I can live here. This was the first thought that crossed my mind when I woke up in Abu Dhabi. It’s a pretty unique situation because such a thought extremely rarely occurs while I am traveling. Being a travel junkie I was convinced there was no place in the world that can hold me for a long time and regardless of how long I was going to stay, anyway, I should leave it one day. Till I landed in Abu Dhabi.
No, I was not impressed upon the landing. The Abu Dhabi airport is quite small, simple, and standard. Even being the capital of UAE, its airport can’t be compared with the luxury and glamour of Dubai’s main airport but it has nothing to do with my sudden attraction to the spot. It was 3 am in the morning when I first got a sense of the surroundings. The airport pick-up was on time, super pleasant November weather +26 C upon arrival with low humidity, no hassle with the hotel transfer, breathable and quiet.
Being kind of superstitious, I immediately felt welcome and cozy, somehow like Abu Dhabi was meant to be. You probably know about the belief that if the traffic lights are all over green along your drive, it means the destination or the purpose of your ride is going to be a success. The same feeling here.
And all the above-got proof upon my awakening in the morning. Look at the picture below, taken from my hotel room, doesn’t it seem like this emirate is embracing me?
On this business trip, I got enough spare time to explore the site so let the adventure begin.
Transportation
Unfortunately, this time I can’t advise on the airport-city transfer because I was fetched at Abu Dhabi airport by a business partner. There is no metro/subway in Abu Dhabi, also public transport is not favorable. So in case you are not renting a car at the airport, the option is a taxi. It takes about a 20 to 25-minute ride to reach downtown from the airport. Overall, I recommend using a taxi in Abu Dhabi. It’s a safe, clean and affordable way to move through the city. Most of the taxis in Abu Dhabi are silver in color and have a properly working meter. The system is brilliant as upon departure the navigator‘s voice will guide you to fasten your seat belt and enjoy the ride. Then you can observe the direction, the km passed and the rising price on the meter.
The rate starts from 5 AED (Emirates Dirham) which is approximately equal to 1.36 USD. Wherever I went, I paid between 20 to max 30 AED per ride which is pretty affordable. Even the foremost destination like Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was within this range. The other advantage is you can pay either cash or by card. Just ask in advance your taxi driver upon departure if you can pay by card because a few do not have this option, but the majority do.
All taxi drivers speak English, regardless of their nationality. I love talking to them during the ride, as they are long-time residents usually and could give useful tips on what, when, and how to visit while in Abu Dhabi. Also if you are respectful and friendly to them, they enjoy being your temporary guide on the ride. But be careful to not cross the line, because if you are super friendly they will try to convince you being your preferred driver during the entire stay in the city, insisting on picking you up and driving you back which could be kind of tricky. But overall, I was impressed by the taxi service in Abu Dhabi because no one was smoking in the cab, no loud music, the navigation system picks the optimal route, no attempts for rip-off, no redundant talks if you are not initiating one, quick, polite and efficient.
Abu Dhabi Corniche
No doubt, my favorite scene. It’s the promenade along the sea that looks like a well-maintained park. Spacious alleys for walking. Designated pathways (both ways) for cycling. Everyone can rent a bike right at the promenade and pay with a credit card. Just make sure to return the bike every 60 minutes to the dock. Never buy a membership!!!! Just a single ride. Otherwise, you could be charged daily, even no longer using the bike.
Along the Promenade, there is a spacious and long beach line. I have seen lots of families and young people playing there but no one sunbathing, despite the 34 degrees C day temperature. I guess it’s related to the local culture and restrictions so it’s considered inappropriate to undress and lay on the public beach in a swimsuit.
I asked in my hotel (with no beach access) about that phenomenon because the sandy lane looked really appealing. They recommended designated private beaches related to 5-star hotels where the Europeans could enjoy a lazy day by the sea in their usual swim attire for an affordable day pass. Bikinis are not favored so I got advice to better stick to the one-piece swimwear regardless of the hotel beach or pool environment.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
It’s a magnificent architectural accomplishment that is a must-see. In striking white color, this marble masterpiece is the largest mosque in the UAE. I am not going to retell the story behind the construction of the mosque as it could be easily spotted online. What I am going to share below are some crucial requirements while visiting this tremendous sighting.
+ Never forget it’s a religious and sacred Islamic landmark so specific ethics and rules are applied
+ Shorts, beach wear, sleeveless T-shirts, tight and transparent (see-through) clothing are strictly prohibited
+ Both males and females are required to wear humble clothing that covers body parts (long sleeves, long pants, long dresses for the women). Female heads should be covered by a scarf out of respect.
+ If you are not prepared in advance, there are stores for renting the proper mosque attire on the spot
+ Smoking and display of affection are strictly prohibited
+ There are designated spots for taking photos. However, the countless number of guards will correct your actions if they are considered inappropriate
+ Follow the framed routes of movement
+ Access pass is mandatory (free of charge) and will be required several times at different areas throughout the mosque
+ Working hours from 9 am till 10 pm. I would recommend avoiding Fridays – the most loaded praying day of the week with interruptions in the usual visiting hours.
While I was visiting Abu Dhabi in November 2022, all sightseeing with no exceptions required from the tourists a PCR test (no rapid test accepted). I hope in 2023 it has been already canceled.
Al Watan Palace
Popular also as Qasr Al Watan this palace has blown me away. Probably I am getting too sentimental but the feeling was like I am Scheherazade who suddenly popped up from One Thousand and One Nights. It’s a magical full-of-glamour landmark that truly represents the brilliance of the UAE’s cultural heritage and achievements.
If you are visiting the palace on your own, its location is nearby the 7-star hotel Emirates Palace and Falcon Circle. I didn’t have a ticket upon arrival, so was politely guided to buy one. The ticket price is 65 AED (about 18 USD) per person. Could be received in advance via email through the Qasr Al Watan website. At the moment I got my ticket, the guard on site navigated me how to obtain full WIFI access by just scanning a QR code with my iPhone. It was truly impressive, as I had endless WIFI reception throughout the premises.
Then a designated bus collects the visitors and drives them to the Palace. Just not to forget to mention It’s a working Presidential palace in Abu Dhabi, designed and maintain to wow. The working hours for visitors are from 10 am to 6 pm but this could vary or even be closed so check in advance the Palace opening hours on the website.
Officially, there is no dress code at Qasr al Watan but out of courtesy and in accordance with local laws and customs, the guests are advised to wear respectful clothing (knees and shoulders covered).
Shopping
Well, it’s not as dynamic and alluring as in Dubai, but Abu Dhabi Malls have their charm. I would highly recommend Galleria Mall, Al Wahda, and Marina Mall. From the variety of the brands, cleanliness, level of service, and easy organization they just stood out. Again and again, I got surprised by how different are the items for the same brands compared with the ones offered in Europe. When I converted the displayed AED prices into Euro they were quite reasonable.
The other surprise comes with the local strategy and behavior of the salesmen. In lots of shops, I was advised to install the local brand’s application because as a first-time customer between 20 to 25% discount is granted for the first purchase. It’s awesome for a tourist who is spending just a limited amount of time in Abu Dhabi. The only trick is you need the internet to complete it. The WIFI reception is not always good especially when the Malls are crowded and it’s unlikely to be able to connect. But here I got immediate support, as the sellers offered to make the application registration on behalf of my name on their devices which was superb. Smiling, polite, and result-driven vendors everywhere, which was a fresh touch after my quite poor experience in Europe.
In the non-global brand shops you can easily negotiate the price (it’s the Middle East) and the saleswomen are willing to do miracles for the customers once they see you are dying to buy an item. The game of hesitating but being excited about the purchase works well everywhere in the Gulf. My recommendation again, if the price is not displayed and you are not aware of the brand, keep negotiating by being respectful and polite. It works out!
While I am writing this article in January 2023, just remembered that January and February are the season of the annual biggest discounts so if you have the chance, do not miss this opportunity, it’s worth it.
And here, the end of my exciting Abu Dhabi journey approaches. To summarize my experience – Abu Dhabi is much more serene than Dubai, much greener and spacious. It’s a great starting point for visiting the nearby emirate of Al Ain or the neighboring country of Oman by car. The sun is quite strong whole year round so do not forget to wear sunscreen and a hat. The locals are quite tolerant of the tourists and a large number of ex-pats are present so the UAE capital is a friendly place to be but I would still recommend moderate clothing, no exposed flesh, and no see-through fabric. Enjoy!:)
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Abu Dhabi is truly a gem with its blend of tradition and modernity! Your travel insights make it even more enticing for visitors. Thanks for sharing this amazing guide!