First Time Visitor Guide: Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is my favorite place thus far in the UAE.  It is a culturally diverse city with an expansive list of things to do. There is no way to cover everything in one visit. Each time I visit, I discover something new and exciting. At the same time when it is time to leave, I regret things I never got a chance to do during my visit. As a first timer in any place, I always suggest visiting the major tourist attractions and discovering some hidden gems along the way.

Places to Stay

There are few key places to stay in Abu Dhabi. The Corniche is a popular place located on Abu Dhabi’s main beach.  The waterfront area offers impressive and beautiful views of the city. Other popular areas include Saadiyat Island, Al Maryah Island, and Yas Island. 

Luxury Hotels:  Emirates Palace; The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal,; The St. Regis Abu Dhabi; Shangri-la Hotel Qaryat Al Beri; and Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island are all great places that exude opulence.

Mid range Hotels: Le Royal Meridien and Beach Rotana are great choices that offers different options that will still give luxury vibes at an affordable cost.

Budget Hotels: Downtown Sheraton Khalidiya Hotel; Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi; Le Meridian Tourist Club Area; The Aloft; and Al-Diar Regency, East Corniche are all budget friendly options.

While on vacation we opted to stay at the Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi.  This resort is absolutely posh with an amazing view of the city.  There are different room choices for every traveller’s needs.  We chose the one bedroom apartment suite with a washer and dryer, dining room, living room, and full kitchen since the majority of our stay was in Abu Dhabi.  This hotel provided fresh fruit daily, housekeeping services, and was adjacent to the Abu Dhabi Mall and Business District.

Things to Do:

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Grand Mosque is Abu Dhabi’s landmark building and most popular attraction.  This is a must see when visiting and is the biggest mosque in the country; holding up to 40,000 worshippers. This is also the final resting place for the nation’s founder, Sheikh Zayed.

Additionally, the architectural design does not disappoint. From the 24 carat Swarovski crystal chandeliers to the world’s largest hand knotted carpet, this mosque exudes grandeur. The marble columns are filled with semi-precious stone inlays and trimmed in gold. Although the UAE is known to have extremely hot temperatures, the marble floors remains cool underneath your feet as you walk throughout the mosque.

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Entrance into the mosque is free.  I have visited the Grand Mosque during daylight and evening hours.  Both have given me different experiences and are equally stunning. Sunset is a popular time to visit because it leads right into the mosque lighting at night.

Hours

The mosque is open from 9 AM to 10 PM. On Fridays, the mosque is open from 4:30 PM to 10 PM.  However during Ramadan, it is important to remember that operating hours change to 9 AM to 2 PM Sunday – Thursday. English and Arabic one hour guided tours are available for visitors.  Each time I visit, I opt to explore the mosque and bask in the beauty that it has to offer.  It is truly a breathtaking experience.

Attire

For attire, modesty is mandatory while visiting the Grand Mosque. Men are required to wear loose fitting trousers (shorts are not allowed) and shirts that do not expose the shoulders. Ladies are required to wear a headscarf at all times. The changing rooms offer an abaya (hooded robe) for ladies to wear over their clothes. Additionally, ladies are welcome to wear traditional national wear as long as it applies to the guidelines set forth in the dress code. This guide provides more insight on acceptable attire.

Emirates Palace

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Roy surprised me with an unforgettable date night at this magical place.  Emirates Palace is a luxury hotel. The interior of the building is covered in marble, gold, and mother of pearl crystals.  The Arabian and lavish cultural designs compliment Emirates Palace tastefully. Emirates Palace also features the biggest dome in the world and offers its own private and beach and marina. While most people do not stay here (because of the hefty price tag), the restaurants all have incredible cuisine and the ambiance is romantic and intimate.

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One popular treat is the gold cappuccino.  Emirates Palace uses the finest ingredients to create their signature Palace Cappuccino sprinkled with 24 carat gold flakes.  The cappuccino is served with a special date and dark chocolate.  It is definitely worth the 60 AED ($16 USD) splurge.  If cappuccino does not suit your fancy, you can enjoy their fabulous afternoon tea.

Jazz Bar at Hilton Abu Dhabi on Corniche

I am a huge jazz lover.  During date night, my fiancé surprised me again and took me to this gem.  The food and drinks are great.  The Jazz Bar has a delightful and relaxing ambiance and is perfect for date night.

Abu Dhabi Louvre

Whenever I travel, I always visit museums and other historical landmarks to learn more about the culture of the country.  The Louvre Abu Dhabi is a must see attraction located in the Saadiyat Cultural District on Saadiyat Island. The museum itself is a work of art and appears to float on water with a massive and intricate geometric shaped dome. Opening in November 2017, The Louvre Abu Dhabi showcases a wealth of artwork that is on loan from around the world.  

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The iconic museum curates a celebration of humankind’s cultural advancement through time.  Each gallery tells the story of humanity in 12 chapters. Each year, the museum offers 4 temporary exhibitions to showcase international talent. 

Guests can download the Louvre Abu Dhabi Guide for free on the Apple app store.  Audio guides with informative commentary on the exhibits are available with iPads provided by the museum.  The guides explain in great detail the sculptures, paintings, and mosaics.  Additionally, guided tours by museum experts are available also available.

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I suggest setting aside 4-5 hours to explore the Louvre Abu Dhabi and enjoy the rich culture the museum has to offer. The museum is open Saturdays to Wednesday, 10 AM to 8 PM, Thursdays and Fridays 10 AM to 10 PM, and is closed on Mondays. Tickets range from 31 to 63 AED ($9 to $17 USD).

Café Milano

From fine dining to quick grab and go places, there are many yummy places to eat in Abu Dhabi.  However, I want to highlight Café Milano.  As a foodie and lover of Italian food, you will experience authentic Italian cuisine at this restaurant. Café Milano offers a beautiful waterfront view that is paired with fantastic service and delicious food. This classy romantic gem is located in the Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island.

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Malls

One thing Abu Dhabi is known for are their luxurious malls! Even the most lowest of keys malls scream opulence. The fashion game is CRAZY in the UAE, so expect to see endless luxury fashion and style. and There are numerous malls throughout the city to provide limitless shopping options. My favorites in Abu Dhabi are Al Wahda Mall and Galleria Mall. Other malls I have visited include Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall, and Yas Mall; which is known to the biggest mall in Abu Dhabi with the best shopping options.

Abu Dhabi Gold Souks

The Souks in Abu Dhabi sell a variety of traditional goods.  There are carpet souks, fish souks, and fruit and vegetable souks. People can buy pretty much anything at souks including spices, jewelry, cultural garments, and perfumes. The gold souks are popular for tourists.  There is an abundance of gold jewelry throughout the UAE.  Gold is available in 18, 21, 22, or 24 carats and is priced according to the international daily gold rate. 

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The gold souks are a great place to have unique pieces of jewelry made at a fraction of the price it would cost elsewhere around the world.  I have found through experience that you will get better value for your money at the Abu Dhabi gold souks compared to the Dubai ones. It is important to learn how to barter and shop around for a fair price. We have visited several gold souks, but have a trusted family friend at one of the gold souks that designs our custom jewelry.

Desert Safari

When visiting the UAE, I highly suggest doing a desert safari.  I visited a desert camp and enjoyed a host of activities. Activities we participated in was 4×4 dune bash, ATV bikes, camel riding, henna tattoo art, and photos in Arabic traditional wear. The excursion concludes with a BBQ dinner buffet and a traditional show. It was a fun cultural experience and I loved it! (Well.. not the dune bashing lol).

Now For The Real:

Dune bashing consists of a 4×4 driving up and down sand dunes at extreme speeds. Now in theory, this sounded amazing to me. However, I quickly learned that I get car sick when there is too much movement in the car. I am a pretty adventurous person and will try anything, but this was NOT my thing and I did not enjoy feeling sick during this experience. Although I recommend this thrilling adventure, I highly doubt I will participate again in the future lol.

I will give some additional tea regarding camels. It is HARD and an adjustment getting on them lol. Camels get up on their back legs first, so it is helpful to lean back. While the camel gets their front legs up, you will need to lean forward to avoid falling off. It is slightly scary, but once you get used to the feeling, it is smooth sailing moving forward.

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Bonus Behind the Scenes Story:

Y’all know I will ALWAYS keep it real. This was one of first excursions that we went on after I landed. If you read my “Know Before You Go” post, you will recall that my luggage was lost in transition to the UAE. I literally arrived in the country with the clothes on my back and had to go shopping for a quick outfit less than an hour before our excursion. Talk about stressed lol. But the good news is my bags arrived once the excursion was over later that night.

Although I enjoyed my stay in Abu Dhabi, Dubai is only an hour drive away. This means ROAD TRIP! Look out for my next post detailing things to do in Dubai and our quick getaway to the city!