Visiting Abu Dhabi
A mirage in the desert.
It may be hard to believe, but 50 years ago Abu Dhabi was a small fishing village of huts made from woven palm fronds. Take your holidays in Abu Dhabi today, and you’ll step into a gleaming mirage of shimmering skyscrapers, domed mosques, and wide, tree-lined boulevards. See for yourself as your flight to Abu Dhabi cruises in over mysterious sand dunes and the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Oman.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Culture and Heritage
Abu Dhabi, despite relaxing the rules for foreign travelers, is still a distinctly Muslim city, and you’ll find the UAE’s principal mosque – the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – here. Non-Muslims can enter Thursday to Saturday mornings; you’ll see the world’s largest dome, chandelier and carpet as well as a massive prayer room currently being renovated to hold 100,000 people. For a glimpse of the past, head to the Heritage Village, a living museum where costumed fishermen, potters and weavers give you a feel for ancient Bedouin culture and traditions.
Explore the dunes
Just outside the city, you’ll find the Sand Dunes of Liwa, where you can ride a camel across the shimmering Arabian sands. Below the Hajar mountains, dive into the warm waters of the gulf, where fantastic snorkeling and diving await. Back in town, check out the real kings of the desert at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, where these magnificent birds of prey are cared for before they soar again above the desert plains.
Where to stay
For the capital of an oil-rich nation, Abu Dhabi has some surprisingly affordable hotels. Nightly rates for Le Meridian Abu Dhabi start from £69.70 at the moment, and this luxurious hotel is in walking distance to both the beach and the Hotel Le Meridien. The hotel offers top-class restaurants dotted around lush, landscaped gardens, and the pool area is a great place to refresh after a hot trip around the city. Another hotel in Abu Dhabi worth checking out is the Hala Arjaan Hotel by Rotana, which offers small apartment suites and is perfect for the business traveler. Don’t miss the incredible view of the city from the 17th floor pool.
