DISCOVER THE REGION

Explore our selection of the best things to do and the hottest attractions to experience in the GCC this season

 IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE IMPRESSIONISM ERA

Louvre Abu Dhabi is inviting art enthusiasts to rediscover Impressionist art with its latest showcase titled Impressionism: Pathways to Modernity. In one of the most significant Impressionist exhibitions ever to be held outside of France, pioneering works by Manet, Degas, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir and Cézanne will be on display in the UAE capital for the very first time. The showcase brings together more than 150 masterpieces from the 19th century, including etchings, costumes, film and photography, and highlights how the movement paved the way for the artistic revolutions that were to come.  louvreabudhabi.ae

The Magpie by Claude Monet, 1868

 DIVE IN THE

WORLD’S DEEPEST SWIMMING POOL

Deep Dive Dubai became one of the emirate’s latest attractions to cinch a Guinness World Record when it opened last year. The world’s deepest swimming pool, it reaches a depth of 60.02 metres and holds an astounding 14 million litres of water. The indoor pool is housed in an oyster-shaped structure, which nods to the nation’s pearl diving heritage. But the biggest highlight is one that awaits beneath the water – the abandoned sunken city with immersive zones for both beginners and certified divers to explore.  deepdivedubai.com

 MEET YOUR FAVOURITE

CELEBRITIES

The Dubai edition of the famous London wax museum is now open in the emirate. Located on Bluewaters Island, Madame Tussauds Dubai is home to 60 celebrities from around the world, including 16 brand-new figures from the Middle East. Visitors can take a break for tea with Queen Elizabeth, walk down the runway for Anna Wintour, pose with Audrey Hepburn and take pictures with local celebrity Kris Fade. With seven themed rooms, including a party area and dance floor, a visit to Madame Tussauds Dubai has something for everyone.  madametussauds.com/dubai

 VISIT DUBAI’S

NEW HAVEN FOR BIBLIOPHILES

Following a six-year development period, the most extensive library in the Arab world has opened its doors in Dubai. A haven for lovers of all things literature, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library spans one million square metres over seven floors and is home to over 600,000 titles. The state-of-theart space is divided into nine thematic sections, namely the General library, the Emirates library, the Young Adults edit, the Children’s zone, Private collections, Maps and Atlases, Media and Arts, Business and Periodicals. And while the variety is endless, retrieving a title has never been this easy as the newly-opened library is powered by artificial intelligence. This means that once a title has been requested, a robotic vehicle locates the book among thousands of shelves and delivers it to the reader at the information centre.  mbrl.ae

 CAMP IN A PROTECTED

WILDLIFE RESERVE

A stark contrast to the futuristic city it is nestled within, the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve was once the home of the desert Bedouins, who flourished despite the unforgiving terrain. Today, the reserve takes up about five per cent of the emirate and is home to indigenous wildlife, including sand gazelles and the once-endangered Arabian oryx. One of the best ways to explore this serene landscape is camping overnight in the reserve. The unique experience is only offered by homegrown company Sand Sherpa and begins with a guided wildlife drive through the protected area. Once at camp, visitors will be assigned a custom-built military trailer, equipped with camping essentials and high-quality ingredients to grill their own dinner around the campfire.  sandsherpa.com

 JOURNEY BACK IN TIME

One of the frontrunners of Saudi Arabia’s tourism proposition, AlUla has thrown open its vast desert landscape, welcoming visitors from all over the world to explore its diverse offering. Dubbed “the world’s masterpiece”, it is one of the oldest cities in the Arabian Peninsula and home to Hegra, which is the kingdom’s first UNESCO World Heritage site. A land rich in historical, geological and geographical significance, this ancient city – once at the crossroads of the Silk Road and the Incense Route – is hidden in the canyons of the kingdom, with history written on the walls. There is a wide array of offerings for visitors, including off-road adventures, hiking expeditions, history and culture tours as well as five-star dining against the backdrop of this stunning desert landscape.  experiencealula.com

 EXPLORE THE

REGION’S LARGEST DIGITAL ART GALLERY

Spread over an impressive 2,700 square metres within The Dubai Mall, Infinity des Lumières holds the title of the biggest immersive digital art gallery in the region. The venue brings classic and contemporary art to life through 130 projectors, 58 speakers and 3,000 digital moving images in high definition. It allows visitors to experience iconic creations like never before, thanks to its exciting fusion of art, music, architecture, science, stateof-the-art technology and high-tech engineering. A series of unique digital exhibitions takes centre stage at the gallery periodically, showcasing the likes of Van Gogh’s masterpieces and Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai’s portraits of enchanting landscapes. The current showcase features striking images of stars, planets, nebulae and supernovae from NASA. With an eclectic soundtrack echoing through the gallery, walking through the exhibits makes visitors feel like they are lost in space.  infinitylumieres.com

 SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

AT DOHA’S NEW PARISIAN DISTRICT

A treasured piece of Paris has found its second home in Doha. Inspired by the famous high-end shopping street in France, Rue de la Paix, Place Vendôme Qatar boasts 1,150,000 square metres of space, making it the largest mall in the country. The first port of call for luxury labels from around the world, the mall features over 580 brands. It’s a paradise for shoppers seeking the latest collections from the world’s most sought-after designers. It is also home to French luxury brand Hermès’s biggest one-floor store in the world.  placevendomeqatar.com

Coming soon...

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi will soon become home to the Natural History Museum. Featuring some of the rarest natural history specimens ever found on Earth, the museum will spotlight the story of evolution with an immersive experience that takes visitors on a journey to the beginning of time. A spectacular collection of specimens from the natural world will be on display, enabling visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the planet’s past. But the star of the show will definitely be Stan – the famous almost complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton that was acquired at a Christie’s auction in New York City for a whopping US$31.8 million.

DIRIYAH GATE

Located in the heart of Riyadh, Diriyah Gate will unveil its first phase to the world later this year. Featuring several museums and leisure spaces, it will become a world-class hub for education, recreation, culture, retail and hospitality. The project will see the historic district of Ad Diriyah (recognised as the birthplace of the modern Saudi state) restored to a living heritage site and reimagined as a modern city. This includes the preservation and restoration of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif, which sits at the core of the development of Diriyah Gate. Championing art in the kingdom, Diriyah will also lead the way by opening up a number of museums, including the House of Al Saud, expected to be the largest Islamic museum in the world.