Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Most of you’ll in all probability consider Dubai as THE place to go within the Center East, and that’s for a motive. However the precise capital metropolis of the United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi, situated only a 90-minute drive alongside the coast from Dubai, and there are heaps to be found there as nicely.
We advise that these vacationers who’re staying in Dubai ought to e-book Dubai to Abu Dhabi tour from native tour operators to journey conveniently and uncover Abu Dhabi sights with ease and no trouble. And if you wish to go to Abu Dhabi by yourself or keep in Abu Dhabi, you possibly can choose to rent a automotive or lease a taxi and benefit from the tour your self
Internationally, Abu Dhabi is most well-known for its spectacular mosque or the annual last Formulation 1 race of the season, which takes place there by the Yas Marina each November.
In the event you determine to return to the United Arab Emirates, you need to spend a minimum of three or 4 nights of your time in Abu Dhabi to see a few of its principal sights. It’s acquired a big worldwide airport with residence provider Etihad Airways, nevertheless it’s additionally simply reachable from Dubai by bus or rental automotive. We have now achieved each, and whereas a bus solely units you again round 5 {dollars}, a good rental automotive solely prices about US$40 for twenty-four hours, together with insurance coverage. Rental vehicles are very inexpensive and positively the simplest mode of transport within the UAE when you’re over 21.
In the event you don’t like sizzling climate an excessive amount of, try to go between November and March. From June to September, temperatures often peak at 45 to 50°C, which is 113 to 122°F, mixed with a drenching humidity. In our opinion, April and early Might, in addition to October and early November, are the very best instances to go along with good daytime peaks round 35°C (95°F), and evenings are nonetheless good and heat to take a seat exterior.
However the factor that issues: Out of the one year a 12 months, solely six will drizzle a couple of drops of rain onto town! Which means, everytime you go, you’ll be in for an excellent portion of sunshine!
1. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is unquestionably probably the most well-known attraction of town, and it’s full of superlatives. The mosque is made nearly completely out of 15 types of white marble from a number of totally different international locations and richly ornamented with costly supplies akin to gold. The principle dome is the biggest mosque dome on the earth with a diameter of over 100 ft, and there are greater than 40 different domes positioned atop the mosque. One other spectacular factor is the German made chandeliers within the inside half, of which the biggest one measures nearly 50 ft in top. Thus far, solely two bigger chandeliers have ever been constructed on our planet.
Contained in the central prayer corridor, you’ll discover the world’s largest carpet at greater than 60,000 sq. ft. It weighs an unbelievable 47 tons, and it took over 1,000 carpet knotters greater than two years to finish it.
With its beautiful structure, it’s actually one of the crucial stunning mosques present. And as if all that wasn’t sufficient, it will get much more fascinating as quickly because the solar goes down, when totally different gentle installations flip the entire constructing right into a shiny and superb blue piece of artwork you could even see from a aircraft.
Better of all: The entry is totally freed from cost. Simply be sure to verify the opening instances earlier than you go, which is likely to be restricted because of non secular occasions. Additionally they provide free audio excursions and free guided excursions.
If you go, be sure that to put on applicable apparel. Typically no shorts, ladies must both carry or borrow (totally free) a non-transparent abaya and headband to put on for your complete time of being in or across the mosque. As this will get actually, and we imply really sizzling in summer season, be sure that to take loads of water. It’s price it, although.
2. Saadiyat Island Seaside Membership
Saadiyat Island is residence to an ideal seashore that you’d moderately place someplace within the Caribbean by the seems of it. The UAE are recognized for broad, extensive seashores, however often, the colours aren’t the prettiest round. This one is an exception, although, and positively nearly as good because it’ll get within the UAE. Sadly, two resorts occupy most of it (the Park Hyatt and the St. Regis, that are each implausible), however there’s a little seashore membership that’s open to the general public. In the event you can’t afford staying at one of many resorts, be sure that to test it out. It’s not a cut price at round US$20 to 100 per day (relying on the season, date, and so on.), however you’ll have limitless entry to the sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, seashore, pool, and loungers for so long as you need.
3. Go on an journey within the desert
There are numerous totally different choices for this. With the desert proper at the doorstep, don’t miss the possibility to discover it. The standard means for vacationers is a desert safari, the place you possibly can check out sand boarding, camel driving or dune buggies to call just some actions. There are an entire lot of tour operators, although, so you’ll want to verify which of them are good earlier than you go. We have now solely achieved one from Dubai with Arabian Expedition, and it was a pleasant expertise with wonderful worth. Due to this fact we can’t converse for Abu Dhabi.
In the event you keep longer and make buddies with locals (additionally expats) who stay in Abu Dhabi, they may be capable of take you on the market for a picnic, which is a extremely common factor to do within the night.
4. Eat the place the locals eat
Eat the place the locals eat might be a great factor regardless of the place you go. Nonetheless, “native” is mostly arduous to specify for the UAE, as a result of 50 years in the past there was hardly something there other than some desert Bedouins and fishing villages. Right this moment, nearly 90% of the individuals dwelling there are usually not really Emirati. And naturally, neither is a lot of the meals you’ll discover. There’s a almost limitless number of meals selections that exist within the UAE in the present day, however the meals usually related to “native” these days is a mixture of Emirati and Lebanese delicacies.
It’s very straightforward to outcome to worldwide chains inside all of the procuring malls or to eat at one of many many fancy resort eating places in all places round. However to start with, the place the locals eat, it’s really nonetheless very inexpensive (for instance, smooth drinks below a greenback), and naturally it tastes a minimum of nearly as good as elsewhere whereas being far more genuine.
A simple space to seek out numerous the above-mentioned meals lies between the Corniche Seaside and the Madinat Zayed procuring advanced. We have now been to Chagh Kebab and Shish Shawerma, which have been each actually scrumptious and good worth.
5. Go to the various sights of Yas Island
Yas Island was nothing however a stretch of sand within the early 2000s. Since then, it’s grown to the main spot for native and worldwide tourism in Abu Dhabi. These are a number of the issues to do on Yas Island:
- Yas Marina Circuit – A Formulation 1 racetrack internet hosting the ultimate race of every Formulation 1 season ever since 2009. The race takes place in late November and lasts from about an hour earlier than sundown to lengthy after darkish, which is spectacular to look at. We’ve achieved it ourselves!
- Additionally, one of the crucial fashionable motels on the earth, the Yas Viceroy, is definitely constructed proper throughout the Formulation 1 observe. It seems extra like a spaceship than like a resort.
- Yas Ferrari World – A big Ferrari themed park, additionally internet hosting the world’s quickest curler coaster with a prime pace of 240 kph (150 mph).
- Yas Water World – Being the biggest waterpark in the entire nation, it’s a enjoyable place to return for individuals of all ages.
- In 2018, the world’s third Warner Bros. World is scheduled to open on Yas Island.
- In 2022, the world’s first SeaWorld with out orcas is ready to open on Yas Island.
6. Go kayaking within the mangroves
Would mangroves have come to your thoughts when desirous about the Arabian Peninsula? Most likely not. However in Abu Dhabi, they really do have massive areas of mangroves because of the various shallow lagoons and the humid local weather.
You’ll be able to see some elements of them actually proper subsequent to town, for instance from the Anantara Japanese Mangroves Resort. There are a number of kayaking excursions provided, which is a good and weird expertise that most individuals going to the UAE would by no means have heard of. Simply don’t mistake the little crabs on the bushes for spiders! 🙂
7. Expertise one of many ridiculously wonderful motels
Abu Dhabi has some motels which are such an expertise; they deserve their very own spot right here. From extravagant desert resorts to spectacular skyscrapers to luxurious non-public islands, it’s all of your alternative. Simply to call some:
- Emirates Palace – The costliest resort constructing ever constructed in the entire world.
- Jumeirah Etihad Towers – Finest-rated resort in Abu Dhabi and most spectacular constructing alongside the Corniche.
- The St. Regis or Park Hyatt Saadiyat Island – Bear in mind the seashore from earlier? That is the place to remain.
- Yas Viceroy – Illuminated extremely at evening, constructed proper throughout the Formulation 1 racetrack.
- Zaya Nurai Island Resort – Just lately opened non-public island with unbelievably good pool villas.
- Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort – The most effective desert resort within the emirate of Abu Dhabi, a 2-hour drive from town.
Tip: They’ll be probably the most inexpensive in June, which is low(est) season.
8. Discover lodging in Abu Dhabi, UAE
— Hostels are usually not allowed within the UAE. Please don’t e-book any on-line when you do discover one, as a result of they’re unlawful. —
Finest Finances Resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE – Ibis Capital Gate
The three-star Ibis Abu Dhabi Gate Resort is ideally situated on the finish of the creek between Abu Dhabi Gate Metropolis and
Bain Al Jessrain in Al Maqta space. Ibis Abu Dhabi Gate Resort is ideal for each enterprise and leisure. ADNEC (Abu Dhabi Nationwide Exhibition Centre) and Abu Dhabi Airport are simply quarter-hour away whereas Yas water world and Ferrari world are simply 20 minutes away.
That includes 252 individually embellished, fashionable, spacious and comfy commonplace rooms and 42 one bed room residences with kitchen amenities, 24-hour room service and security deposit containers. For leisure, every room is fitted with a flat-screen LCD TV with satellite tv for pc channels. Free high-speed Wi-Fi is supplied in all public areas and rooms.
Visitors can get pleasure from an eclectic eating expertise at Belgian Cafe, a contemporary but conventional Italian journey in Gabbiano Italian Restaurant and 24-hour service in Fusion Lounge. Wok & Co Restaurant serves an intensive high quality breakfast buffet from 06:30 am – 10:30 am day-after-day. For lunch, you possibly can get pleasure from an intensive worldwide buffet and an Indian eating expertise for dinner in Horizon Restaurant. Entry to the out of doors swimming pool on the 2nd flooring with youngsters’s pool, Sauna, Jacuzzi, Moroccan bathtub, Steam room and Spa can be accessible on the connected resort for a further charge.
Finest Mid-Vary Resort Abu Dhabi, UAE – Millennium Corniche
The Millennium Corniche Resort Abu Dhabi is a 30-minute drive from Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport. The town’s ADNEC exhibition middle is 15 km away. The Grand Mosque is simply 20 minutes’ drive from the resort. The Ferrari World and Yas Island are half-hour’ away by automotive. This property is 6 minutes stroll from the seashore. Positioned within the middle of Abu Dhabi and a simply brief stroll away from the Corniche, the Millennium Corniche Resort Abu Dhabi affords 5-star lodging and options views of Capital Gardens metropolis park and the Arabian Gulf. It has free Wi-Fi entry, an outside pool, and a well being and health middle.
The Millennium Corniche Resort Abu Dhabi has luxurious rooms and suites with hardwood furnishings. All of the spacious rooms and suites function flat-screen TVs and floor-to-ceiling home windows with backyard or Gulf views. It has free Wi-Fi entry, an outside pool, and a well being and health centre.
The well being membership contains an outside swimming pool with sunken bar, a sauna, and a gymnasium. Visitors may also get pleasure from a rejuvenating physique remedy at Millennium Resort’s wellness middle. The resort has three eating places that includes a global delicacies, Italian delicacies, and a Moroccan specialty restaurant.
Finest Luxurious Resort Abu Dhabi, UAE – Jumeirah at Etihad Towers
Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport is a 30-minute drive from the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers Resort. Marina Mall is a 5-minute drive away. This property is 5 minutes stroll from the seashore. Overlooking the Arabian Gulf and Corniche, this contemporary resort is a part of the long-lasting 5-tower advanced in Abu Dhabi. Aside from its landscaped swimming pools and gardens, it additionally contains a non-public seashore and a spa. Visitors can get pleasure from free WiFi All through the property.
With fashionable furnishings and cutting-edge know-how, all rooms provide views of town skyline or the coast. Every features a flat-screen TV and an iPod docking station. Some rooms embrace entry to the chief lounge. Aside from its landscaped swimming pools and gardens, it additionally contains a non-public seashore and a spa. Visitors can get pleasure from free WiFi All through the property.
Advantageous eating will be loved at Jumeirah’s two eating places serving subtle world delicacies. For informal eating, company can select from 5 totally different venues, whereas drinks are provided on the resort’s 2 bars. The Jumeirah has a full-service spa with 13 remedy rooms and a big health middle with fashionable gear. Positioned on stage 74, the Statement Deck is the best vantage level of Abu Dhabi.
Finest Tremendous Luxurious Resort Abu Dhabi, UAE – Park Hyatt Aby Dhabi Resort and Villas
This property is 4 minutes stroll from the seashore. Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Resort and Villas is located on a 9 km stretch of personal seashore on Saadiyat Island. Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport is 35 minutes’ drive away.
This 5-star resort affords air-conditioned rooms with a balcony. It has a well being membership with an outside pool. A spacious seating space with a 42-inch flat-screen TV and an iPod docking station are in Hyatt Abu Dhabi’s fashionable rooms. Every has floor-to-ceiling home windows and is embellished in smooth colors. An open-plan lavatory with an outsized bathtub and a separate rain-shower is included.
Enjoyable massages and varied magnificence therapies can be found at Atarmia Spa. It features a gymnasium and personal remedy rooms for women and men. Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Resort and Villas has three in-house eating places. Every affords a wide array of worldwide delicacies. The Seaside Home Restaurant options panoramic views of Saadiyat Seaside and the landscaped resort gardens.
Concerning the Author
Hey! We’re Emma and Yannick! A journey running a blog couple who met in Thailand in 2014, and since then we now have visited over 20+ international locations with no plans to cease! We journey the world in luxurious, with out paying the value for it, by means of journey hacking and insider information. By this, we love to assist and educate others to journey nicely for much less, identical to we do! Completely happy Travels 🙂
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