{"id":11156,"date":"2025-07-15T08:09:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T08:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/11156\/"},"modified":"2025-07-15T08:09:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T08:09:08","slug":"want-an-opulent-getaway-heres-your-essential-guide-to-action-packed-abu-dhabi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/11156\/","title":{"rendered":"Want an opulent getaway? Here’s your essential guide to action-packed Abu Dhabi"},"content":{"rendered":"

Less famous, flashy, and busy than its neighbor\u00a0Dubai<\/a>, Abu Dhabi<\/a> offers far more than just sun, skyscrapers, and five-star hotels. With pristine beaches, vast mangrove forests, an increasing number of world-class museums and art galleries, and a year-round calendar of sporting events, it challenges every stereotype about the\u00a0UAE<\/a>. It surprises you in all the best ways.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Complemented with a sensational dining scene and safe, diverse, and proudly multicultural communities, it\u2019s the perfect place for those who like to stay active and immerse themselves in a destination\u2019s history and heritage.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Best time to visit Abu Dhabi\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Spring:\u00a0Maximize the most pleasant sunny weather of the year by kayaking around Jubail Mangrove Park and enjoying beach time on\u00a0Saadiyat Island<\/a>, Hudayriyat Island, and the Abu Dhabi Corniche. Amy Subaey, managing director of the adventure group\u00a0UAE Trekkers<\/a>, recommends hiking in the towering dunes of the Liwa Desert\u2014the backdrop for movies such as\u00a0Dune\u00a0and\u00a0Dune: Part 2.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"evening<\/p>\n

Visitors can take an evening stroll along the waterfront promenade, part of the Abu Dhabi Corniche, located in front of the luxury hotel, Emirates Palace.<\/p>\n

Photograph by Peter Schickert, Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n

\u201cLike stepping into\u00a0Lawrence of Arabia,\u00a0desert hiking lets you\u00a0experience what it was like for Abu Dhabi\u2019s original Bedouins to walk hundreds of miles with nothing but the elements and snakes, scorpions, gazelles, and camels for company,\u201d Subaey says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Challenge Sir Bani Yas, the Middle East\u2019s first long-distance triathlon, takes place on Abu Dhabi\u2019s extraordinary island nature reserve (home to giraffes, oryx, and more amazing wildlife). At the same time, the annual\u00a0TriYAS<\/a>\u00a0offers shorter distances for all abilities. Catch the UAE Tour cycle race, and embrace the spirit of\u00a0Ramadan<\/a>\u00a0with lavish iftar buffets, night markets, and late-night games at the\u00a0Manarat Al Saadiyat<\/a>\u00a0Ramadan Arcade.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Summer:\u00a0With average temperatures reaching 113\u00b0F, summer is the low season. Grab bargain hotel deals, pool day passes, and check out the city\u2019s many indoor activities. Don\u2019t miss the impressive National Aquarium,\u00a0CLYMB Abu Dhabi<\/a>\u00a0(home to the world\u2019s biggest indoor skydiving chamber), the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Yas Island\u2019s many theme parks, and the shows and events at\u00a0Etihad Arena.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Autumn:\u00a0Celebrate the cooling temperatures by cycling around\u00a0Hudayriyat Island<\/a>\u2019s 10-kilometer (6-mile) cycling track, learning to surf at\u00a0Surf Abu Dhabi<\/a>\u00a0(the world\u2019s largest man-made wave pool), and heading out to\u00a0Al Ain<\/a>, Abu Dhabi\u2019s \u201cGarden City.\u201d Drive up the hairpin bends of Jebel Jais (the emirate\u2019s tallest mountain) and visit the\u00a0Al Ain Oasis<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Winter:\u00a0Absorb the glamour and thrills of the\u00a0Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix<\/a>\u00a0and take on the\u00a0ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon.<\/a>\u00a0Immerse yourself in Emirati culture at the\u00a0Al Hosn Festival<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque<\/a>, relish intimate performances from huge bands and artists at Saadiyat Nights, and experience wholesome family fun and homegrown dining concepts at the Mother of the Nation (MOTN) Festival. To truly appreciate the wild beauty of Abu Dhabi, charter a boat to take you around its more than 200 natural islands, and watch out for friendly dolphins popping up to say hello.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

(The essential guide to visiting Abu Dhabi<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"Abu<\/p>\n

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is an art museum on Saadiyat Island. Under an agreement between the UAE and France, the museum can use the Louvre\u2019s iconic name until 2047.<\/p>\n

Photograph by Finbarr Fallon, Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Yas Island is just one of a few key places travelers should explore when visiting Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n

Photograph by Michael Hoyer, Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n

Key areas to explore in Abu Dhabi\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Saadiyat Island:\u00a0Abu Dhabi\u2019s most luxurious postcode, Saadiyat delivers five miles of white sand (including the public\u00a0Mamsha Beach<\/a>), multiple beachfront hotels, and clear blue waters home to Hawksbill turtles and more fascinating marine life.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ahmed Al Hashmi, executive director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at the\u00a0Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)<\/a>, explains that Saadiyat\u2019s turtle nesting season runs from March to August. \u201cThe nests hatch throughout the summer, and you can see turtles in the ocean all year-round. Dolphins are also a frequent sight along the shores of Saadiyat Island.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Over in the\u00a0Saadiyat Cultural District,<\/a>\u00a0the Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and other galleries will soon be joined by the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, and the\u00a0Zayed National Museum<\/a>, housed in a jaw-dropping Norman Foster-designed building shaped like a falcon\u2019s wings.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Yas Island:\u00a0On the city\u2019s loud, fun, and funky island, you can drive around Formula 1 track Yas Marina Circuit (or walk, jog, or bike it as part of the free\u00a0TrainYAS<\/a>\u00a0initiative), bar hop along Yas Bay, work on your swing at Yas Links, and scream yourself silly at indoor theme parks\u00a0Ferrari World Abu Dhabi<\/a>\u00a0(which features the world\u2019s fastest rollercoaster), the newly extended Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, and\u00a0Seaworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi<\/a>. Between 2030 and 2032, the new Disneyland Abu Dhabi is expected to be unveiled, completing a lineup of theme parks on Yas Island.<\/p>\n

Downtown:\u00a0As the oldest part of the city, Abu Dhabi\u2019s bustling Downtown is more unpolished and the \u201creal\u201d side of the city. Discover the city\u2019s maritime heritage at the Mina Zayed Fish Market and its no-frills restaurants, and spend days exploring the free beaches, parks, playgrounds, public artworks, and splash pads of the five-mile-long Corniche boardwalk. On the other end of the spectrum,\u00a0The Galleria Al Maryah Island<\/a>\u00a0offers exceptional designer shopping alongside stunning branches of Le Petite Maison, COYA, ZUMA, and other fine dining hotspots. Meanwhile, the\u00a0Qasr Al Hosn<\/a>\u00a0fort, the first stone building in the city, and the shimmering gold and marble\u00a0Qasr Al Watan<\/a>\u00a0royal place, beautifully illustrate the emirate\u2019s rapid development.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

(10 the best hotels in Abu Dhabi for every type of traveler<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Where to stay in Abu Dhabi\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental:<\/a>\u00a0Celebrities and dignitaries are known to check into this palatial hotel adorned with gold and crystal chandeliers. If you’re in the mood to splurge, it doesn’t get more luxurious than this.\u00a0<\/p>\n

W Abu Dhabi \u2013 Yas Island:<\/a>\u00a0The only hotel in the world positioned above a Formula 1 track, Abu Dhabi\u2019s bright, cool, and quirky W allows guests to stay in the heart of the action. The Wet Deck pool bar and W Lounge are party hotspots.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Taste of Abu Dhabi\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Home to over 200\u00a0nationalities<\/a>\u00a0(with Emirati citizens making up only 20 percent of the population), Abu Dhabi is a melting pot of diverse cultures, and its\u00a0cuisine<\/a>\u00a0is equally diverse. You can eat for any budget, and feast on authentic delicacies from across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. The varied highlights range from $3 Indian curries and 30-cent sweet karak chai from takeaways in the busy and slightly crumbling Tourist Club Area, to real gold-sprinkled cappuccinos at flashy Emirates Palace.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Emirati cuisine:\u00a0Including heartwarming\u00a0machboos\u00a0(fragrant rice with meat or fish), golden\u00a0lugaymat\u00a0(deep-fried dough balls in date syrup), and cardamom-infused\u00a0qahwa\u00a0(Arabic coffee), the UAE\u2019s delicious local cuisine is often and unwisely overlooked. One-Michelin-starred\u00a0Erth Restaurant<\/a>\u00a0(which means \u201clegacy\u201d in Arabic) brings a modern twist to traditional Emirati cuisine. Meanwhile, the multi-award-winning\u00a0Ryba<\/a>, located at the 50-year-old Mina Zayed port, specializes in fresh, locally caught seafood infused with Emirati spices.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shawarma:\u00a0Few foods are as synonymous with Abu Dhabi as the classic\u00a0shawarma\u2014a flatbread filled with meat, fries, pickles, and generous dollops of garlic sauce. You\u2019ll find them served at every Middle Eastern restaurant and takeaway, but those from\u00a0Zahrat Lebanon<\/a>, a veteran Lebanese restaurant group established in 1983, are among the most legendary. Enjoying a spread of mezze (mutable, hummus and labneh included),\u00a0fattoush\u00a0salad, shawarma and Arabic grills on the bustling terrace of the Al Salam Street branch is an unmissable stop on any itinerary.\u00a0<\/p>\n

(Everything you should know about Abu Dhabi<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"Al<\/p>\n

The Mosque at Central Market in Al Ain, an inland oasis city on the eastern border of Oman, is a must-do experience for first-time visitors to Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n

Photograph by robertharding, Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n

\"United<\/p>\n

The luxury hotel Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri offers a spread of traditional food, including Arabian coffee and dates.<\/p>\n

Photograph by Thomas Linkel, laif\/Redux<\/p>\n

Getting around Abu Dhabi\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

By air:\u00a0Both\u00a0Zayed International Airport<\/a>\u00a0(featured heavily in\u00a0Mission: Impossible \u2014 Dead Reckoning Part One) and\u00a0Dubai International Airport<\/a>\u00a0(a two-hour drive from downtown Abu Dhabi) offer direct flights to various parts of the U.S.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

By bus:\u00a0Costing between 50 cents and $1 a trip, Abu Dhabi\u2019s\u00a0bus network<\/a>\u00a0is remarkably cheap and regular. The A1 and A2 airport buses, which run from and to Downtown, are convenient.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

By taxi:\u00a0Considerably more affordable than in the U.S. or Europe, taxis are plentiful and easy to hail. Careem is the local taxi app, while\u00a0water taxis<\/a>\u00a0connect key areas such as Yas Bay and Al Raha, and Mina Zayed and Saadiyat Island.\u00a0<\/p>\n

By bike:\u00a0Cycling on the roads is a risky activity. Cycle docking stations are found along the car-free paths of the Corniche, while bike rental shops are right by the Hudayriyat Island track.\u00a0<\/p>\n

By train:\u00a0Set to launch in 2026, high-speed rail line\u00a0Etihad Rail<\/a>\u00a0will link Abu Dhabi to the country\u2019s other six emirates and offer connections to Dubai in just 30 minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Know before you go\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cultural heritage:\u00a0Islam<\/a>\u00a0is the predominant religion in Abu Dhabi, but other faiths are also accepted and practiced. The enormous\u00a0BAPS Hindu Mandir<\/a>,\u00a0the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East, and the\u00a0Abrahamic House<\/a>\u00a0(containing a church, synagogue, and mosque on the same site) demonstrate this.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dress code:\u00a0There is no strict dress code for tourists; however, it\u2019s recommended to dress modestly in malls, government buildings, and at religious sites. Women are required to cover their hair in mosques.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alcohol:\u00a0It is illegal to drink or be drunk in public places, but alcohol is widely available in bars and restaurants, and it\u2019s expensive unless you visit during \u2018happy hour.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

LGBTQ+:\u00a0Same-sex marriage and relations are illegal. Unmarried couples can legally share hotel rooms, but overt public displays of affection are not acceptable.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

How to visit Abu Dhabi sustainably\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the city:\u00a0Drop by\u00a0Masdar City<\/a>, a sustainable community that uses 40 percent less water and energy, and get around Abu Dhabi via the ever-expanding fleet of\u00a0green buses<\/a>\u00a0(entirely powered by hydrogen and electric energy) and green taxis\u2014roughly 80 percent of all taxis are hybrid, electric or natural gas.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Support local farmers by visiting Mazaraa Farm on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, or Emirates Bio Farm<\/a>, the UAE\u2019s largest organic farm, out in sleepy Al Ain. For your souvenirs, the gift shop at the\u00a0421 Arts Campus<\/a>, an independent gallery, offers a selection of\u00a0accessories, cards, books, and more created by local creatives and artists.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the desert:\u00a0Georges Kfoury, managing director of\u00a0Arabian Wanderers<\/a>, recommends that visitors avoid \u201cdune bashing\u201d experiences (driving over the desert in a 4×4) and opt for camping or stargazing in the desert instead. \u201cDune bashing has become highly commercialized. It\u2019s often done in large groups, and it can cause significant damage to the desert. Camping from a single drop-off location has less environmental impact, while the most spectacular stargazing can be found at Al Quaa, the darkest spot in the UAE,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On the beach:\u00a0If you come across a turtle, sea snake, or any other marine animal, do not touch or move it. \u201cKeep a safe distance and avoid causing stress through loud noises, lights, or crowds. If it\u2019s safe, take a photo and report the sighting immediately to the EAD hotline on 800555,\u201d says Al Hashmi. \u201cIf you see a nesting turtle, do not block her path to or from the sea. Take all your trash home and stay on designated paths to prevent damage to dunes and vegetation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Travel:\u00a0Fly there and back via Etihad Airways, declared Environmental Airline of the Year 2023 at the\u00a0Airlines Ratings<\/a>\u00a0awards.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Harriet Shephard<\/a>\u00a0is a British travel and lifestyle freelance journalist. Based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, you can follow her on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.