Abu Dhabi is the kind of place which caters to every traveller with something new to discover on each visit. Below, you will find some key sites of interest, each providing insights into the different wonders of this enchanting destination.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Prepare to be awestruck at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which is one of the world’s largest. Look up to see its four minarets reaching 106 metres into the sky, and wander inside where you will find marbled halls, gold-leaf calligraphy, glittering Swarovski chandeliers and amethyst-and-jasper columns. Amidst this splendour is a place which is deeply spiritual, connected to Islam, which is an integral part of the local culture.
Sir Bani Yas Island
Of course, then you get Sir Bani Yas Island, where you will find the Arabian Wildlife Park, home to over 17,000 free-roaming animals from graceful gazelles to stealthy cheetahs… it’s a chance to see the “wild side” of Abu Dhabi! Luxury hotels on the island give you a chance to experience much more, too. Stay at properties like Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort and visit a 6th-century Nestorian Christian monastery, or enjoy horse riding, kayaking and snorkelling as well.
Yas Island
If you are looking for family attractions or theme park thrills, then make a beeline for Yas Island. You will find Ferrari World Abu Dhabi with its record-breaking Formula Rossa rollercoaster, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, and the relatively new SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. Whether you are young or just young at heart, you will leave with a grin as wide as the Yas Marina Circuit, the island’s Formula 1 track!
The Empty Quarter
Vast, silent, and endlessly golden, the Empty Quarter is Mother Nature’s way of reminding you just how “small” humans are. As the world’s largest uninterrupted sand desert, its towering dunes and sea of sand will leave you in awe. Try a dawn desert walk, go dune bashing, or watch a falconry display. Of course, it’s also the perfect place to experience a journey on a camel at sunset, like the Bedouins of old.
