Joanna James
If you are looking for a holiday destination which the whole family can enjoy fun escapades and rewarding experiences, then Abu Dhabi is the place for you. There is much to see and do and here are some of the best attractions well worth adding to your itinerary.
Those with a need for speed will love a visit to Ferrari World; this popular attraction is located on Yas Island which is also home to the Yas Marina Circuit that hosts the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix. Adrenaline-junkies visiting Ferrari World can try the Formula Rossa which reaches 240kph in a mere 4.9 seconds and is the world's fastest rollercoaster! Also exhilarating is the Flying Aces rollercoaster, while other highlights include a Junior GT track for children, a Ferrari factory tour and models of Ferrari cars.
Amongst the best things to do in Abu Dhabi is to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque which is an iconic marvel featuring distinctive Islamic architecture. This sacred site is open to non-Muslim visitors too and one should not miss the chance to take in the grandeur of this magnificent structure. Large enough to hold 40,000 worshippers, the mosque features over 80 white marble domes, more than 1,000 columns embedded with jasper and amethyst, gold-plated chandeliers and stunning marble mosaic artworks; it also has the largest handwoven carpet on the planet!
Nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts will love a visit to the Arabian Wildlife Park which has over 15,000 free-roaming animals; this sanctuary can be found on Sir Bani Yas Island and is home to luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi that give one a chance to truly explore the park. These properties including Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort offer wildlife drives, perfect for encountering wildlife including the largest herd of Arabian Oryx in the world. You can also see cheetahs, blackbuck antelopes, jackals, sand gazelles, hyenas, axis deer, giraffes and more.
Located on Yas Island, Warner Bros. World is a massive theme park featuring characters and rides based on characters like Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman as well as Bugs Bunny and Scooby-Doo. The largest fully air-conditioned indoor theme park in the world, it features 29 rides spread across six immersive sections and has thrilling shows and interactive attractions too. Highlights include rides such as Batman: Knight Flight, The Riddler Revolution and Justice League: Warworld Attacks, while the Flintstones Bedrock River Adventure, Tweety Wild Wockets and The Joker Funhouse provide plenty of fun as well.
In Abu Dhabi, desert excursions are not to be missed either and give you a chance to not only take in the beauty of this vast barren landscape but enjoy some adventures too. Amongst the best places to visit for this is the Liwa Oasis at the edge of the Empty Quarter where one will find spectacular sand dunes. It provides an ideal setting for thrilling dune bashing in a 4x4 vehicle as well as sandboarding. For a more traditional experience, you can embark on a camel trekking tour and witness magical sunsets.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
