Abu Dhabi

Each area of Abu Dhabi has something unique to offer. Check out these six:

Al Reem Island

Al Reem Island is known for its magnificent residential towers that make up the city’s skyline. It’s the base of Abu Dhabi’s financial district. It has a heartbeat like any other corporate area. Tourists flock to the burgeoning area to get a peek at some of the most futuristic buildings on the planet.

The Corniche

This is a luxurious community by the sea that is considered one of the best areas of Abu Dhabi. There is easy access to lovely beaches with all the facilities visitors could need. The Corniche has an abundance of food stalls, cafés, and lounging areas to make anyone feel like they’re visiting a tropical paradise.

Khalifa City

Khalifa City is known for its calm and peaceful atmosphere, yet its close proximity to attractions. With quiet parks, large and dazzling houses, and a growing number of boutique shops and restaurants, this is one of the hottest areas to visit!

Mohammed Bin Zayed City

Commonly known as MBZ City, Mohammed Bin Zayed City is a quiet residential suburb in the mainland of Abu Dhabi. It’s named in honor of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

Zaya Nurai Island

This island is like a piece of heaven unlike anywhere else, and it’s just a short 15-minute boat ride from Abu Dhabi. This private island resort has a world-class spa, restaurants, a beach club and untold activities on land and sea. Vacationers will appreciate the azure blue water washing over them, powder soft white sand beaches as well as luscious gardens and stunning architecture. This jewel in Abu Dhabi’s crown is home to the incredibly opulent Villa Maryam, a five-bedroom villa for rent in Abu Dhabi. Sitting right on the beachfront, this superb property is like being on a private resort with the utmost privacy and unrivaled ocean views. The home can accommodate up to 10 people and everyone will enjoy the amenities such as an outdoor infinity pool that can be heated or cooled according to preference, a lovely outdoor dining area complete with a BBQ. Inside guests can work out in a well-equipped gym or enjoy a game at the volleyball court, and relax in the sauna afterwards. There’s also a cinema room for nights of snuggling up with popcorn and a favorite flick.

Yas Island

The entertainment is endless on Yas Island. It’s home to the area’s top theme parks, Formula One events, and a host of other activities to keep visitors busy. For shoppers, there is an impressive mall featuring high-end shops. The luxury marina here attracts superyachts from as far away as Australia. It offers modern facilities and decadent food. Yas Island is all about fun, fun and more fun.

Abu Dhabi has many luscious fine dining spots. These six are outstanding:

Bord Eau

Bord Eau offers the taste of France in Abu Dhabi. Authentic French cuisine offers rich flavors and fresh ingredients. With a range of blind-tasting menus also on offer, guests can enjoy the best of the chef's creations. From the sea, choose the Mediterranean bass with artichoke barigoule or meat lovers can savor the Angus beef chateaubriand in Bordelais sauce.

Catch

The atmosphere at Catch is sophisticated and elegant. Diners might feel like they’re sitting in a beautiful home in the Hamptons. It’s interior is breezy and light with blonde hardwood floors, white trim, taupe window trimmings and French doors. The bar serves some of the most unique and well-balanced cocktails in the city. Cuisine-wise Catch mixes ambition and restraint as can be seen with the crab burger with a side order of avocado and banana chips. The sushi is par excellence and steals the show. Staff is attentive and pays attention to every little detail.

Coya Abu Dhabi

Guests who’d like to visit Latin America through food, head to Coya. Spirited colors and rich Incan palettes make diners feel they’ve been transported to another continent. The venue has an outdoor terrace and a private dining room with its own entrance. Live entertainment from South American artists every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday add to the upbeat tempo. Fish lovers must try the Peruvian sashimi such as Yellowfin tuna with teriyaki dressing, sriracha mayonnaise and pickled cucumber. The spicy beef fillet with crispy shallots, chili and garlic is always a favorite.

Hakkasan

Hakkasan Abu Dhabi brings Hakkasan’s award-winning cuisine to the landmark Emirates Palace. Comprising a restaurant, bar and lounge as well as four private dining rooms, the 16,000-square-foot space is separated by carved wooden screens and latticing that echo the rich interiors of the London flagship restaurant. Embroidered furniture and marbled Chinese forms enrich the space, and the main dining area is crafted into a wooden cage surrounded by backlit blue glass and a stainless steel frame. Signature Hakkasan dishes like Peking duck with caviar and grilled wagyu beef with king soy sauce are served alongside a set of new dishes such as wok-fry XO Canadian lobster with lotus root and lily bulb.

The Meat Co.

It has been said The Meat Co. serves the best steaks in all of Abu Dhabi. Regulars would agree. Views extend over the water as far as the Grand Mosque. Guests will feel like they’re in the lap of luxury seated against a Middle Eastern backdrop and subtle South African décor – the ideal venue for a scenic spot to have dinner. Prime cuts of meat, flown in from all around the world, entice diners from all across Abu Dhabi. Guests have their pick of seven house-crafted sauces. To start off, try the braised ribs, truffle pesto and roasted mushrooms wrapped in phyllo pastry and served with kimchi mayonnaise. For the main, consider the Wagyu or Tomahawk steak. Both are favorites.

Mezlai

Mezlai is designed to give guests the feeling like they’re dining in a Bedouin tent. Dishes are created with ingredients stemming from the sea, oases, desert and the mountains. The cuisine is a twist on the Arabian diet, so expect ingredients like lamb, za’atar, dates, saffron, rosewater and wild oregano. Mezlai wants to give guests an inkling of Arabic culture, and no visit to Abu Dhabi is complete without sampling local flavors. The lentil soup served with crispy bread and fresh lemon is beautifully flavored. The chef’s signature hummus blend is sure to delight vegans and non-vegans alike. It’s a trio of different recipes: classic blend, green peas and spinach and spicy sundried tomato with feta.

Abu Dhabi has a rapidly growing arts scene and great museums. Creativity is thriving here. Visitors may wish to investigate these five venues:

Abu Dhabi History Museum and Aquarium

Located inside Khalifa Park, Abu Dhabi History Museum and provides welcome, enduring entertainment for families. The museum stages the history of the development of Abu Dhabi in diorama-style exhibits depicting pivotal moments in the city’s development. Guests take seats in cabins, which slowly drive though these dioramas which explain the development of the cities. From the Bedouin life in the desert to the modern city, the trip is very enlightening. After exiting the ride, the aquarium gives visitors a look at the other part of Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem, the sea, with very cool displays of underwater creatures.

Guggenheim Museum

Like its sister in New York City, the Abu Dhabi Guggenheim Museum of modern and contemporary art showcases the most important worldwide artistic achievements of the 20th and 21st centuries. The collection here places a special emphasis on West Asian, North African, and South Asian art. The museum is also a forum for research and intellectual and cultural discussions for artists, scholars, curators, architects, and innovative thinkers.

Louvre Museum

Developed jointly by the United Arab Emirates and France, Louvre Abu Dhabi presents a historical narrative of art spanning the history of civilization and emphasizes a shared human experience. The museum collection includes a number of significant works, including one of the finest examples of a standing Bactrian Princess from about 2000 BCE, a 3,000-year-old Middle-Eastern gold bracelet with lion's head and an 1878 painting by Osman Hamdi Bey, “A Young Emir Studying.” Other important works include Paul Gauguin’s masterpiece “Children Wrestling”; the René Magritte painting, “The Subjugated Reader”; a 1928 collage by Picasso, “Portrait of a Lady”; nine canvases by contemporary artist Cy Twombly and the most ancient known photographic representation of a veiled woman.

NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery

This gallery presents curated art and cultural exhibitions across historical and contemporary topics. A special emphasis is placed on subjects of both regional concern and international significance. Its platform supports scholarly and experimental installations, artists’ projects, guest curators, and landmark exhibitions. The gallery is equipped for exhibitions in all media, allowing for both experimental and traditional museum installations.

Salwa Zeidan Gallery

Salwa Zeidan is one of the top contemporary art galleries of Abu Dhabi and a great start to an artsy tour of the city. Situated in the breathtaking Saint Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, the gallery is one the most active of UAE’s capital, featuring creations of well-known international and Middle Eastern artists working across a range of media, from paintings, installations and performances to sculptures and even performance art. The gallery’s top artists include Zhuang Hong Yi, Adonis, Fatema Al Mazrouie, Ahmad Moualla, Jamal Abdul Rahim, Connie Noyes and many others.

There are places in Abu Dhabi where visitors can go after dark to have fun. The four here are very impressive:

The Blue Marlin Ibiza

This beach club offers a prestigious environment previously unseen in Abu Dhabi. Set among a variety of tropical and indigenous fauna, guests are immediately transported into a private oasis. Cocktails are meticulously crafted and happily brought to exclusive VIP tables. Sprawled among two levels of white canopies, Blue Marlin Ibiza also offers guests some of the finest cuisine in the city. The venue boasts one of the UAE’s largest outdoor bars, luxury cabanas, VIP areas with dip pools, a powder-white beach and tranquil waters, where guests can sway to the smooth grooves of resident and international DJs.

Crystal Lounge

Crystal Lounge is all about warmth and style. The lounge/restaurant, in the St. Regis Hotel, is an ideal spot to settle in for an evening of relaxation. Throughout the space, polished wood tables and upholstered armchairs create intimate seating areas atop plush rugs. For those who are hungry, the menu offers a superb range of caviars and luscious light snacks either at the bar or at a table. Crystal lounge is known locally for its offering of the world’s finest champagnes.

Mad on Yas Island

Guests at Mad will experience some of the biggest names in music. There is always something going on here like wild entertainment shows, fun-themed parties, and world-class artists. This opulent nightclub features 360-degree projection mapping, huge animated LED screens, and beautiful lights to give partiers that boost they’d been looking for. The venue also has a luxurious VIP area with private bathrooms. Mad is the biggest indoor nightlife venue in the UAE.

Stratos Revolving Lounge

Discover Abu Dhabi and its beautiful shores from up high at the city’s only rooftop revolving restaurant. Sample gourmet cuisine from a menu of international specialties. Stratos, on the 25th floor of Le Royal Meridien Hotel, offers panoramic 360-degree views of the city, the sea and its islands. Whether watching a seductive sunset during cocktail hour or waiting for the after-dark atmosphere that lends itself to decadent nighttime adventure, Stratos.is the ideal place to enjoy a perfectly-crafted cocktail and a meal fit for royalty.

Abu Dhabi has many stellar events. At least one of these five might be of interest, or perhaps all of them:

Abu Dhabi Festival

Organized by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, the annual multidisciplinary festival is the largest cultural celebration in the entire region, reaching across the world through co-commissions and the international presentation of innovative Arab creativity. The festival annually commissions, produces, preserves and presents the greatest works of music and arts to create rich cultural experiences in the UAE and beyond. Festival goers get to see some pretty impressive performances in various genres such as music, theater, and art.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

This Formula One racing event allows spectators to get up to speed with their favorite sport. The race is 55 laps of heart-pounding excitement. This is F1’s only twilight race which makes it even more special. As day turns into night, lights of the stunning Yas Marina Circuit shine down on some of the greatest names in motorsport. Guests can choose to watch the racing in a luxurious hospitality suite or the FQ Experiences superyacht, along with access to star-studded after parties and A-list concerts at Du Arena.

Abu Dhabi International Boat Show

This world-class boat show caters to marine industry professionals and everyone seeking a wonderful day by the water. The show is the ideal platform to discover the latest ways to enjoy all aspects of marine leisure and water sports in and around Abu Dhabi, with a whole range of opportunities to get out on the water. Learn about the latest technology while enjoying entertainment and attractions at this award winning venue. Show goers will see all sizes of boats and yachts.

Abu Dhabi International Dance Festival

This fabulous three-day festival takes place in April and artists and performers from all around the globe show off their moves and get the crowd involved at various events, workshops and parties. The festival showcases some of the top performers and instructors within several dance genres such as Salsa, Hip Hop, Afro Rumba, Kizomba, Zouk, Cha Cha, Bachata and many more. Attendees can join in the fun and show off their dancing talents. Everybody is welcome to attend the event and bust some grooves along with the performers on stage.

UAE National Day

UAE National Day is a joyful celebration of the unification of seven states, and a glittering annual spectacle across the United Arab Emirates. Dec. 2 marks the unification of all seven Emirates into one nation. From dazzling firework displays to elaborate parades and glittering ceremonies, UAE National Day is a time when locals and expatriates gather together to celebrate. In Abu Dhabi it’s also the day for the Sheikh Zayed Festival. It’s a great opportunity to experience Emirati culture with traditional performances, falconry exhibitions, horse shows, marching bands and fountain shows. Little ones are also sure to enjoy themselves on the rides at FunFair City, while parents can indulge in international cuisine.

There is definitely no shortage of fun and unique things to do in Abu Dhabi. The four activities here are sure to be among the most memorable experiences on an Abu Dhabi vacation:

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

Find that Ferrari feeling at Ferrari World. Ride the world’s fastest roller coaster, experience the world’s highest non-inverted loop or feel an incredible zero gravity fall. With 40 thrilling rides and experiences, guests are in for a world full of Ferrari-fueled fun at one of the world’s leading theme parks. This place is for young and old alike. Live the dream and experience the thrill around Yas Island behind the wheel of a Ferrari, Be transported on amazing adventures through captivating virtual worlds in state-of-the-art simulation experiences and sharpen racing skills on an incredible 951-foot-long track inspired by the iconic Yas Marina Circuit.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The impressive and inspiring Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the largest in the world and the only one to capture the unique interactions between Islam and other world cultures. UAE founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, wanted the mosque to incorporate architectural styles from different Muslim civilizations to celebrate cultural diversity by creating a truly welcoming and inspirational haven. The mosque’s open-door policy encourages visitors to not only witness its beauty, but also to gain a deeper understanding of the UAE’s cultural beliefs in a space encouraging open dialogue.

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi joins the multitude of attractions on Abu Dhabi’s entertainment and leisure destination, Yas Island. The size of 21 football fields, this is the world’s largest indoor theme park. Visitors can enjoy 29 state-of-the-art exhilarating rides, interactive family-friendly attractions and unique live entertainment, located across six immersive lands – Gotham City, Metropolis, Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch and Warner Bros. Plaza. This place is a world unto itself and is truly enchanting.

Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi

No one has been to a water park until they’ve been to Yas Waterworld. Spread over 37 acres, the UAE’s mega water park offers the ultimate water adventure where guests can enjoy more than 40 rip-roaring rides, slithering slides, and amazing experiences at different thrill levels that cater to the whole family. Some attractions include Bubble’s Barrel, Rush Rider, and Bandit Bomber – the longest suspended roller coaster in the Middle East. Attractions are grouped into four categories: Adrenaline Rush, Exciting Adventures, Moving & Grooving, and Young Fun. The highest rides are Jebel Drop and Hamlool's Humps, and the fastest, Liwa Loop. The Slithers Slides are a collection of six slides and tunnels all designed like giant, fanged snakes.