In 2013 I moved to Abu Dhabi for work. This post will not be about that because I have decided to not write about working abroad. There are enough expat forums you could consult. There are not many travel blogs about the Middle East. I believe my friends and family would be more interested in my travel experiences in the region, so that’s why I’m sticking to travel.

The pictures are courtesy of a friend of mine who came to visit me at the end of 2013. I visited most of the sights in Abu Dhabi with her.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The main sight in Abu Dhabi is the beautiful Grand Mosque. It’s only been around since 2007, so it’s still relatively new. This is the largest mosque in the Middle East and it is gorgeous.

Before you can enter the mosque you have to pick up an abaya by the entrance, unless you’re already fully covered and you brought a scarf to cover your hair. Even the men can pick something up to cover themselves if they’re wearing shorts. I don’t like seeing girls walking around in skimpy shorts in Abu Dhabi in general (and they do) because it doesn’t fit in with the customs of the UAE, but what makes me cringe even more is when I see them walking towards the mosque in that outfit. Be respectful of the culture you’re visiting.

There is no entrance fee, so you can enjoy walking around the interior of the mosque at your own pace. Believe me, it’s so incredibly beautiful you wouldn’t want to leave quickly at all.

I will try to see the Grand Mosque at sunset as well before I leave the country and I will dedicate a post on that. Apparently it looks gorgeous with the setting sun.

Saadiyat Public Beach

The best beach by far is Saadiyat Public Beach. There are a few other good beaches, but they’re linked to hotels and therefore have very expensive entry fees. Saadiyat is reasonably priced and the beach and the setting is gorgeous. My friend told me recently that she walked along the coast in the evening and when she came upon Saadiyat it was a big dirty and some men were making the girls uncomfortable by staring. This might only happen towards the evening, because when I was there in the morning it was very family oriented and I didn’t feel uncomfortable at any moment.

Look at how white the sand is!

Yas Island

A few months ago, Yas Island became popular due to the opening of one of the biggest malls in the UAE. Before that, Yas Island was popular for the F1 race track (races are hosted every November, I have not been but I’ve seen F3), and the Marina and Yas Viceroy hotel – and of course the two amusement parks: Ferrari World and Waterworld. All these things are very close together and definitely worth a visit while you’re strolling in the area.

This illuminating marvel is the Viceroy Hotel and it has been built over the F1 race track. Don’t try to book a hotel here in November…

Emirates Palace

Another must-visit for tourists and residents alike is Emirates Palace. This is not the actual palace, but it’s the hotel. You have to abide by the very strict dress code (no shorts no sneakers etc.), because otherwise the guards will make up numerous excuses not to let you in.

Inside you can marvel at the golden beauty of the hotel and you can drink up some of the gold in the form of a cappuccino with some gold sprinkles on top. It’s a nice experience and not to be missed.

In case you had planned to buy some gold, why not use the “Gold to Go” ATM machine in the hotel?

Marina Square

There is no reason at all for tourists to visit Marina Square. The only reason I put it here is because this beautiful place was my home for two years. I had everything I needed. I lived on the 21st floor of one of those buildings so I didn’t have any noise from outside, there was a mall (which only housed a supermarket, and some restaurants but that was enough), there were multiple pools. All-in-all I feel very blessed that I had the opportunity to live in an area like this. Just look at it!

Surroundings

In Winter, it’s lovely to walk along the Corniche (boulevard by the water) from one end all the way to Marina Mall (be aware it’s a long walk, but if it’s not too hot it is worth it). The tall buildings on the left of you and the beach and sea to the right are gorgeous. It’s unbelievable how fast this city is developing. A few years ago there was nothing along the Corniche and now there are buildings everywhere and even more construction on the way.

Does anyone recognize these buildings from Furious 7?

And your final destination on this walk would be Marina Mall. Nothing special, just another mall in the UAE but it’s a nice place to grab a refreshing juice after a long walk along the Corniche.

Where to Stay?

There are quite a few places I can recommend in terms of accommodation in Abu Dhabi. I have stayed in quite a few hotels over the years. I do like to opt for the high-end ones, simply because I can afford them in the UAE. I really liked the Sofitel, especially the location near the Corniche is great. Millennium is a beautiful hotel, located a bit more in the city centre. My friends stayed at Jumeirah Etihad Towers, which is fantastic although it is a bit pricey. The Rosewood is another gorgeous high-end hotel where friends of mine lived. Actually, you can’t go wrong when you pick a five star hotel. I lived in Sofitel for about three months, so it has a special place in my heart 🙂

If you don’t want to commit to a lengthy stay, you could easily visit some of the most beautiful sight on a day trip from Dubai.

Conclusion

Abu Dhabi has been my home for slightly more than two years, so how could I possibly say anything bad about it? It’s also a great place to come on a holiday, a lot of people skip Abu Dhabi because they think there is nothing here. They only stick to Dubai. I would go so far to say that I prefer Abu Dhabi over Dubai. Dubai is big, difficult to navigate and a lot takes place in the malls. Abu Dhabi is more tranquil. There are parks along the Corniche and some very nice beaches. When you come to the UAE, don’t miss out on Abu Dhabi. Come to visit this little city for at least two days and it’ll win you over as well.

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