Bookstore
Available as paperback
and as e-book.
Abu Dhabi Attractions
Corniche
One of the best ways to explore Abu Dhabi is to take a drive or a stroll along the park-lined Corniche. As you travel the coastal boulevard, you'll come across parks with picnic areas, walkways, and bicycle paths. It's a great way to get to know the city from the water's edge, with the gleaming city skyline on one side and the sparkling Gulf on the other.
6 Results
- Tour
Big Bus Company
Offers tours of the city's principal attractions, including Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Emirates Palace hotel gates, the Corniche, Abu Dhabi Mall, the various Al Meena markets including the Iranian Souk, and the mangrove swamps, and the capital's new baby Saadiyat Island. Tickets are valid… - Landmark
Corniche
One of the best ways to explore Abu Dhabi is to take a drive or a stroll along the park-lined Corniche. As you travel the coastal boulevard, you'll come across parks with picnic areas, walkways, and bicycle paths. It's a great way to get to know the city from the water's edge, with… - Landmark
Dhow Harbor and Iranian Souk
The harbor is the one place you can watch the traditional dhows return from sea, and sunset is the best time to do this. A number of dinner dhow cruises depart from here, and there are a couple of restaurants at Al Dhafra. You will also find fish, fruit, and carpet markets here in… - Religious Site
Grand Mosque
The Grand Mosque gets its name for a reason: It's the third-largest mosque in the world (the first two are in Saudi Arabia), and it has enough marble, gold, and silver to make the Taj Mahal jealous. Seven giant Swarovski crystal chandeliers hang from the ceilings (more than one… - Tour
Heritage Village
This mock village gives visitors an idea of what Abu Dhabi was like before the high-rise hotels and megamalls. The workshop area and museum are highlights. The former has stalls for everything from pottery and glass to leather, carpentry, spices, and perfumes. All the stalls sell… - Beach
Hiltonia Beach Club
If a day at the beach is what you want, the Hiltonia Beach Club is the city's best beach club open to non-hotel guests. In addition to lounge chairs and umbrellas in the sand, there's a range of extra-fee watersports; these include water-skiing, windsurfing (including lessons),…
Abu Dhabi Shopping
While it may be overshadowed by its glitzy neighbor of Dubai, Abu Dhabi offers its own impressive shopping scene. From traditional products sold at local markets around the dhow area and in the Iranian and carpet souks, to modern fashions displayed in the capital's sophisticated malls, this wealthy emirate offers a compelling mix of goods from the East and West. You can find antiques, gold, carpets, and an array of Arabian souvenirs alongside mainstream items and top international brands. Bargaining is the expected way of doing business in the souks and traditional stores. For gold and jewelry, head to the Madinat Zayed Gold Centre (tel. 02-631-8555), located near the main post office on East Road. It houses some of the largest jewelry shops in the Gulf, featuring all colors of gold, diamonds, pearls, and other treasures. On Hamdan Street, the closest Abu Dhabi comes to having a "main street," you will find the Liwa Centre (tel. 02-632-0344), which sells, among other things, discount jewelry and perfumes. Nearby, the Hamdan Centre (tel. 02-632-8555) is a practical stop for discount clothing, shoes, handbags, and Arabian souvenirs. Bargaining is possible here, too. You will find beautiful carpets from Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, and China at the Carpet Souk (also known as the Afghan Souk) located off Al Meena Road near the Dhow Harbor. The traditional fish, vegetable, and fruit souks are also in the Al Meena area. The souks are typically open Saturday to Thursday from 8am to 1pm and 4 to 9pm, and Friday from 4 to 9pm. The top malls in the city are the Marina Mall (tel. 02-681-8300; www.marinamall.ae) in the Breakwater Area, and the larger Abu Dhabi Mall (tel. 02-645-4858; www.abudhabimall.com) in the so-called Tourist Club Area. Both offer high-tech amusement centers for kids. The malls are generally open Saturday to Thursday from 10am to 10pm, and Friday from 3:30 to 11pm.
Abu Dhabi Nightlife
The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage (www.adach.ae) hosts music performances around the city, including shows at Emirates Palace. These include the Abu Dhabi Classics (www.abudhabiclassics.com), a series of classical music concerts by international artists and orchestras that take place throughout the capital from October to May. Abu Dhabi's nightlife is quiet compared with that of Dubai, but there are a few good options. The Beachcomber (tel. 02-697-0235), located on the small beach of the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, is a friendly alfresco bar that's fun for a sunset cocktail and - if you're so inclined - some puffs of shisha. It's open daily from 4pm to 1am. Upstairs sits Bravo (tel. 02-697-0235), a Spanish tapas bar serving pitchers of sangria. It's open daily from 6:30pm to 12:30am. At the Hilton (tel. 02-681-1900), you'll find Hemingway's (open nightly until 12:30am) and the Jazz Bar (open Mon, Wed & Sun until 12:30am; Tues, Thurs & Fri until 1:30am, and closed Saturdays), both with live music, as well as Cinnabar, the Hilton's red-lit nightclub with a small dance floor. Cinnabar is open Saturday to Wednesday from 10pm to 2:30am, Thursday and Friday from 10pm to 3:30am. Another jazzy bar is Sax (tel. 02-674-1286) at Le Royal Méridien. Open nightly from 7:30pm to 4am, it gets crowded after 10pm and offers live music nightly. The city's most exclusive nightclub, which is by reservation only, is Etoiles (tel. 02-690-8960; www.etoileuae.com) at the Emirates Palace, which features themed nights in an opulent setting. It's open Tuesday to Friday from 11pm to 3:30am. For shisha and live music, BBQ Al Qasr (tel. 02-690-7999), also at Emirates Palace, is the best option. It's open nightly from 7pm to midnight.
