Joanna James
The capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi, often appears in top travel destination lists. The former fishing village is now an industrious city converted by the revenues generated after the discovery of oil.
To add some variation to the conventional Abu Dhabi tour, head over to the mangrove forest that still continues to thrive along the shore – if you are lodged at Anantara Eastern Mangroves Abu Dhabi Hotel, this would be one of the must-do activities. For every age category, there’s a collection of kayaking tours that range from 1.5 hours to 3 hours. One of the purposes of these tours is to allow visitors to understand the role the mangroves play to maintain balance. To have the best experience, tour the mangrove after dusk when the dark waters are gleaming from the moonlight.
When discussing things to do Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is an attraction that never fails to get everyone’s attention. The enormous white marble-clad mosque is the jewel that makes the Abu Dhabi the kind of travel destination that it is. The aggregate of Ottoman, Fatimid and Mameluke designs, the mosque monuments Islamic architecture. The interior and exterior of the place are donned by intricate carvings, beautiful glasswork and mosaic tiling. The completion of the mosque took as long as 20 years and was opened to the public in 2007. The biggest mosque in the whole of the UAE, the Grand Mosque boasts a capacity to accommodate over 40,000 worshipers at any given time.
In response to Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Abu Dhabi flaunts the observation deck at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers. Offering visitors, a complete layout of the city, the Observation Desk welcomes both guests and non-guests of the hotel – though for an entry fee which can be redeemed for food and drinks. The restaurant found up there serves soft drinks, high tea and delicious bits of the local cuisine.
Visiting the indigenous falcons of the UAE is a must-visit if you are ever in Abu Dhabi. The hospital is purposed to treat injured and ill falcons, and it also allows visitors inside the hospital. With the supervision of a member of staff, visitors are allowed to have a close encounter with these falcons – you can also let one perch on your arm or even feed them.
This seems quite the obvious choice of activity since you are in the UAE – you could either make it a day trip or an overnight trip; both are equally fun. Lying over the edge of Empty Quarter is the Al Khatim Desert, which contains the largest dunes in the world. If you are a fan of riding dune buggies, this is the ideal playground for you – you can also go camel trekking, sandboarding, and when the night descends, you can prop up a tend under the star-strewn sky and enjoy the Bedouin way of life.
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