Interesting hidden activities in Abu Dhabi – Activities that may have escaped your attention

Bashing into the sand dunes in 4*4 drive vehicles is seen as a pastime in Abu Dhabi - the quintessential way of enjoying Abu Dhabi is going on an Abu Dhabi desert tour. Starting with an exhilarating sand-bashing session as you roar up and down the sand dunes, the tour will be taken into further excitement by quad-biking and sand-boarding. First time in Abu Dhabi and not sure how to get started with the initial steps? Well, not to worry, the likes of Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara will do all the work for you.

Not many would think that a religious place can add to the fun of their vacation, but they'd be quite wrong. The largest mosque in Dubai – Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque – fascinates every tourist who visits by the grandeur of its architecture and design. Washed with pristine white, the mosque lays claim to 82 marble domes, floral marble inlays and golden colonnades. Another feature of interest is its 15 meters high chandelier, which is regarded as one of the largest chandeliers in the world. What's more, it also houses the world's largest hand-knitted carpet which stretches over 5,627 square meters – it is also said that the making of the carpet took labouring hours of 1,200 workers.

Most people would be surprised to find a green expanse of palm trees in the middle of the desert land. One of the oldest settlements in the UAE, the history of the oasis goes as far back as 4,000 years, which is one of the reasons why it was named a UNESCO world heritage. In addition to the picturesque lineaments of nature, you'll also find old forts, the camel souk – which is not in the profession of trading camels any more – Green Mubazzarah Hot Springs and not to mention the city's highest mountain.

This has to be given the accolade for being one of the eccentric establishments in Abu Dhabi. Everybody's well aware of the country's taste for futuristic buildings, but this goes way beyond that. The building has been a topic of discussion ever since it came into existence – the reason boils down to its out-of-the-ordinary, ingenious design. The building seems to defy gravity by being lopsided 18 degrees from the horizontal. Once you've seen it and processed what you've seen, It is time for you to take a few of those insta-worthy pictures that will no doubt fill your friends with envy.

Ahh the popular Arabian souk...well, there's no better way to get a taste of local day-to-day life than to visit the souk. It's unlike other markets you've seen in other countries for it's bursting with a flamboyant bunch of items. To pique your interest; the souk was designed by the very same Foster+Partners whose expertise is well evident in the design of London's Gherkin. Though this definitely has some unique features, like every other street market, this too demands a little adeptness at haggling.