10 Reasons to Visit Abu Dhabi

1. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is an indoor amusement park on Yas near Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The park opened on November 4, 2010. Construction began in November 2007 and took three years to complete. In November 2010, the first guests were received. The site covers approximately 450,000 m². The park contains several chain stores, restaurants and other forms of entertainment. There are twenty attractions aimed at fans of speed in general and motorsport in particular. It houses the fastest launch roller coaster in the world, called Formula Rossa. This roller coaster reaches a speed of 240 km/h and a maximum height of 52 meters.

2. Al Forsan International Sports Resort

The free-to-enter Al Forsan International Sports Resort continues offers an impressive array of sports and Olympic-standard activities, including shooting, equestrian pursuits, motorsports, paintball, wakeboarding, water-skiing and more, all in one destination.

3. The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi

The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi is the largest aquarium in the Middle East and is home to 46,000 animals spread across 10 zones. The aquarium houses more than 200 sharks and rays, representing 25 different species. All of the animals are cared for by a team of 80 sea-life experts.

4. Louvre Abu Dhabi

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is a museum in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. The museum is located on the island of Saadiyat in the Persian Gulf, a few hundred meters off the coast of and part of the capital Abu Dhabi. The museum is located in the Saadiyat Cultural District with some of its future neighbors being the Guggenheim Museum and the Zayed National Museum.

5. Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi

Yas Waterworld is a waterpark with a true Emirati heart. It brings you wave after wave of experiences with over 40 rides, slides and attractions.

6. Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi

Warner Bros World is an indoor amusement park in Abu Dhabi, located on the man-made island of Yas, close to Ferrari World and Yas Water Park. The construction of the park cost approximately US$ 1 billion. The park features characters from Warner Bros’ franchises such as Looney Tunes, DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera and others.

7. Yas Kartzone

Experience the thrills and excitement of go-karting, with Yas Kartzone’s kart fleet consisting of Cadet Karts for kids aged 8 to 12 and Senior Karts for people 13 years and older. Yas Kartzone offers a range of karting options for groups of 15 or more.

8. St. Joseph’s Cathedral

St. Joseph’s Cathedral is the seat of the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia and is one of the four Catholic churches in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi besides St. Paul’s Church in Musaffah, St. Mary’s Church in Al Ain and St. John the Baptist Church in Ruwais. The first church was built in 1962 in the present Corniche on a plot of land donated by Sheikh Shakhbut, the ruler of Abu Dhabi.

9. Cultural Foundation

Founded in 1971, visitors can experience the United Arab Emirates’ first cultural and arts centre dedicated to the creation and appreciation of the arts and literature.

10. Corniche Road

The Corniche is 8 km long, and includes children’s play areas, separate cycle and pedestrian pathways, restaurants, cafés and the Corniche Beach.

About Abu Dhabi

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is one of seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is by far larger in size than the rest of the federation combined (67,340 km²), accounting for approximately 87 percent of its total land area. Abu Dhabi also has the second-largest population of the seven emirates. In June 2011 this was estimated to be 2,120,700 people, of which 439,100 people (less than 21%) were Emirati citizens. The city og Abu Dhabi, after which the emirate is named, is the capital of both the emirate and federation.

Abu Dhabi Airport to City Center

The air-conditioned bus to and from the airport and Abu Dhabi city is both economical and comfortable mode of transport.

• The lower curbside outside Terminals 1 and 3 and outside Terminal 2
• The Cargo Building
• The Police Complex

All bus stops are clearly indicated with blue and white signs.

Route: The bus runs from the three terminals and stops at all legal bus stops going into the city.

It passes by the Bus Stand at Muroor and Street 11 and terminates at the Old Fish Market on Al Nasr Street (near NYU Abu Dhabi).

Service A1: Al Zahiyah City Air Terminal – Abu Dhabi International Airport Terminals 1 &2
Service 490: Abu Dhabi Int’l Airport Terminal 1 & 2 – Al Ain Bus Station
Service 211: Mussafah Dalam Mall – Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal 1 – Al Rahba Hospital
Service 240: Al Wathba Worker City – Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal 1 – Al Rahba Hospital
Service X81: Ruwais ADNOC Bus Station – Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)

• Timings: Every 40 minutes, 24 hours a day.
• Cost: One-way fare is AED 4.
• Transfer time: Travel time to the city is approximately 45 minutes; it could vary depending on traffic.

Public Transport in Abu Dhabi

Private vehicles, rideshares and taxis are the primary means of transportation in the city, although public buses, run by the Abu Dhabi Municipality, are available, mostly used by the lower-income population. There are bus routes to nearby towns such as Baniyas, Habashan and the garden city of the UAE, Al-Ain, among others. 

Shopping in Abu Dhabi

Decadent malls, charming shops and bustling markets are found throughout the UAE’s capital city, offering everything from cute holiday keyrings to exquisite Persian rugs. Places where you can go shopping but not limited to are:

1. Marina Mall

Luxury shopping and casual dining with more than 400 retail outlets under one roof

2. Souk Central Market

A traditional Arabic open-air market, offering charming antiques, perfumes and cute handicrafts. Although still exuding an authentic atmosphere, features of modernity are evident here among the tapestries and the haggling, such as stained glass windows and wood lattice furnishings as well as the indoor setting.

3. Abu Dhabi Mall

Located in the heart of the city, making it a great choice if you need something specific with over 200 stores and a great range of international eateries as well as some excellent entertainment options, including movie theaters and activity centres. The mall even has an attached hotel with a pool and its own little beach.

4. Yas Mall

Containing 370 stores, 68 eateries, and several other distractions. It’s right at the hub of the lively Yas Island area, with neighbours including Ferrari World, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, and Yas Waterworld.

5. Al Wahda Mall

Shopping right next to the home ground of Al Wahda Soccer Club. While it opened with a comparatively paltry offering of just 150 stores in 2007, it has since grown to a total of 350.

6. World Trade Center Mall Abu Dhabi

WTCAD offers a full-day experience as it has a good choice of eateries and even nightlife options in the Hub. True to the mall’s name, the dining scene is as representative as the store selection, with offerings from around the world.

7. Madinat Zayed Shopping Center

This is the place to go shopping specifically for jewelry. Other than glittering accessories, the Madinat Zayed Shopping Center is anchored by a large LuLu Grocery store and hosts a range of fashion outlets. There are a few eateries, but the choice is very limited. There are also no major entertainment options. Basically, it’s all about the gold and jewels.

8. The Galleria Al Maryah Island

Is the most glamourous and luxurious of Abu Dhabi’s shopping malls located at a waterfront.

9. Avenue at Etihad Towers

Avenue at Etihad Towers is one of the smallest malls in Abu Dhabi. It only covers 2 floors of the landmark structure and the Observation Deck, the stores available are all very exclusive and the list of dining and entertainment options at Avenue is extremely limited.

10. Women’s Handicraft Center

The Women’s Handicraft Center is a showcase of local arts and crafts run by the Abu Dhabi Women’s Association. It combines a museum with a small store, helping you learn about and bring home local handiworks. You can even see the craftspeople at work in the small round huts around the center (but remember to remove your shoes before entering each).