Awesome Abu Dhabi

We flew out of Dublin on a direct flight with Etihad Airways. The flight was comfortable, and the food, entertainment and service were nothing short of excellent. Etihad Airways aircraft are a young fleet, modern with the best of facilities. Not a long journey – just 7 ½ hours, so feasible for a ‘short-ish’ break in the sun.

If I am honest, in the past I had only every considered Abu Dhabi as a stopover destination, and by that I mean somewhere to break a long journey before pursuing more exotic climes. I was pleasantly surprised. In my opinion Abu Dhabi is the epitome of new Arabia – a unique experience with modern shopping malls, luxurious accommodation, fine dining, excellent beaches, all in harmony with a completely different culture.

The first thing that struck me about the city was the opulence – hi spec cars, designer shops and the latest phones are the most important fashion accessory. But there is more to Abu Dhabi than shopping and sunshine. Their Royal Family are making every effort to make sure the city has longevity, and this is evident in their current and future attractions. In fact they are currently building Abu Dhabi Guggenheim and Louvre.

We stayed in the stunning Jumeirah Etihad Towers (where the ‘Fast and Furious 7’ was recently filmed). A modern sky scrapper with a stunning observation deck, it was a real treat. I could have happily sat for hours in the lobby people watching.

A highlight (and a must see) for me was the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. A beautiful white marble structure, it’s incredibly intricate – a photographers dream. It has some of the largest and most elaborate chandeliers in the world, and my visit was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the country’s Islamic religion and culture. It is a place of worship, so we were asked to dress accordingly, and rules are very strict, so if you are very fortunate enough to vista, make sure to wear the correct attire.

Moving on, Yas Island is a name many associate with the Formula 1. The Viceroy Hotel at the centre of the race circuit is a marvel and when we arrived the roar of Formula 3 engines greeted us as cars whizzed around the circuit. There are many driving experiences you can pre-book at the circuit if you are brave enough, and there aren’t many places that can offer that sort of opportunity. For those (like myself!) that aren’t quite that skilled, a day trip to Ferrari World is a must. Its home to the fastest rollercoaster Formula Rossa that has a top speed of 239 km/h! The park is mostly indoors, so you don’t have to suffer the heat to enjoy the rollercoasters and rides, and has something for all age groups. Next door there is Yas Waterworld, a great waterpark and you can get tickets to cover both theme parks. Speaking of The Viceroy Hotel, I have to mention the food there and around the city. We enjoyed a really good lunch at the Viceroy – buffet style with a phenomenal choice.

In Abu Dhabi you can find many varied cuisines – local specialities as well as international. Afternoon tea is quite a popular event with international business people and even groups of young Emirati to be found in some of the best hotels in the city. This is a Muslim country, but tourists may still enjoy alcohol in licensed restaurants and bars, however be aware that there are some religious holidays when the city is dry / alcohol free.

Our final evening was a real treat – dune bashing in 4x4 jeeps, and then a barbeque under the stars. This was such fun – the dune bashing isn’t for the faint hearted, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. We stopped at a camel farm then continued on to have a Bedouin feast.

Abu Dhabi is still a work in progress – the city is very spread out, but taxis are cheap and plentiful. Unlike many European beach side cities, there aren’t many promenades or walking opportunities – there are a few nice places around the Corniche area, but as our guide pointed out, it can often be too hot to walk for any length of time in Abu Dhabi, so air-conditioned transport is king here.

I must say I really enjoyed by brief interlude with Abu Dhabi – it was nothing like I expected. In fact, it far surpassed my expectations, and I hope to go back someday with my family.

I was fortunate enough to see more than I have time to mention here, as well as some amazing hotels (including the handsome Emirates Palace). If you would like more information please feel free to call me on 094 9376765.