Going ashore
Extraordinary design… The Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island.Credit:Getty Images
Saadiyat Island is home to Louvre Abu Dhabi and,opening next year,Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The Corniche is the place to get a view of the ever-changing skyline;at one end,the fish and date markets are a throwback to a more traditional age. Elsewhere,other sights include Heritage Village,which showcases handicrafts,and the magnificent marble-and-gold pile of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Abu Dhabi’s most fascinating experience is a tour of the Falcon Hospital to learn about falconry and falcon care.
Don’t miss
Yas Island has been developed with fun in mind. Splash down the rides at Yas Waterworld,plunder Yas Mall,which has a family entertainment zone and multiple cinemas,and brace yourself on the world’s fastest roller coaster at Ferrari World. The Formula Rossa accelerates from zero to 240km/h in five seconds with nearly 4.8G of force. You’ll also find a huge aquarium,golf course and a Formula 1 racing track where you can take a supercar for a spin.
Get active
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For energetic pastimes with a difference,get out to the desert. The prime pastime is dune bashing in a 4WD. You can also try sand boarding and quad biking. Otherwise,Al Forsan International Sports Resort has activities for all ages,such as paintball,shooting,go-karting,wakeboarding,water skiing and horse riding. The city’s islands (many artificial) allow for jet skiing,windsurfing and snorkelling.
Retail therapy
You won’t have to look hard in Abu Dhabi to find shopping malls,but more interesting is the jewellery at Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre’s Gold Centre,and Middle Eastern and Asian carpets at the Carpet Souk. Visit the Women’s Handicraft Centre for traditional woven cloth,coffeepots,incense,baskets and rugs;prices are fixed,which relieves you of the need to bargain. Local women work here,so you might see weaving in progress.
Further afield
Abu Dhabi isn’t easy to get around by public transport,and most shore excursions stick to the city,Yas Island and nearby desert. The best option is a day-long visit to Al-Ain,a laid-back and lush oasis town with a 4000-year history,good zoo,camel market and more local culture and architecture than you’ll find amid Abu Dhabi’s skyscrapers.