Abu Dhabi is a holiday paradise. With luxury hotels, mega shopping malls, high-end fashion stores and restaurants all perched on the waterfront, with the turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf lapping at the shore, it’s a hard place to beat if you like the best things in life.
Home to 1.48 million residents, Abu Dhabi is the island capital of the UAE. The city skyline is crowded with ultra-modern skyscrapers that feature some of the world’s most impressive architectural design. A feast for the eyes, at times these magnificent structures defy all logic, twisting, bending, leaning and turning full circle. You can spend the day just sightseeing the city buildings. Synonymous with the city, the Capital Gate nicknamed the leaning tower of Abu Dhabi leans four times more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the magnificent circular Aldar Headquarters, the 44-story Strata Tower, the Yas Viceroy Hotel and the unmistakable Etihad Towers are nothing short of mesmerising. In a departure from the spectacularly modern, the more traditional architecture of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which can accommodate 41,000 worshippers at any one time, and the Emirates Palace Hotel capture the Middle Eastern character while being ultra-modern in every other sense. Gifting Owl has guided tours that will take you inside several of these exquisite buildings and share with you some pretty fantastic details of how they came to be.
Still, on that point, you simply can’t write about the architecture of the city without mention of the man-made Palm Islands, which are about an hour’s drive from the city. The archipelago is located between Abu Dhabi and Dubai and features three islands, two that resemble large palm trees. The islands are a collection of residential and commercial estates, but their elaborate design has an essential function - they act as breakers to prevent coastal erosion due to the strong currents that run in the Persian Gulf.
Abu Dhabi might be an island city, but its outlying mainland areas are, by contrast, desert.
This offers holidaymakers great choices when it comes to enjoying both indoor and outdoor activities.
It’s hard to escape shopping when you’re in a city best known for its unparalleled multi-story shopping mall experiences. Not that you want to. Shopping is a favourite holiday pastime. And believe us when we say, in summer, scouring the shopping malls is welcome respite from the heat of the day, even if it ends up burning quite a hole in your pocket! The malls are luxurious, so plan to take an empty bag from home, to fill with all those must-have Abu Dhabi goodies you find.
With the beach at your doorstep, it’s easy to find other great ways to stay cool too. The beaches are beautiful but if you’re looking for a little more than a lazy afternoon lying on a banana lounge under your sun umbrella, you can make your way to Yas Water Park for a day of full-on water antics.
For those interested in scratching the cultural surface, Abi Dhabi’s art scene is also a city highlight. Contemporary art attracts most of the attention with galleries dedicated to a range of exhibitions scattered throughout the city. Warehouse 421, Etihad Modern Art Gallery, Al Qibab Art Gallery, N2N Art Gallery and Salwa Zeidan Gallery are few places you’ll want to check out if you love modern art. For a mix of modern and classic works, a must-do on the list of cultural experiences is the Abu Dhabi Louvre.
For out of town cultural exploits, the Al Ain day tour will take you the Al Ain National Museum and Sheikh Zayed Palace Museum. Along the way, you’ll visit the Camel Market and Camel Race Track as well as explore bazaars that have been running since the 18th century. On you return, you’ll stop at hot springs for a relaxing treat before heading back to Abu Dhabi.
Culturally, Emiratis hold a deep affection for and attachment to falcons. These magnificent birds of prey symbolise honour and pride and the Emirates is the home of falconry art. The only one of its type in the world, the Falcon Hospital outside Abu Dhabi is a unique experience that takes you into the world of falconry and a chance to get close up and personal with these feathered friends.
As for the outdoors, the desert provides the perfect playground for people who love action-packed thrills and spills. From sandboard safaris to desert dune bashing, camel riding camps and boutique morning camel safaris, you’ll have great fun under the sun making fantastic memories.
Abu Dhabi is built for fun. Your itinerary will be filled with fun adventures that will entertain you all day and well into the night. Gifting Owl offers high-quality experiences that will help you get or a loved one to places that you won’t find anywhere else.
