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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Most of you’d most likely consider Dubai as THE place to go within the Center East, and that’s for a cause. However the precise capital metropolis of the United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi, positioned only a 90-minute drive alongside the coast from Dubai, and there are heaps to be found there as effectively.
We advise that these vacationers who’re staying in Dubai ought to ebook Dubai to Abu Dhabi tour from native tour operators to journey conveniently and uncover Abu Dhabi points of interest with ease and no trouble. And if you wish to go to Abu Dhabi by yourself or keep in Abu Dhabi, you possibly can decide 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 closing Formulation 1 race of the season, which takes place there by the Yas Marina each November.
For those who determine to come back to the United Arab Emirates, you must spend no less than three or 4 nights of your time in Abu Dhabi to see a few of its predominant points of interest. It’s received a big worldwide airport with house service Etihad Airways, but it surely’s additionally simply reachable from Dubai by bus or rental automotive. We have now executed 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 best mode of transport within the UAE in the event you’re over 21.
For those who don’t like sizzling climate an excessive amount of, attempt 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 most effective occasions to go together with good daytime peaks round 35°C (95°F), and evenings are nonetheless good and heat to sit down outdoors.
However the factor that issues: Out of the twelve months a 12 months, solely six will drizzle a number 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 kinds of white marble from a number of completely different nations and richly ornamented with costly supplies corresponding to gold. The primary dome is the biggest mosque dome on the planet 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 peak. 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 gorgeous structure, it’s definitely one of the 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 completely different gentle installations flip the entire constructing right into a shiny and wonderful blue piece of artwork which you could even see from a aircraft.
Better of all: The entry is totally freed from cost. Simply be sure you verify the opening occasions earlier than you go, which is perhaps restricted as a consequence of non secular occasions. Additionally they supply free audio excursions and free guided excursions.
Once you go, be sure to put on acceptable apparel. Usually no shorts, girls should both deliver or borrow (without cost) a non-transparent abaya and scarf to put on for all the time of being in or across the mosque. As this will get actually, and we imply really sizzling in summer season, be sure to take loads of water. It’s value it, although.
2. Saadiyat Island Seashore Membership
Saadiyat Island is house to an ideal seashore that you’d quite place someplace within the Caribbean by the seems to be of it. The UAE are recognized for broad, huge 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 unbelievable), however there’s a little seashore membership that’s open to the general public. For those who can’t afford staying at one of many resorts, be sure 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 various completely different choices for this. With the desert proper at your step, don’t miss the possibility to discover it. The standard manner for vacationers is a desert safari, the place you possibly can check out sand boarding, camel driving or dune buggies to call only a few actions. There are a complete lot of tour operators, although, so remember to verify which of them are good earlier than you go. We have now solely executed one from Dubai with Arabian Expedition, and it was a pleasant expertise with glorious worth. Subsequently we can’t converse for Abu Dhabi.
For those who keep longer and make buddies with locals (additionally expats) who stay in Abu Dhabi, they may have the ability to 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. Nevertheless, “native” is usually exhausting 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. In the present day, nearly 90% of the folks dwelling there aren’t really Emirati. And naturally, neither is many of the meals you’ll discover. There’s a almost limitless number of meals decisions that exist within the UAE as we speak, however the meals usually related to “native” these days is a mixture of Emirati and Lebanese delicacies.
It’s very straightforward to end result to worldwide chains inside all of the purchasing malls or to eat at one of many many fancy resort eating places all over the place round. However initially, the place the locals eat, it’s really nonetheless very inexpensive (for instance, mushy drinks below a greenback), and naturally it tastes no less than nearly as good as elsewhere whereas being far more genuine.
A straightforward space to seek out a lot of the above-mentioned meals lies between the Corniche Seashore and the Madinat Zayed purchasing advanced. We have now been to Chagh Kebab and Shish Shawerma, which had been each actually scrumptious and good worth.
5. Go to the numerous points of interest 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 few 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 executed it ourselves!
- Additionally, one of the trendy motels on the planet, the Yas Viceroy, is definitely constructed proper throughout the Formulation 1 monitor. It seems to be 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 come back for folks 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 fascinated about the Arabian Peninsula? Most likely not. However in Abu Dhabi, they really do have giant areas of mangroves due to the numerous shallow lagoons and the humid local weather.
You may see some elements of them actually proper subsequent to town, for instance from the Anantara Jap Mangroves Resort. There are a number of kayaking excursions provided, which is a superb and strange 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 superb motels
Abu Dhabi has some motels which can be 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 most costly resort constructing ever constructed in the entire world.
- Jumeirah Etihad Towers – Greatest-rated resort in Abu Dhabi and most spectacular constructing alongside the Corniche.
- The St. Regis or Park Hyatt Saadiyat Island – Keep 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 – Not too long ago opened non-public island with unbelievably good pool villas.
- Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort – One of the best 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 aren’t allowed within the UAE. Please don’t ebook any on-line in the event you do discover one, as a result of they’re unlawful. —
Greatest Funds Resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE – Ibis Capital Gate
The three-star Ibis Abu Dhabi Gate Resort is ideally positioned 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 adorned, fashionable, spacious and comfy normal rooms and 42 one bed room flats with kitchen services, 24-hour room service and security deposit packing 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.
Company can take pleasure in 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 on daily basis. For lunch, you possibly can take pleasure in an intensive worldwide buffet and an Indian eating expertise for dinner in Horizon Restaurant. Entry to the outside swimming pool on the 2nd flooring with kids’s pool, Sauna, Jacuzzi, Moroccan tub, Steam room and Spa can also be out there on the hooked up resort for an extra payment.
Greatest 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 provides 5-star lodging and options views of Capital Gardens metropolis park and the Arabian Gulf. It has free Wi-Fi entry, an out of doors 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 out of doors pool, and a well being and health centre.
The well being membership contains an out of doors swimming pool with sunken bar, a sauna, and a gymnasium. Company may take pleasure in a rejuvenating physique remedy at Millennium Resort’s wellness middle. The resort has three eating places that includes a world delicacies, Italian delicacies, and a Moroccan specialty restaurant.
Greatest 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. Other than its landscaped swimming pools and gardens, it additionally encompasses a non-public seashore and a spa. Company can take pleasure in free WiFi All through the property.
With trendy furnishings and cutting-edge know-how, all rooms supply views of town skyline or the coast. Every features a flat-screen TV and an iPod docking station. Some rooms embody entry to the manager lounge. Other than its landscaped swimming pools and gardens, it additionally encompasses a non-public seashore and a spa. Company can take pleasure in free WiFi All through the property.
Positive eating might be loved at Jumeirah’s two eating places serving subtle world delicacies. For informal eating, visitors can select from 5 completely 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 tools. Positioned on stage 74, the Remark Deck is the very best vantage level of Abu Dhabi.
Greatest 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 provides air-conditioned rooms with a balcony. It has a well being membership with an out of doors 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 adorned in mushy 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 provides a big selection of worldwide delicacies. The Seashore Home Restaurant options panoramic views of Saadiyat Seashore and the landscaped resort gardens.
In regards to the Author
Hey! We’re Emma and Yannick! A journey running a blog couple who met in Thailand in 2014, and since then now we have visited over 20+ nations with no plans to cease! We journey the world in luxurious, with out paying the worth for it, by means of journey hacking and insider data. By way of this, we love to assist and train others to journey effectively for much less, similar to we do! Glad Travels
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