beautiful place which is based on an 8 km radius with an amazing waterfront, a popular destination for locals and the tourists. There are a lot of activities to enjoy, and children have play areas. You can enjoy the Sky line of the Arabian Gulf from this place. It has separate pedestrian walkways and a cycling path. This place has restaurants and cafes. Corniche is a stunning beach with white sand shore and turquoise water. It has a seaside broadwalk, you can rent scooters and bicycles and ride along the broadwalk. It’s a great place to enjoy the sunset.
Global Market Square:
The Global Market of Abu Dhabi is a financial Centre, operating since 2015, which is located on the Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. This place provides integrity transparency and efficiency. It is globally one of the largest financial districts with 14.38 million sqm area. It consists of three authorities, Registration Authority (RA), Financial Service Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and ADGM Courts. Global Market Square attracts a wide range of financial institutions, businesses, fintech, asset management and corporations.
In 2018, it joined the World Alliance of International Financial Centres. This place provides world class facilities and opportunities, also it has a vibrant community in the Abu Dhabi.
GMS is a hub of Finance and commerce, as it regulates crypto Currency and the trading of all the digital assets and is an attractive jurisdiction for crypto companies.
Al Markaziya Mall:
Al Mariah Mall or Al Markaziya Mall is a shopping place in Abu Dhabi which features local Souks to international brands and cinemas.
Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital: In UAE, it is the first public vet hospital to exclusively treat falcons. On October 3rd, 1999, by the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, the hospital was established. Approximately 11,000 falcons are treated in this hospital yearly. Animal shelter is also managed by this hospital. Falcon passports are also issued through this hospital.
Desert Safari:
Camel Riding, thrill of dune bashing, horse riding, sand boarding and camping under the stars, experience all this at desert safari. It takes approximately 6 hours for the desert safari tour. A total tour package includes drop-off and pickups, a BBQ dinner and tour guide (English/Arabic). It costs around 50 AED ($13 USD) per person. You can get a premium package for 250 AED ($68 USD) per person which Includes an ATV Quad bike and other perks, tours are available daily.
Desert Safari Dubai
Sir Bani Yas Island: off the west coast of Abu Dhabi, UAE, a natural island is located “Sir Bani Yas Island”. It is the largest natural island covering the area of 87 sq km. Million years ago, the salt dome crest was created naturally by geological forces. This island is the region of largest wildlife reserves and home to Arabian wildlife with more than 17,000 free wildlife, roaming around including giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas and Arabian oryx. Sir Bani Yas Island has its own airport, it is a 45 minute seaplane ride to this island or can be reached via boat from Jebel Dhanna jetty.
Liwa Oasis:
one of the largest Oasis located in the western region of Abu Dhabi. It is located 60 miles south of the Persian Gulf Coast and 93 miles Southwest of Abu Dhabi. This oasis is the birthplace of the current ruling family of Abu Dhabi the “Nahyan Family“. Date farming is the main economy of this oasis along with drip irrigation and green houses. This is home to a few resorts like Tilal Liwa Hotel, Qasr Al Sarab Resort and Liwa Hotel. One of the world’s largest dunes, Moreeb Dune, is located near Liwa Oasis which is a place of attraction for the visitors. This oasis has stunning views of the Arabian Desert, a relaxing retreat from the city.
Tips
The best time of the year to visit Abu Dhabi is from November to March, as the weather is ideal for outdoor activities and its pleasant weather.
Buses and Taxis are widely available and easily accessible.
Dress modestly and respect the culture, wear abayas or full clothes while visiting mosques and government buildings.
The currency of the United Arab Emirates is AED. The official language of UAE is Arabic but English is also spoken.
Conclusion
Abu Dhabi is a Capitol of UAE which offers different things for everyone, whether you are interested in culture, history or luxury. It has must visit destinations from stunning architectures of buildings to sheikh Zayed mosque, dune bashing in the desert to world class attractions. So pack your bags, get on the ride and discover the soul of Abu Dhabi!
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