Your first stop is the beautiful Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, named in honour of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The stunning marble edifice shines a sparkling bright white, its multiple domes (80 to be precise) and soaring minarets contrasted by the blue skies. A sense of tranquility pervades here, while the combination of the sun and the intricate architecture produces the most amazing shadow play, like artworks in their own right. Head inside the main prayer hall to walk on the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet. Visitors are required to cover up; women can borrow an abaya (long robe) and headscarf, and men a kandura at the entrance to the grounds.
Step back in time at the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village, with its replica old desert settlement.
Get a taste of local life at the Al Mina markets, where locals come and go buying fresh produce, spices and dates, a prized commodity here. Along ‘date alley’ the dried fruits are stacked high on plates or packed tightly into boxes; at least 45 varieties are sold here including plump medjool dates, the gold standard.
The height of luxury, Emirates Palace is one of Abu Dhabi’s premier properties and one of the city’s best stops for a picture-perfect experience. Don’t miss the House of Artisans, where locals demonstrate Emirati traditions.
For a look at modern Abu Dhabi, head to Qasr Al Watan, the stunning palace that houses the current offices of the President and Crown Prince.
Lastly, the luxury and arts enclave of Saadiyat Island is home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Visit the astonishing Louvre Abu Dhabi for a journey through universal human stories across civilisations. Opened on Saadiyat Island in late 2017, the museum was designed by famed French architect Jean Nouvel, and is laid out as a ‘museum city’ beneath a vast, silvery dome some 180 metres in diameter. The Louvre Abu Dhabi displays a globally significant collection of artworks from masters like Cézanne, Monet, Degas, Matisse, Warhol, Miró, Magritte, Mondrian, and Kandinsky, as well as artefacts and loans from France’s top museums spanning the entirety of human existence.
