Dubai is one of the seven most populated and busy cities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is located on the Arabian Gulf in the Middle East. Dubai is easily accessible to other Emirates such as Oman and Abu Dhabi and hence visiting other emirates is not such a tedious task. There are some world-class tourists attractions and several places to visit in Abu Dhabi such as the Presidential Palace, Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi Heritage Village, Abu Dhabi Market, and Abu Dhabi Corniche, and much more. Enjoy the traditional charm of the Arab culture while you dine and shop at some of the famous locations in Abu Dhabi. Below mentioned are some of the places to check out in this beautiful Emirate, which is surely going to make your trip to Abu Dhabi from Dubai a memorable one.
1. Sheikh Zayed Mosque
One of the grand mosques in the emirates and is often referred as a key site for worship in the UAE. Located in Abu Dhabi, you definitely cannot miss beautiful white domed structure as you pass the lanes of Abu Dhabi. Open from 9am to 10pm daily between Saturday and Thursday, there is no admission fee charged for entering this beautiful mosque. The dress code followed is very conservative and is strictly enforced. The year 2007 saw the dream of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan being turned into reality with the opening of this mosque. One of the best places to visit and a must for the ones searching inner peace.
2. New Etihad Towers
Enjoy the best panoramic vies of the skyline of Abu Dhabi. Located right across the streets from the famous Emirates Palace Hotel, this is one of the best spots to enjoy a mid-day lunch break. Check out the Quest, a restaurant on the 63rd floor offering the finest cuisines from around the world and an awesome view. The service is excellent and with each table having its own private rooms, who can surely enjoy some memorable moments in this marvelous architectural marvel.
3. Emirates Palace Hotel
Get a taste of the opulence in the luxurious lifestyle of UAE. The Emirates Palace Hotel is one of the architectural marvels, which is surely going to leave you in awe of its beauty. A fleet of luxury cars such as the Ferraris, Bentleys, Rolls Royce, and Lamborghini’s are surely parked out in front at any point in time. One of the popular tourist destination, the Emirates Palace is home to a Gold ATM, now that is opulence at its very best. Catch a breakfast or a lunch out there. The LeCafe restaurant is one of the popular spots in the Hotel.
4. Ferrari World
A great place to be if you are looking to chill out coupled with a thrilling experience for a chance to be on the hot seat of the world’s fastest roller coaster. The Ferrari World is the largest indoor amusement park on the planet. One of the best places to visit in Abu Dhabi that is located on Yas Island, it is the first and the only Ferrari branded theme amusement park. It is home to some awesome rides you can surely have the time of your life. It also holds the record for having the largest space frame structure, which was ever built. This amusement park is spread over 500 square meters and is open from 11am to 8pm.
5. Yas Island
A man-made island located in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This place is easily accessible by any means of transport whether you have a car, boat, or plane. Termed as one of the most exciting tourist attractions and definitely one of the popular tourist attraction. Get a feel of the rich, adventurous, and entertainment created for tourists and guests in Abu Dhabi. Occupying an area of 25 square kilometers, this is home to the Yas Marina Circuit – the circuit where the Formula One races are hosted since 2009. Some of the star attractions on Yas Island are Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Links, and Yas beach.
6. Hyatt Capital Gate
One of the best futuristic and architectural marvels, which has an awesome leaning design. If your budget is tight, you can surely stop over to click some pictures – that is definitely not going to cost you any penny. Located at a distance of approximately 6 kilometers from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, this building is inclined at 18° and is one of the luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi. This structure has been certified by Guinness World Records and has led it to be named the leaning tower. This hotel is home to 189 modern rooms and suites, which are situated between the 18th and 33rd floor of the building.
7. Marina Mall
Quench all your shopping desires and thirsts by visiting the Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi. A wonderful source of shopping and entertainment in Abu Dhabi. The Marina Mall was opened to the public in the year 2001 and is located on Corniche Road, which is very near to the Emirates Palace Hotel. There are four levels of entertainment, leisure, and fashion spread across 122,000 square meters. It is home to endless designer stores and restaurants along with bowling alleys and an ice rink. You can shop till you drop. One of the best places to check out and quench your shopping thirsts.
8. Al Ain National Museum
This is the oldest museum still live in the UAE. Located within the city of Al Ain in the Abu Dhabi, this Museum is right next to the Eastern Fort. The Al Ain Oasis, which is the largest oasis in Al Ain is located towards the east of this Museum. Built by a former UAE president, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the year 1971. This museum gives deep insights into the rich heritage and history of Abu Dhabi. There are two main divisions in this museum, the ethnographic section, and the archaeological section. It is open from 8:30am to 7pm daily except on Fridays where it is open from 3pm-7pm due to prayer observance.
9. Emirates National Auto Museum
Located on Hameen Road in Abu Dhabi, UAE, this museum is dedicated to interesting facts about the automobile industry. There are close to 200 cars, both off-road vehicles, and classic American cars, which belong to HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan. One of the fascinating places to be if you are crazy about wheels. The Museum is open between 9am to 6pm every day.
10. Qasr Al-Hosn
This is one of the oldest stone buildings still existing in Abu Dhabi. Often referred as a White Fort, this structure was built in the year 1761 to act as a conical watchtower to protect and defend the only freshwater well in Abu Dhabi. 32 years later, the tower was later extended into a small fort and become home to several ruling Sheikhs. Remains one of the prime tourist attractions in Abu Dhabi and one of the places to visit which should be on top of the itinerary list.
