Get Active

Kayaking in the magrove forest

Get

t h e y e l l o w b o a t s

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

Top tip

Yellow Boats speedboat ride

Tee time

Tee off at any of Abu Dhabi’s five pay-and-play golf courses, all of which have certified PGA professionals on their books. Favourite fairways include the award-winning Abu Dhabi Golf Club, home of the annual Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, a European PGA Tour event; Yas Links Abu Dhabi on Yas Island, Arabia’s only true links golf course; and the Gary Player-designed Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, the first ocean course in the region. Yas Links Abu Dhabi welcomes non-members, giving everyone the opportunity to test themselves on its demanding 7,450 yards. A nine-hole academy course, floodlit practice facilities and a great restaurant, Hickory’s, round out facilities. troonabudhabi.com

Explore Abu Dhabi’s mangrove forests by kayak or stand-up paddle board at Mangrove National Park or the newly opened Jubail Mangrove Park. (park.jubailisland.ae).. Companies like Sea Hawk Water Sports (sea-hawk.ae) include beach and swimming stops during their tours. Offer a Seawings seaplane tour (seawings.ae) with a water take-off from Yas Marina and panoramic views of Yas Island, the Corniche and other city landmarks. Thrill clients with a 60-minute Yellow Boats speedboat ride along the waterfront (theyellowboats.com). For a luxury experience, Arabian Breeze offers private trips for up to ten guests on a crewed sailing catamaran, with en-suite cabins Abu Dhabi is firmly established on the Formula 1 calendar, and the destination really celebrates and catering the race weekend. Special on-demand. packages are available arabian-breeze.com. featuring hotels, race tickets and concerts by top Wheely fun music acts The Al Wathba Cycling Track is one of the UAE’s premier cycling destinations. Surrounded by miles of desert, it promises picturesque vistas. The illuminated track is 30km-long and offers four routes, depending on ability. For a more casual bike ride, visitors can cycle Abu Dhabi’s famous Corniche. FunRideSports even hires out bikes which can fit two or three passengers. Yas Island has purpose-built cycling paths with 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

Stay fit

Those who want to stay fit on holiday will find top-notch gyms and sports facilties abound. Zayed Sports City is is home to everything from basketball and tennis courts to an ice rink (zsc.ae/en) while CLYMB Abu Dhabi on Yas Island has the world's highest indoor climbing wall at a 138 feet tall.

clymbabudhabi.com

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