Many tourists in the Emirates are limited to the skyscrapers and beaches of Dubai, and for good reason. After all, in the capital of the country — Abu Dhabi – you can visit the real Louvre, ride along the tracks of the legendary Formula 1 and on a roller coaster in the style of Ferrari, at the same time relaxing on the luxurious beaches. We share a list of amazing and photogenic places that are worth taking a trip to the East for. The ideas of our editorial staff were suggested by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism.
Contents
- Sheikh Zayed Mosque
- Yas Marina
- Louvre in Abu Dhabi
- Sea World Theme Park
- Ferrari World Park
- Heritage Village
- Mangrove forest
- Warner Bros Amusement Park
- Saadiyat, Corniche and Marsana beaches
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE: what you need to know before your trip
- Visa: Russians do not need it if the trip lasts less than 90 days.
- Currency: dirhams. 1 dirham (AED) = 26.6 rubles
- Time zone: UTC +4, the difference from Moscow is plus 1 hour.
- Flight: direct from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Makhachkala.
- Weather: it is best to come from October to April. The ideal period for relaxing on the beach is autumn and spring, winter is considered the most suitable season for excursions, but you can also swim comfortably: the water warms up to +22 °C. In summer, the daytime air temperature can exceed +40 °C. However, in June and August, hotels offer discounts on accommodation, and you can cool off in the cool pools.
There are more than 300 hotels and apartments in Abu Dhabi on the Island – choose according to your taste and pay with a card of any Russian bank:
Sheikh Zayed Mosque: Islamic architecture and carpet-record holder
Do you admire the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and the oriental architecture in general? Then you definitely need to see the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Mosque with 82 domes lined with white marble. It is the standard of modern Islamic architecture and a real miracle created by the hands of thousands of craftsmen. White walls and columns, floral ornaments, mosaics and carvings, minarets and domes are amazing: you want to forget about time and consider every detail. The exterior arcades are framed by almost 1,100 marble columns, stylized as date palms with golden leaves: the view and photos are stunning.
The mosque in Abu Dhabi is one of the largest in the world, and the decoration and interior here are also the best. The medallion carpet in the main prayer hall was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest made by hand, its length is 133 meters. Chandeliers decorated with gold leaf and Swarovski crystals are also not far behind: just imagine a light source with a diameter of 12 m. For comparison: the diameter of the Moscow Tsar Bell is 6.6 m.
You can get to the mosque for free, just book a time on the official website. There is a strict dress code at the entrance, but there is an opportunity to immediately buy closed clothes.
It is the standard of modern Islamic architecture and a real miracle created by the hands of thousands of craftsmen. Photo: brunocoelho/Shutterstock.com
Yas Marina: the tracks of the legendary Formula 1
The 5.55 km long track in Yas Marina is one of the most technologically advanced (and expensive) in the world. The Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix championships and world championships are held here every year. There are 16 turns on the highway, it winds from the harbor and marinas to the sand dunes. Incredible speed, extreme and intense emotions are guaranteed!
Outside of the competition, there is also an opportunity to look at the track, take a lot of photos and explore the backstage of the races. And the most ardent fans of Formula 1 can even try themselves in the role of Michael Schumacher or Max Verstappen, sitting behind the wheel of an Aston Martin GT4 racing supercar. Of course, you will not be able to accelerate to 300 km/h right away, but you must admit that it will be difficult to forget such an experience. You can also run or ride a bike along the track — triathlons are also held here.
The 5.55 km long track in Yas Marina is one of the most technologically advanced in the world. Photo: marcobrivio.gallery/Shutterstock.com
Everyone to the stands!
Cool news for fans of the legendary car race: from December 5-8, 2024, the final stage of the Formula 1 championship will be held at the Yas Marina race track in Abu Dhabi. And Eminem, Maroon 5 and Muse will perform at a grand concert in honor of the race.
Louvre in Abu Dhabi: paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and Van Gogh
Go East and fly to Abu Dhabi to go to the Louvre and enjoy the originals of paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne and other famous artists? No, we are not joking: there is a Louvre Museum in the Persian Gulf on the island of Saadiyat. The French architect Jean Nouvel designed the building surrounded by the sea with an openwork dome. A symbolic detail: the dome, assembled from almost eight thousand stars, is equal in weight to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the play of the sun in it reminds of local palm trees.
The museum’s collection is also striking: the works of art were leased by the Louvre in Paris, Versailles and the Pompidou Center. And in October 2024, with the participation of the Orsay Museum, the exhibition “Post-Impressionism: beyond the Visible” was opened. Such a collection of paintings is rarely seen outside France: among more than 100 works are the famous “Bedroom in Arles” by Van Gogh, masterpieces by Picasso, Manet and other artists. The exhibition will run until February 9, 2025 — have time to see the large strokes of geniuses!
But even after that, it is worth looking into the historical halls of the Arab Louvre to get acquainted with the cultural heritage of world empires and feel the beauty and charm of the past centuries, embodied in painting, sculpture, armor, dishes and other objects.
The works of art were leased by the Louvre in Paris, Versailles and the Pompidou Center. Photo: Sergey_Bogomyako/Shutterstock.com
Sea World Theme Park: the main aquarium in the Middle East
It is worth coming to Abu Dhabi at least in order to finally find out who actually lives at the bottom of the ocean. And also discover eight exciting underwater worlds from the poles to the tropics with their more than 68,000 inhabitants. The indoor theme park features the Arctic and Antarctica, Caribbean pink flamingos, penguins, sea turtles and funny puffins. An exciting journey across the seas and oceans of the entire planet, which fit into one very eventful day — even Jules Verne could not imagine such a thing.
Sharks, moray eels and schools of stingrays swim in huge tunnels above the heads of visitors — you can even swim among them. Especially good are the outdoor areas with funny penguins, an aquarium with stingrays, sharks and starfish, as well as a tropical zone with beautiful bright pinkflamingo. There is also a dolphinarium, where shows are held several times a day, and you can also feed the sea lions.
It is convenient to take pictures in the park — set the time for shooting, because your hands will reach for the camera themselves. Many cafes and ice cream shops will allow you to comfortably spend the whole day here. Just don’t forget to take warm clothes for a visit to Antarctica: walruses and penguins are cool.
The indoor theme park features the Arctic and Antarctica, Caribbean pink flamingos, penguins, sea turtles and funny puffins. Photo: tashmetova808/Shutterstock.com
8 amazing facts
You will find even more information about a trip to Abu Dhabi in this time-tested and thousands of readers article.
Ferrari World Park: dizzying rides
The Ferrari World Theme Park is another point of attraction for fans of car racing, red fast cars, extreme speed and extreme attractions. The roof of the world’s largest indoor park repeats the silhouette of the Ferrari GT, and the legendary logo with a prancing horse can be seen even from an airplane to the delight of fans.
Ferrari World is a piece of Italy in the UAE and a real city within a city where there is entertainment for all family members. Here you can learn the history of the company, admire the cars of different years and fully experience the atmosphere charged with adrenaline and energy. One of the most popular facilities is the world’s fastest Formula Rossa roller coaster, accelerating up to 240 km/h. At the time of writing, they are closed, but we assure you that the speed of 120 km/h on other attractions is enough for most guests. Before the trip, we recommend checking the list of available entertainment on the official website of the park.
There is also a karting academy in the park, the opportunity to virtually visit a tour of the Ferrari factory in distant Italy, eat pasta in an authentic restaurant and, of course, buy that very red car — in a toy version — and many other themed souvenirs, without which your fan friends will stop greeting you.
Ferrari World is a piece of Italy in the UAE and a real city within a city where there is entertainment for all family members. Photo: ArtEvent ET/Shutterstock.com
Heritage Village: what were the Emirates like before skyscrapers
In this free open-air ethnographic museum, it is interesting to find out what life was like in the UAE before the appearance of sparkling skyscrapers, magnificent mosques and world-class parks on the gulf coast. The museum recreates a traditional Arab village with huts made of palm branches, modest artisan workshops, merchants’ shops and unchanging camels. Other advantages of the museum include a beautiful view of the city and proximity to the Marina Mall shopping center.
Mangrove forest: pink flamingos and gazelles
If you want to observe animals and birds in their natural habitat and take unusual photos, go to the mangrove forest of Abu Dhabi. In addition to hiking trails, you can rent a kayak or sap and row yourself or take a tour on an excursion boat.
Swimming takes place under the shade of trees along wide rivers and narrow channels. Along the way there are crabs, fish, pink flamingos, rare black herons and other birds, and gazelles along the banks, so just have time to look around. We don’t promise dolphins and turtles, but if you’re lucky, you’ll see them too. A pleasant change after the megalopolis, which is literally half an hour away, the panoramas of which, by the way, are visible during a boat trip. If you don’t want to swim, you can walk along the forest trails, but we warn you right away: the views are more interesting from the water.
If you want to observe animals and birds in their natural habitat and take unusual photos, go to the mangrove forest of Abu Dhabi. Photo: malangusha/Shutterstock.com
Warner Bros Amusement Park: Favorite animated universes
A place for adults who still love cartoons from Warner Bros., and families with children of different ages. The park is divided into several themed areas dedicated to different cartoon characters: Superman, Batman, Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo, Bugs Bunny, the Flintstones and the Jetsons. In each zone there are attractions and family interactivity, there are many entertainments with elements of virtual reality.
You literally get inside the cartoon: you can race through the sky over Gotham City in a batmobile, take part in Tom’s pursuit of Jerry, walk through the Joker’s mirror maze and fight with Superman in a 3D battle for Metropolis. And, of course, take a picture with your favorite characters.
A place for adults who still love cartoons from Warner Bros., and families with children of different ages. Photo: Collab Media/Shutterstock.com
Saadiyat, Corniche and Marsana beaches: some of the best in the Emirates
Snow—white sandy beaches are another mandatory item of the program, especially for Russians tired of slush and winter. The water temperature in the Persian Gulf in December is about +24 ℃, in January it is cooler by several degrees — but it does not interfere with sunbathing. There are many beaches in Abu Dhabi, from free public ones to standard hotel and luxury club ones. Among the most popular are the eponymous beach on the Corniche, the swimming area on Saadiyat Island and the beach club on Yas Island.
On the island of Khudariat there is a free beach marked with a Blue flag — Marsana. There is fine sand, a promenade decorated with greenery, trendy cafes and restaurants. In general, Khudariat is an island for active recreation with a 225 km long bike trail, sports centers and the recently opened Surf Abu Dhabi Surf center, which boasts the largest artificial wave in the world.
If you want to relax in Maldivian—style villas, we suggest considering Bab Al Nojoum Hudayriyat Villas. It offers rooms on the first coastline or villas on the water.
Snow-white sandy beaches are another mandatory item of the program. Photo: Vladimir Zhoga/Shutterstock.com
A full—fledged relaxation or a short rest in between sightseeing is up to you.
Winter and New Year holidays are a great time to travel to Abu Dhabi: you can relax on the beaches and visit interesting places from our article. It’s time to discover the East for yourself — book a hotel on the Island and look forward to an eventful trip!
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Cover photo: U__Photo/Shutterstock.com
