Top 8 tourist landmarks you must visit in Abu Dhabi this summer – capture the wonders of UAE’s capital

If the thought of enjoying lunch with a leopard or dinner with a herd of elephants feels a tad outrageous, then you probably haven’t heard of the perks of exploring Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Park Zoo. Offering such guest experiences, Emirates Park Zoo is where a wide spectrum of species call home and where you may engage in pastimes ranging from animal feeding, climbing to even ziplining.

Away from the towering skyscrapers and modernity for which Abu Dhabi is renowned for is a chance to go on a jeep safari through the serene surrounds of the Arabian Wildlife Park. Situated a short distance from Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara which provides stays within luxury villas, in Abu Dhabi few landmarks can boast of the appeal of this reserve. Move past mountainous terrain and shrubbery as you search for some of the Park’s celebrated animals that include the Arabian Oryx and the fastest land mammal on earth being the Cheetah.

Found on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is where you will come into contact with SeaWorld Abu Dhabi; a popular marine life theme park that brings to light the relationship between animals and the ocean. While the facility focuses a great deal of its time on research, rescue and rehabilitation, guests will be escorted to as many as 8 impressive realms for one unforgettable time. Pick your favourite ride, meet and greet an array of animals before calling it a day in the company of a rewarding dining outing.

Labelled the largest indoor theme park the world has come to know and appreciate, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi is your gateway into the wide world of cartoons. Covering a whopping 1.65 million square feet, the theme park is often at the heart of leisure trips to this part of the UAE as you can catch up with Superman, Batman or walk hand in hand with Wonder Woman. Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi provides access to 29 state of the art rides, interactive attractions that are extremely family friendly coupled by a slew of live entertainment, shopping and dining facilities to embrace.

Even if you aren’t an ardent fan of Formula 1’s most desirable and admired brand, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi will take you on a riveting ride that you are unlikely to forget. Open everyday of the year, this Ferrari-branded theme park will coax you towards boarding the fastest rollercoaster in the world – Formula Rossa which reaches speeds of 240km/h in under 5 seconds. Added to this, you can forget your fear of heights by taking on the challenge of the 1-hour long Roof Walk experience and comb every inch of the park’s iconic red roof and discover the largest Ferrari logo in the world.

At times, words fail to sum up the grandeur of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque which is without a shadow of a doubt, one of the Emirate’s most cherished tourist stopovers. As one of the largest mosques in the world that was part of the vision of the founding father of the UAE – Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, it is believed that the efforts of builders from across the globe were channelled towards its construction. The carpet in the main prayer hall was hand-knotted by 1,300 artisans from Iran.

Nestled in the Saadiyat Cultural District is an art lover’s dream come true. Called Louvre Abu Dhabi, this attraction showcases a dazzling display of art, beginning from ancient eras to modern times with each piece a representation of cultural, historical or sociological appeal.

Go on long walks through the astounding Empty Quarter and watch as shifting sands of red and gold escort you to towering dunes and beyond. Better yet, you can enjoy a camel ride, learn the ins and outs of sandboarding and go one step further by pitching camp for the night.