Dubai & Abu Dhabi 7 - Full PDF eBook

1 SightS

Abu Dhabi’s sights are not neatly sectioned
off in one part of town, so be prepared to
use a taxi to get around. Alternatively, con-
sider the hop-on, hop-off option of the b g i
bus company (tollfree %800 244 287; www
.bigbustours.com), which takes in most of the
iconic sights and is particularly convenient
if you are short on time.

os ei h Kh Zayed bin
sulTan al-nahyan Mosque Mo Sque
( rport ai rd & 5th St; h9am-noon Sat-Thu, tours
10am Sun-Thu) Also known as the Grand
Mosque, this snow-white house of worship is
Abu Dhabi’s stunning landmark, easily visi-
ble from afar and impressive inside and out.
Conceived by the late Sheikh Zayed, it can
accommodate up to 40,000 worshippers in
its central courtyard and main prayer hall.
The grand-yet-delicate composition of mar-
ble, gold, semiprecious stones, crystals and
ceramics takes design cues from Morocco,
Turkey and even India’s Taj Mahal. The
main prayer hall features the world’s largest
Persian carpet, which took 2000 craftsmen
two years to complete, while seven gold-
plated crystal chandeliers hang majestically
from the ceiling. The mosque is 13km south
of the centre of Abu Dhabi.

eM rai Tes palace h loTe
(%02-690 9000; http://www.emiratespalace.com; Cor-
niche rd West) You don’t have to check in to
check out this truly luxurious hotel. It is
colossal: nearly 400 rooms and suites, 114
domes, a 1.3km private beach, a luxury spa

and a lavish use of marble, gold and crystal

throughout (including Swarovski crystal

chandeliers). Consider indulging in the clas-

sic English afternoon tea (including scones

and clotted cream, crumpets, traditional

fruitcake and raspberry tart) for Dh205

or, at the very least, have a good wander

around the lobby with its abundance of gold

leaf and the only vending machine in the

world that sells solid gold bars.

Fa u b dhabi

heriTaGe VillaGe MuSeuM

( eakwater; br h9am-1pm Sat-Thu, 5-9pm daily)

Offers a glimpse of life in the pre-oil days

with a re-creation of a souq, a traditional

mosque, a Bedouin encampment with

goat-hair tents and a typical barasti desert

house. Watch craftsmen make pots, blow

glass, beat brass and weave on traditional

looms. Don’t miss the small museum here.

f rrari World e abu dhabi The Me park

(www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com; yas island; adult/

child Dh225/165; 11am-8pm Tue-Sun; c) A must-

do for Ferrari fans or anyone who fancies a

ride on the world’s fastest rollercoaster (top

speed: 200km/h). Other attractions include

p dal e poWer

Cruise along the Corniche via bicycle�

f nrideu (Corniche rd West & khalid bin

abdel aziz St), on the seafront, rents

out bikes for just Dh30/20 per hour

per adult/child�

The culTural capiTal

One of the most ambitious cultural projects the world has seen is taking shape on

Saadiyat Island off the coast of the capital� An international cast of five Pritzker Prize

winners (the ‘Oscar’ of architecture) has created the blueprints for four museums and

a performing-arts centre� Collectively known as the Cultural District, they are likely to

become a spectacular showcase of 21st-century architecture, arts and culture�

Although the project has been fraught with delays, as of early 2012 the estimated

completion dates are 2013 for the Louvre Abu Dhabi and 2014 for the Guggenheim

Abu Dhabi� The Louvre is, perhaps, the most anticipated building, and will feature a

white dome perforated by lacy window patterns that allow diffused light to filter into

its interior� Galleries will exhibit paintings and artwork drawn from the Paris Louvre’s

priceless collection� The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi promises to be a similarly exciting

building: a cacophonous composition of geometric shapes designed by Frank Gehry

that will showcase international contemporary art�

Later phases will see the construction of the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, a

Maritime Museum and a Performing Arts Centre� For more information, check the

www�saadiyat�ae website�

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