extraordinary
Abu Dhabi Your essential guide to the UAE capital 2020/2021
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Top 10 Selling Tips
Welcome to
abu dhabi
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New Moves
Discover the enchanting emirate and increase your sales to this diverse and exciting destination
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Arabian Sands
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bu Dhabi conjures images of beautiful blue skies, powder-
white beaches and glittering
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Sights in the City
skyscrapers. But there’s more to this enticing emirate than meets the eye. In this essential guide we will shine a spotlight on the must-see sights of the emirate, as well as great family favourites including Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and stunning beaches. We’ll show you how to delve a little deeper on behalf of your clients, lifting the lid on Abu Dhabi’s cultural attractions including Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Watan (also known as the Presidential Palace); uncovering the Arabian desert and the oasis city of Al Ain and revealing the emirate’s natural wonders, including the recently-opened Al Jubail Mangrove Park.
In partnership with
Learn
Sign up to the Abu Dhabi Specialist training programme (abudhabispecialist.com) for all the tools and resources you need to sell Abu Dhabi - from product tips to itineraries and an interactive map. Complete to get an e-certificate.
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Yas Island
Proudly published by BMI Publishing Ltd ©2020, Suffolk House, George St, Croydon, Surrey, UK, CR9 1SR • T: 020 8649 7233 • E: enquiries@bmipublishing.co.uk • W: bmipublishing.co.uk • sellingtravel.co.uk Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, BMI Publishing cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions • Publishers: Steven Thompson & Sally Parker • Advertising Manager: Lisa Merrigan • Editorial Director: Steve Hartridge • Contributor: Laura Gelder & Benjamin Coren • Senior Designer: Louisa Horton • Production Manager: Clare Hunter • Managing Director: Matt Bonner • CEO: Martin Steady © All images are courtesy of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
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Beach Heaven
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Al Ain
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Get Active
Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi
Saadiyat Rotana Resort
Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal
Zayed National Museum
Al Jubail Mangrove Park
Arabian Gulf Louvre Abu Dhabi
Saadiyat Island
The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi
Yas Island
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Corniche
CLYMB Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi city
Qasr Al Emirates Watan Palace
Qasr al-Hosn
Jumeirah At Etihad Towers Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
Yas Marina Circuit
Anantara Eastern Mangroves Eastern Mangroves
Yas Beach
Yas Island Hotels
The EDITION Abu Dhabi
The St. Regis Abu Dhabi
Arabian Gulf
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal
v i s i ta b ud ha b i . a e
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi
Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri
Abu Dhabi International Airport
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
4 High-speed thrills at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
Top 10
W a
The stunning Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
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Ab u
ABU DHABI selling tips
Dhabi
Keep these great facts to hand and you're guaranteed to secure those valuable sales
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Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi is now open
Etihad Airways
(etihad.com) offers flights to Abu Dhabi from London Heathrow, Manchester and
Dublin. When customers travel with Etihad they can benefit
Essentials
Time: GMT +4 hours Currency: Arab Emirate Dirham (AED) • International dial code: +971 • Language: Arabic, though English is widely spoken • Visas: British passport holders get a free 30-day visa • Religion: Islam • When to go: Abu Dhabi has a sub-tropical, arid climate The with year-round sunshine. Temperatures stunning average 24C in the winter (Nov to Apr). Sheikh Zayed Summer (May to Sep) can reach 45C, Grand Mosque, and hotels offer superb rates came third in during this warmer TripAdvisor’s list of time.
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the world’s top 25
from better value in Abu Dhabi with the ‘Extraordinary Abu
landmarks. It’s free to enter
Dhabi Pass’ (etihad.com/saveinabudhabi) and save up to
and open to members of all religious faiths.
£150pp over a five-night stay with discounts at leading
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attractions, restaurants and on leisure activities.
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Flight times are just seven hours, making Abu Dhabi a great alternative to the Caribbean and North Africa for those in
search of winter sun. Abu Dhabi is also a perfect stopover destination en route to Asia or Australia. Etihad Airways has a two-nights-for free stopover initiative.
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Abu Dhabi has a well-planned, modern road system. Taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced. All of the major car hire
companies have a presence in the emirate.
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At Yas Island (see p8), Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld
Chill out at Saadiyat Beach Club
Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi rub shoulders with the capital's largest shopping mall, a
Remind clients looking for beach bliss that Abu Dhabi is home to top beach destinations including Saadiyat Island,
Yas Beach, Zaya Nurai Island and the Corniche.
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For a cultural experience, Louvre Abu Dhabi (see p6) is home to permanent works and temporary exhibitions.
There is also a Children's Museum for little ones.
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Looking for the best views in the city? Direct clients towards the Observation Deck at 300, a sky-high
restaurant on the 74th floor of the luxurious Jumeirah at Etihad Towers hotel.
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A cruise is a fantastic way to experience Abu Dhabi, with both MSC Cruises and Celebrity Cruises offering day
excursions of the city and desert-island paradise, Sir Bani Yas.
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Remind clients nervous of flying with children about Etihad Airways inflight services. Kids can sit back and
make the most of movies, games and cartoons on E-Box and
links golf course and a F1
delve into a children's activity pack. On long haul flights, the
race track.
airline's Flying Nanny service offers a break for parents
In partnership with
5 Al Jubail Mangrove Park
New
The modern Warner Bros hotel
moves Abu Dhabi never rests on its laurels - new resorts, hotels and attractions open all the time to add to the emirate's exciting array of experiences
Refreshed shopping
Head to CLYMB to experience the free-fall feeling in the world’s biggest indoor skydiving chamber
retail, leisure, dining and entertainment centre which will house
Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island
450 stores, 85 restaurants and the world’s largest indoor snow-
This 641-room, five-
play park – Snow Abu Dhabi – offering activities like sledging
star resort will have
and zorbing! Meanwhile, Galleria Al Maryah Island (thegalleria.
seven food and beverage
ae) has expanded to add over 300 brands, 250,000 square feet
options and is part of the modern
of entertainment space and 70 new dining options.
Yas Bay development, which will include a recreational pier.
Reem Mall (reemmall.ae) is a new a 2.8-million-square-foot
when it opens in 2021.
W Abu Dhabi -Yas Island
hilton.com
At the heart of Abu Dhabi’s entertainment epicentre, this is the only hotel in the world sitting above a Grand Prix racetrack.
Etihad Arena
Expect Bedouin-inspired tents and seating inspired by the
Also in Yas Bay, this new 18,000-capacity multi-purpose indoor
mangroves, On the roof is the brand’s iconic WET poolside
arena is set to host a big-name concerts and events once it
experience with live DJ sets and guests can enjoy eclectic
opens, adding to the area's reputation for entertainment.
dining ranging from Peruvian to Lebanese. marriott.co.uk
Zayed National Museum The WB Abu Dhabi
This planned addition to the Saadiyat Cultural District will
Adjacent to the Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi theme park,
narrate the story of the late Sheikh Zayed
this 250-room hotel will feature a modern décor celebrating
Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding
Warner Bros.’ films and TV, signature WB restaurants, a spa and
father of the UAE. Exhibits at the
fitness club, kids’ club and a shaded rooftop pool overlooking
Lord Norman Foster
Yas Island’s distinctive skyline. wbworldabudhabi.com
designed facility will highlight the geography
Emirates Palace
and history of the
One of the world's most opulent hotels is now managed by
region and its cultural
Mandarin Oriental and will benefit from upgrades to rooms as
ties with countries
well as new bars and restaurants. mandarinoriental.com
around the world
v i s i ta b ud ha b i . a e
The Zayed National Museum will explore the UAE’s unification plus the region's history and culture
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Sights
Learn about Abu Dhabi's past on a Pearl Journey tour
Ro
nd la
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of the city
Discovering Qasr Al Hosn
From world-leading art to incredible feats of architecture and ancient Arabic heritage, Abu Dhabi is establishing itself as a cultural hub in the region
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi’s stunning
Top tip
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has come third in TripAdvisor’s list of the world’s top 25 landmarks, beating the likes of the Taj Mahal in India and Peru’s Machu Picchu. Able to accommodate more than 40,000 worshippers, it features 82 domes, more than 1,000 marble weighs 35 tonnes and took 1,200 women two years to make.
Qasr Al Hosn – The White Fort
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is open to all faiths, is free to
Abu Dhabi city’s oldest
enter and guided tours are offered daily. szgmc.ae
stone building, Qasr Al Hosn –
columns and the world’s largest handmade carpet, which
The Abu Dhabi Culture app for iOS and Android devices offers a gateway of information for visitors to Abu Dhabi. Gain access to cultural life and heritage via the app and information from the main website
also known as The White Fort –
Louvre Abu Dhabi
reopened on 7th December 2018,
The Louvre Abu Dhabi's celebrated collection comprises more
following extensive restoration work. Built in 1761 to defend the
than 600 pieces of art, displayed across 23 state-of-the-art
only fresh-water well on Abu Dhabi Island, the fort has
galleries. Drawn from civilisations around the world, the works
become a symbol of Emirati heritage.
tell the story of shared human experience from ancient times to
Following years of restoration and careful
the present day. The permanent collection is complemented
development, the fort will showcase historical
by around 300 masterpieces on loan from major French institutions, including works by Titian, Rodin,
artefacts, photographs and memorabilia throughout the museum and visitor centre. alhosn.ae
and Mondrian. The Art Lounge offers stunning views of the
Qasr Al Watan
Abu Dhabi skyline.
Now open to the public, the stunning Presidential
louvreabudhabi.ae
Palace houses the formal offices of the President,
The Louvre Abu Dhabi
In partnership with
Em
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The stunnning Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Top tip
and Crown
Abu Dhabi Pearl Journey
Prince of Abu
Clients looking for a unique
Vice President
Dhabi. As well as giving an insight into the UAE's governing The stunning Qasr Al Watan
The ‘Emirati Experiences’ initiative showcases Abu Dhabi from a local’s view with a selection of tours designed and led by Emirati nationals. Tours include exploring of a traditional UAE neighbourhood, cycling the Corniche and pearling. Book via visitabudhabi.ae
traditions, it offers access to opulent halls and chambers usually reserved for state guests and
way to learn some Emirati history can take the Abu Dhabi Pearl Journey. Sailing through the city’s natural mangroves on a traditional pearl-diving vessel, they’ll learn how pearl diving formed the basis of the region’s economy before the oil boom, and of the hardships the pearlers underwent. They’ll also get to shuck their own oysters and keep any pearls they find inside! adpearljourney.com
cabinet meetings. Visitors can also view a display of diplomatic gifts received from heads of
Palace Cappuccino with real gold flakes
Emirates Palace
state and visit the House of Knowledge to see a
Stretching over a kilometre from wing to wing, Abu Dhabi’s
collection of rare artefacts, books, manuscripts
most palatial hotel, now managed by Mandarin Oriental, sits on
and antiquities. Each evening a spectacular light
a 1.3km stretch of private beach. It has 11 restaurants, two
and sound show takes place on the palace's
pools, a lavish spa and a private marina. Even the Cappuccino
exterior and tells its story. qasralwatan.ae
is sprinkled with 24-carat gold flakes. emiratespalace.com
v i s i ta b ud ha b i . a e
8 The private beach at Emirates Palace
Zaya Nurai features 32 private villas
Beach
heaven Head to one of Abu Dhabi’s golden beaches to soak up some rays and relax in its turquoise waters
Saadiyat Beach Club
The Corniche The beating heart of the city, Abu Dhabi’s
Corniche is an 8km promenade that is home to
Saadiyat Beach This 9km ribbon of pristine white sand has a magnificent public
lifeguarded beaches, restaurants, cafes, children’s play areas
beach, as well as
and cycle and pedestrian pathways. Located at the St. Regis
private sections that
Abu Dhabi on the Corniche is the Nation Riviera Beach Club
can be accessed from all
(nationrivierabeachclub.com), which offers amazing views of
of the island's hotels (see
the bay. The club is opened to hotel residents, members and
page 18), and from the super stylish
guests for a day and is accessible via air conditioned tunnels.
Saadiyat Beach Club (saadiyatbeachclub.ae) with its own
Enjoy its private sandy beach, swimming pool, bar, outdoor
outdoor pool, workout room, private cabanas and more.
Jacuzzi and the Pirate Ship indoor-outdoor kids play area.
Visitors can also take part in beach yoga classes and eco-
Turtles on Saadiyat Beach
friendly watersports activities. Go from April to August for the
Yas Beach
chance to spot endangered hawksbill turtles that come to nest
Facilities at this pristine beach are second-to-none, and
each year among the dunes. Saadiyat.ae
include a shaded kids’ splash pool, sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, paddle boarding, jet skis, volleyball, an authentic
Zaya Nurai Island
Italian pizza restaurant and a stylish beach lounge (adults only
The ultimate escape, this private-island resort is reached in
on Fridays) complete with DJ booth and infinity pool.
15 minutes by private speedboat from Saadiyat Island.
Guests staying at any of Yas Island’s seven hotels and hotel
More akin to the Maldives than the Arabian Peninsula, the
apartments can enjoy complimentary access to the crystal
boutique private island’s 32 villas offer direct beach access,
clear waters and natural mangrove surrounds, in the tranquil
plunge pools and personal butlers. Inspired by the Arabic word
getaway at the beach. Yas Plaza guests will need to collect a
‘nur’ meaning light, the island offers plenty of authentic dining
voucher from their hotel reception to enter for free.
options supporting a fresh food-to-fork philosophy.
yasbeach.ae
Zayanuraiisland.com
In partnership with
BECOME AN ABU DHABI SPECIALIST Register for your chance to win a 5-star trip to Abu Dhabi, plus one of 100 Love2Shop vouchers worth £50 The Abu Dhabi Specialist online learning program is designed to provide you with the knowledge and resources to sell more unique holidays to Abu Dhabi. Learn how to overcome booking barriers, receive tailored itineraries for different types of clients, get insider tips from locals and more. Gain the knowledge to create that dream holiday for your clients – become an Abu Dhabi Specialist today!
www.abudhabispecialist.com
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Ferrari W or ld Ab u
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Discover
Formula Rossa is the world's fastest rollercoaster
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YAS island
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The ultimate leisure and entertainment destination, Yas Island is made for kids and adults alike thanks to its thrilling theme parks and spectacular sports venues - some transforming into night hot spots
Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi
Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi One theme park bringing some of the world’s most iconic characters and stories under one roof in six immersive lands including DC’s Metropolis and Gotham
Be seen at the trendy Yas Marina
City, as well as Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch and Warner Bros. Plaza. The park features 29 state-of-the-art rides, interactive family-friendly attractions, live entertainment
Junior GP or make a
and plenty of themed restaurants and shopping outlets.
pit stop at the Junior
wbworldabudhabi.com
Training Academy, complete with climbing
Coming soon
Part of Yas Bay with its 18,000-capacity venue, the fivestar Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island will feature seven restaurants. The WB Abu Dhabi will be the first Warner Bros-themed hotel in the world! Both hotels will open in 2021
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
walls, slides, trapezes,
The world’s first Ferrari-branded theme park offers fun for the
gymnastic rings and
whole family. The star attraction, Formula Rossa, hits a top
suspension bridges.
speed of 240kph in just 4.9 seconds, making it the world’s
ferrariworldabudhabi.com
fastest rollercoaster. Not to be outdone, the Flying Aces rollercoaster has the tallest inverted loop in the world – a stomach-churning 52m. And the thrills keep coming – Turbo Track, hits new highs by launching its Experience the F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit
'victims' vertically through the
Yas Links The first true Links coastal golf course in the Middle East, Yas Links boasts a magnificent eighteen-hole course. With an astonishing 112 bunkers and a
park’s famous red roof to
breathtaking backdrop of the Arabian
Yas Island's highest point.
Sea, Yas Links Abu Dhabi is a perfect stop
Younger kids can practise
for gulf enthusiasts.
their racing skills at the
yaslinks.com
In partnership with
Climb the world’s tallest indoor climbing wall at CLYMB Abu Dhabi
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Top tip
Save money with a one-day or two-day Yas Park Pass, offering discounted entry to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi. Or, take your Etihad Airways boarding pass to make use of discounts, thanks to their Extraordinary Abu Dhabi Pass experiencehub.com
Yas Marina
More than a marina, the destination offers restaurants and bars located along the waterside promenade, with views of the Yas Marina Circuit and superyachts. Outlets are located along the waterside promenade with views of the Yas Marina Circuit. Visitors can also find water sports and boat charters.
Cool off at the popular Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi Splash out, literally, with a trip to Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, home to more rides, slides and attractions than any other waterpark in the Middle East. Parents can relax while
Yas Marina Circuit Each November, Yas Marina Circuit hosts the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the spectacular conclusion to the F1 season. But there’s plenty going on all-year-round. Petrolheads can take a behind-the-scenes tour of the circuit, or drive the track in an Aston Martin, Jaguar, or Mercedes AMG. And on Sundays and Tuesdays, visitors can jog, cycle or walk the track thanks to a local health initiative. 2019 race weekends had concerts from The Killers and Lana Del Ray. yasmarinacircuit.com
kids enjoy the biggest children’s play area in Arabia and thrill seekers can dive into wet and wild
CLYMB Abu Dhabi
rides. Surf the world’s largest sheet wave, Bubble’s
A geometrically-designed building houses the world’s biggest
Barrel; drop through a giant funnel in a six-person
indoor skydiving flight chamber and world’s tallest indoor
raft on Dawwama; or soak up Arabia’s longest
climbing wall. Little ones as young as three can try a sky dive
suspended rollercoaster, the Bandit Bomber.
while climbers can attempt all levels of scramble up to The
yaswaterworld.com
SUMMYT™, a towering 43-metre wall. clymbabudhabi.com
v i s i tav biud s i ta habbud i . aha e bi.ae
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Anantara Hot
el
s,
Re
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as Sp
Arabian
Luxury stays on Sir Bani Yas
SANDS
You can't visit Abu Dhabi without venturing into its timeless desert for a true Bedouin experience and a glimpse of wild Arabia
The endangered Arabian Oryx
The Empty Quarter
Bedouin tents and
You don’t have to travel
palm-frond houses
far from the city before the desert takes hold. Much of the Western Al Dhafra Region is comprised
traditional mud and offer comfortable lodging among the
Extreme dune bashing adventures
Top tip
The Empty Quarter is recognised as one of the world's few 'dark sky' regions, thanks to its lack of light pollution. Grab a pair of binoculars or a telescope and look to the sky – stargazing doesn't get better than this!
dunes, plus a licensed
of the Rub Al Khali (Empty Quarter) – the largest expanse of
restaurant and pool. Five-star
sand in the world. Made famous by British explorer Sir Wilfred
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara (qasralsarab.anantara.
Thesiger, and more recently seen in Star Wars: The Force
com) is built to resemble an old Arabian fortress with sweeping
Awakens as the desert planet Jakku. Day trips are popular and
views, a sumptuous spa and world-class cuisine. Al Wathba, a
typically guests are collected from their hotel to be treated to
Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, draws inspiration from
a mix of modern and traditional fun, like dune bashing in 4x4s,
historic desert villages, with courtyards, Arabian-style rooms
camel trekking, sand surfing and dinner beneath the stars.
and water features giving it an oasis feel. It also features a pool,
Etihad Holidays (eyholidays4agents.co.uk), If Only (agents.
six restaurants and bars and activities like fat biking and axe-
ifonly.net), Gold Medal (goldmedal.co.uk) and Travel2
throwing. At Telal Resort, in the Remah Desert near Al Ain,
(travel2.com) all offer half- or full-day options.
visitors can spot some of the region’s rarest species of antelopes, from ones of it heritage suites, rooms or tented villas.
Arabian Nights Urge clients to consider a night or two at one of Abu Dhabi’s
Sir Bani Yas Safari
desert hotels. Perched on the edge of the dunes is the Tilal
Offer clients the chance to see highly endangered Arabian
Liwa Hotel (tilalliwa.danathotels. Cross the desert on camel back
com), a Danat property and
oryx, Barbary sheep, gazelles, giraffes and even cheetahs on an open-jeep safari on Sir Bani Yas Island. Stretching over 1,400
sister to Al Raha Beach.
hectares, the Arabian Wildlife park is a protected wilderness
Deeper still is Arabian
home to thousands of free-roaming animals and birds. Book
Nights Village
one of the island’s three luxurious Anantara hotels (sir-bani-
(arabiannightsvillage.
yas-island.anantara.com) and add activities like hiking,
com), where woven
mountain biking, kayaking or falconry. sirbaniyasisland.com
In partnership with
13 The dunes of Saadiyat Island
Kayaking in the magrove forest
th
e
l ye
w lo
ats bo
Get
Active
From golf to go-karting and scenic flights to stand-up paddle boards, there’s no shortage of excitement in action-packed Abu Dhabi
Yellow Boats speedboat ride
Tee time
and catering
Tee off at any of Abu Dhabi’s five pay-and-play golf
on-demand. arabian-breeze.com.
courses, all of which have certified
Top tip
Abu Dhabi is firmly established on the Formula 1 calendar, and the destination really celebrates the race weekend. Special packages are available featuring hotels, race tickets and concerts by top music acts
PGA professionals on their books. Favourite fairways include the
Wheely fun
award-winning Abu Dhabi Golf Club, home of the annual
The Al Wathba Cycling Track is
Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, a European PGA Tour
one of the UAE’s premier cycling
event; Yas Links Abu Dhabi on Yas Island, Arabia’s only true links
destinations. Surrounded by miles of desert, it promises
golf course; and the Gary Player-designed Saadiyat Beach Golf
picturesque vistas. The illuminated track is 30km-long and
Club, the first ocean course in the region. Yas Links Abu Dhabi
offers four routes, depending on ability. For a more casual bike
welcomes non-members, giving everyone the opportunity to
ride, visitors can cycle Abu Dhabi’s famous Corniche.
test themselves on its demanding 7,450 yards. A nine-hole
FunRideSports even hires out bikes which can fit two or three
academy course, floodlit practice facilities and a great
passengers. Yas Island has purpose-built cycling paths with
restaurant, Hickory’s, round out facilities. troonabudhabi.com
signage, maps, water stations and shaded rest areas, and don’t forget that you can cycle around Yas Marina Circuit (see p.11).
World of water Explore Abu Dhabi’s mangrove forests by kayak or stand-up
Stay fit
paddle board at Mangrove National Park or the newly opened
Those who want to stay fit on holiday will find top-notch gyms
Jubail Mangrove Park. (park.jubailisland.ae).. Companies like
and sports facilties abound. Zayed Sports City is is home to
Sea Hawk Water Sports (sea-hawk.ae) include beach and
everything from basketball
swimming stops during their tours. Offer a Seawings seaplane
and tennis courts to an ice
tour (seawings.ae) with a water take-off from Yas Marina and
rink (zsc.ae/en) while
panoramic views of Yas Island, the Corniche and other city
CLYMB Abu Dhabi on
landmarks. Thrill clients with a 60-minute Yellow Boats
Yas Island has the world's
speedboat ride along the waterfront (theyellowboats.com). For
highest indoor climbing
a luxury experience, Arabian Breeze offers private trips for up to
wall at a 138 feet tall.
ten guests on a crewed sailing catamaran, with en-suite cabins
clymbabudhabi.com
v i s i ta b ud ha b i . a e
diyat Beach Gol fC Saa lu b
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The ancient Qasr Al Muwaji fortress
Awesome al ain
The iconic Al Jahili Fort
For an authentic taste of Abu Dhabi’s heritage, send clients to the rustic charms of Al Ain, about a 90-minute drive from the capital
Al Jahili Fort Built in 1891 to defend the city’s palm
Stay here
groves, this picturepostcard fort is now home to an exhibition about British adventurer Sir Wilfred Thesiger, who crossed the deserts of the Empty
Discover Qasr Al Muwaji's museum
Quarter twice in the 1940s and 1950s, disguised as a Bedouin. It opened its doors to visitors in 2008 and has since acted as a focal point for historical and cultural activities. It is one of the
Al Ain Oasis
largest forts in the UAE and was restored between 2007 and
The Al Ain Oasis is the first
2008. Entry to the fort is free of charge and it is open to the
UNESCO World Heritage
public daily.
Site in the UAE open to the
Clients looking to stay in Al Ain could consider the recently re-branded Radisson Blu Al Ain (radissonhotels.com) or the five-star Al Ain Rotana, which has spacious rooms, suites and chalets plus an inviting pool and spa (rotana.com)
Ro ta n
public. The visitors’ centre
Qasr Al Muwaiji
provides insight into how the region’s
This modern museum has been built around the ruins of a
inhabitants began taming the desert 4,000 years ago, while a
century-old fortress that was home to generations of Abu
nifty new app allows visitors to navigate the shady walkways
Dhabi’s ruling dynasty. It recounts the history of the fortress
and many working date farms. The visitor centre features a
and its famous residents, as well as the wider history and
series of interactive exhibits and highlights the measure
archaeology of Al Ain. Visitors can experience a variety of
being taken to preserve the delicate oasis eco-
a
t Ho
s el
and
R es o r t s
historical and traditional experiences. The museum also offers an insight into
system, which sprawls 3,000 acres and houses up to 100 different varieties of vegetation.
the timeline of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family associated with Qasr Al
Al Ain Zoo
Muwaji told via interactive
Spread over 400 hectares at the foot of Abu
activities and performances.
Dhabi’s highest peak, Al Ain Zoo is home to
qasralmuwaiji.ae
more than 4,000 animals and is the region’s
Stay at the five-star Al Ain Rotana
In partnership with
15
Top tip
largest zoo.
Wadi Adventure
Guests can
Point thrill seekers
see plenty of
towards Wadi Adventure, the
amazing species including the indigenous Arabian Oryx, the big-horned
Al Ain Oasis is the UAE's first UNESCO site
Al Ain's famous camel market is a great way to discover traditional Arab culture - watch locals arrive in pickups laden with goats and sheep, witness mock races, prized beauties and some hard haggling for future stars of the race track
Barbary sheep, rhinos,
Middle East’s first and only manmade white-water rafting, kayaking, surfing and wakeboarding facility. The park is located at the base of Jebel Hafit and features three whitewater channels, an aerial adventure course with 18 obstacles, an airpark, a 200-metre zip line, vertical climbing wall and a high giant swing. wadiadventure.ae
hippos, tigers and lions. Highlights at the zoo include feeding giraffes, a walk-through lemur
Camping at Jebel Hafit Desert Park
Jebel Hafit For amazing views of this fascinating region, visitors can drive,
enclosure and safari tours in 26-seater trucks or
hike or cycle to the top of Jebel Hafit along a scenic, snaking
private SUVs through a 217-hectare landscape
road. The emirate’s highest peak has long looked over Al Ain
which more than 250 African and Arabian
and its ancient limestone hides fossils and tombs. At the base,
animals call home. Don't miss the learning
the Jebel Hafit Desert Park preserves its history and biodiversity
centre and the numerous cafe and restaurant
and you can overnight in a Bedouin-style tent or air-conditioned
offerings. alainzoo.ae
bubble tent. jebelhafitdesertpark.backhotelite.com
v i s i ta b ud ha b i . a e
Wellness Ambassadors
We have been working tirelessly to ensure that when you’re ready to travel, you stay protected. And to bring you extra peace of mind, our team of Wellness Ambassadors are here to answer your questions and give advice on staying safe during your trip. To learn more about our wellness initiatives visit etihad.com/wellness
Your wellness, our priority.
Choose Well.
Online Wellness Hub
Social Distancing
Refreshed Cabins
Deep Cleaning
Equipped Crew
Enhanced Hygiene
Wellness Kits
Booking Flexibility
Refreshed Meal Service
Lounge Initiatives
Vehicle Sanitisation
Sustainability Focused
