Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE and the biggest emirate in the land, has transformed into a modern, cosmopolitan, and high-rise city. Abu Dhabi is a cultural hub with stunning landmarks, and it is considered to be one of the safest cities in the world! Abu Dhabi is a city of contrasts, where modernity and contrasts co-exist, resulting in perfect harmony. Abu Dhabi isn’t just about shiny and luxurious things and places; it has a great role in the oil industry, making it a pretty rich city that invests a huge amount of money in other sectors such as tourism. That’s why there are a lot of things to do in Abu Dhabi such as:
- Adventure activities.
- Indoor activities.
- Historic Places.
Adventure Activities
Desert Safari
You can’t be in Abu Dhabi and miss trying out a safari tour in the stunning Arabian desert! First things first, you have to do your research and choose a company that offers desert safari tours that suit your budget and preferences. Once you’ve booked your tour, you will head to the desert in a 4×4 vehicle and head to the dunes! The driver of the vehicle will give you a bumpy ride where he takes you up and down the dunes at very high speeds to start building up your excitement, as it is an adrenaline-fueled experience that will leave you breathless and exhilarated.
After the dune bashing, you can try out sandboarding, as Abu Dhabi is most known for its amazing safari sandboarding. After sunsets, usually people head back to their camps to enjoy some traditional Arabic hospitality, such as delicious Arabian food accompanied by the famous Arabian coffee and dates. There are also a variety of entertainment options, such as belly dancing, fire shows, live music, henna drawing, and taking pictures with falcons.
Kayaking
If you are a kayak enthusiast, then you should definitely try out Kayaking in Abu Dhabi. There are a few popular kayaking spots in Abu Dhabi, including the Corniche, Saadiyat Island, and the Eastern Mangroves. The Easter Mangroves are a protected area with scenic waterways, which makes them an ideal destination for kayaking as they provide a unique kayaking experience. There are kayaking tour operators that offer guided tours of the mangroves, with tours including additional activities such as stand-up paddleboarding and watching birds. It’s advisable that you have the necessary knowledge and skills before embarking on a kayaking excursion.
Indoor Activities
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is one of the best adventurous indoor activities in Abu Dhabi. This indoor theme park is located on Yas Island, and it was opened in 2010 and became the first Ferrari-branded theme park in the world! The park covers an area of 86,000 square metres and features rides, attractions, and exhibits that are inspired by Ferrari’s history, culture, and technology. The most famous attraction in Ferrari World is Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest roller coaster, which can reach speeds of up to 240 km/h. There are other famous rides such as the Flying Aces, a ride that has the world’s highest loop on a roller coaster, and the Turbo Track, a ride that takes riders on an exciting ride up and down the park’s iconic Ferrari-branded building in a vertical roller coaster.
There are also a variety of exhibits that showcase Ferrari’s history and culture, in addition to a gallery that displays a collection of historic Ferrari cars, and you can take a tour of the manufacturing facility to see how the cars are made. Visitors also get to design their own Ferrari cars through interactive exhibits and test them on a virtual track. Ferrari World is suitable for all ages, as younger visitors can enjoy a play area with climbing walls and slides, Junior GT driving schools, and a racing simulator.
Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
This indoor theme park is a must-visit destination for fans of Warner Bros. movies and TV shows. This park is the largest in the world! Covering an area of 1.65 million square feet. The park is located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, and it features over 29 rides, attractions, and shows based on popular Warner Bros. franchises such as Looney Tunes, DC Comics, and Hanna-Barbera.
There are family-friendly attractions such as Tom and Jerry’s Swiss Cheese Spin, Scooby-Doo, and the Batman high-speed roller coaster. Visitors can immerse themselves in the world of their favourite characters through a variety of interactive exhibits. There is a section in the park called “Gotham City,” which includes a replica of the Batcave and Wayne Manor. There is also the Studio Plaza, which has sets and props from popular Warner Bros. movies and TV shows. For younger visitors, there are a variety of play areas, such as the Acme Factory and the Dynamite Gulch playground.
The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi
The National Aquarium is a marine and aquarium education centre that is part of Abu Dhabi’s cultural program. This aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the Middle East, and it has over 50 aquatic exhibits featuring more than 200 species from all over the world. There are a variety of zones, each of which represents a different marine environment, including coral reefs, mangroves, open oceans, and estuaries. The most popular and main attraction of the aquarium is a 10 million litre aquarium tank, which includes several types of sharks, rays, and other large marine animals. There is also a walkthrough tunnel 90 metres long that provides visitors with a unique underwater experience.
Historic Places
Qasr Al Watan
One of the most popular cultural landmarks and attractions in Abu Dhabi, and is the country’s official presidential palace. Qasr Al Watan opened its doors to locals and tourists in 2019, giving visitors the chance to experience the marvelous palace and learn about history and culture.
Divided into zones, the palace library is one of the most interesting places to explore at Qasr Al Watan. It has a collection of 50,000 books from various disciplines, in science, literature, and arts. You can also find here other literary resources such as dissertations, and research articles.
Other zones include the House of Knowledge, The Presidential Banquet, Presidential Gifts, Spirit of Collaboration, and Al Barza.
The Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum is a branch of the famous Louvre Museum in Paris and is the largest art museum in the Arabian Peninsula. It is located on Saadiyat Island. Since 2017, this museum has become a prominent cultural landmark in the region. The museum is trying to showcase the shared human experience across civilizations and cultures through art and artefacts. The works in the museum include works from different periods and regions, from ancient to modern times, and these works are considered the museum’s permanent collection.
What is also catchy and unique is the museum’s architecture, as it has a dome-shaped structure that is made up of 8 layers of steel and aluminium. The dome is designed to filter sunlight and create a rain-of-light effect that illuminates the entire museum’s interior with a stunning pattern of light and shadow. The Louvre tickets can be purchased online or at the museum’s ticket counter. The museum is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., on weekends from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Mondays off.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a prime and famous landmark located in Abu Dhabi. It is one of the largest mosques in the world. The late president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, built the mosque as a symbol of Islamic and Emirati culture. The mosque can host up to 41,000 worshippers, and it has 82 domes, a massive central prayer hall, and four minarets.
The world’s largest hand-knotted carpet covers the entire floor of the mosque’s prayer hall. The mosque’s exterior is made of white marble, and its interior is adorned with intricate Islamic calligraphy, floral designs, and mosaics. Visitors are required to dress modestly and follow the mosque’s dress code, which includes covering the head, arms, and legs. Women are required to wear an abaya, which is provided by the mosque free of charge.
