Abu Dhabi Guide for Expats
This post provides you Abu Dhabi guide for expats and visitors. Everything in Abu Dhabi is advance, sleek, and bright. The United Arab Emirate´s capital is often cited of being a rather insensitive place, but this misunderstanding is a bit too far: it´s not exactly buzzing, and it may have more gloss than the atmosphere, but it does have its attractions.
Cultural Foundation in Abu-Dhabi
The Cultural Foundation comprises the National Archives, the National Library and the Institute of Culture and Art. All of these are housed in a modern, Islamic style building with many graceful arches, lush courtyards, and intricately decorated passageways.
Abu Dhabi Travel Guide
The foundation hosts exciting exhibits on local history and Islamic art as well as contemporary modern art exhibits, screenings of international film and video, theatre performances and classical music concerts.
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Abu Dhabi Travel Guide Book PDF
The Abu Dhabi’s travel guide book in pdf format can be downloaded from here. it is very useful to keep a copy of this book offline in your mobile device. This Abu Dhabi travel guide book will help you to get you a number of places around the city
Women´s Handicraft Centre in Abu-Dhabi
This is a government-run combination of handicrafts factory and museum where traditional products are made, displayed, and sold. You can walk through the workshop area and see the women busy at tasks that have been undertaken by generations of Bedouin women. There´s a shop, a pleasant cafe and a small museum with a scale model of Abu Dhabi circa 1959.
Old Souq in Abu-Dhabi
If you´re looking for a separation from the world of banks and boutiques that is modern Abu Dhabi, take a walk through what remains of the old souq (these days called the Central Market). Though nowhere near as atmospheric as the souqs in Dubai, it´s still worth a brief visit.
There´s also the fruit and vegetable souq close to the fish market at Dhow Wharf, and the nearby Iranian souq selling household goods on Al-Meena St.
Climate of Abu-Dhabi
Sunny/blue skies can be expected for the whole of the year. The months June – September are commonly tropical and humid with temperatures equating above 40°C (110°F). Throughout this time, sandstorms also occur intermittently, in some states subduing visibility down to a few meters. The climate is usually friendly from October – May. The weather from January to February is more relaxed and may necessitate the use of a light coat. This season also sees a dense haze on some days. On the other hand, the oasis city of Al Ain, about 150 km away, adjoining Oman, regularly estimates the highest summer temperatures in the region. However, the desert air and cooler evenings make it a traditional retreat from the acute summer heat and year-round humidity of the Abu Dhabi.
Transportation in Abu-Dhabi
Taxis are plentiful and cheap in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Individually registered taxis can be flagged down at the roadside.
Al Ghazal, NTC, and Fast Cars run fleets of upmarket cars and limos that can be booked in advance by telephone. Al Ghazal also operates bus services between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
Abu Dhabi Municipality operates a comprehensive and cheap network of bus routes. There is a regular 24-hour service linking Abu Dhabi International Airport and the city center. The Dhs.3 fare is paid when boarding, and route maps can be picked up inside the airport.
Map of Abu Dhabi
Attractions
Abu Dhabi City
The amazing Abu Dhabi’s location on a haven like an island makes it compact and convenient. It is easy to find your way around, and the city is fascinating to explore on foot, by hire car or by hopping in a taxi.
A busy metropolis of spectacular high-rise office towers, shopping malls, restaurants, and superb hotels, interspersed with gracious residential districts, the layout of the city even today reflects its origins as a fishing village. Abu Dhabi not only looks outwards to the blue waters of the Gulf, but many of the places of interest to visitors – and the main center of commercial activity lie within five blocks of the sea. This is also the area where the majority of the leading hotels are located and, given their proximity to the waterfront, – a beautiful sea view is almost guaranteed.
Abu Dhabi´s Islands
The emirate´s Gulf coastline is studded with more than 200 islands of various sizes, most of them flat, sandy and uninhabited. Island hopping is a favorite activity, and visitors can hire a boat and explore at will. Directly opposite the Corniche is Lulu Island, a sizeable human-made island protected from the sea by a breakwater.
Saadiyat-Island, to the east of the Corniche, is famous for weekend breaks and day trips. Its facilities include an entertainment hall, restaurant, water sports, a boat mooring facility and chalets for overnight stays. A massive planned development project will soon begin transforming the island into a major tourism hub.
Five kilometers south of the city is the privately-owned Futaisi-Island, whose ancient inhabitants used to supply sweet water and stone for building forts and Rulers´ houses on the main Abu Dhabi island. There are still signs of their existence, such as a historical mosque, graveyard, and several old wells.
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Sir Bani Yas-Island lies 250 km to the west of Abu Dhabi and has been transformed into a nature reserve. It is home to several indigenous and African species and runs an active conservation and breeding program. A visit to this island makes a fascinating excursion, but such trips currently have to be arranged through tour operators. A new hotel is under construction for completion soon.
Bahraini and Cut Islands are also favourite getaways, situated 40 minutes and 25 minutes by boat from Abu Dhabi Island respectively.
Entertainment in Abu-Dhabi
In the hotels, the range of bars is almost as varied as the restaurant scene. From sophisticated cocktail lounges with soft music to traditional British pubs, they cater to every taste.
Many hotels also have nightclubs, each with their character, serving different age groups and musical preferences. These include western-style clubs playing up-to-the-minute music, or for a more traditional experience, there are also Arabic venues featuring Middle Eastern bands and the ever-popular belly dancers.
It is also worth looking out for concerts taking place during your visit. Abu Dhabi is becoming an increasingly popular venue for top name international entertainers on tour, including singers, dance groups, opera companies, and stage troupes.
Restaurants in Abu-Dhabi
Abu Dhabi´s hotel restaurants cater not only for their guests but also attract residents, both UAE nationals and expatriates.
They offer a remarkable variety ranging from coffee shops to fine dining and specialty outlets. Just about every major international cuisine – French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, etc. – is represented, including of course restaurants where visitors can experience the dishes of the Arab world and the ambiance and traditions of local and regional dining.
But visitors should not hesitate to venture outside their hotels to sample the full range of dining experiences the emirate offers. Indeed, eating out is a great way to discover different areas and meet the cosmopolitan residents of Abu Dhabi.
Most of the familiar international fast-food chains are well represented, and there are many small, good value restaurants catering to residents. These include outlets selling shawarma, a favourite snack of grilled slices of lamb or chicken mixed with salad and rolled inside a pocket of Arabic bread. Visitors should note, however, that restaurants located outside the hotels are generally not permitted to serve alcohol (with a few exceptions such as the golf clubs).
Shopping in Abu-Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is a shopper´s paradise, and the range of products and prices is unbeatable. Whether you choose to flex your plastic in designer boutiques or haggle in the local souks, the emirate´s shopping options will not disappoint.
Gold is very competitively priced in Abu Dhabi, and there are many jewelry shops around town, with the most significant concentration of outlets in the Madinat Zayed Gold Market.
Favorite souvenir purchases include carpets, rugs and textiles from the region, including Iran, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan, Arabian coffee pots (the symbol of hospitality), prayer beads, shisha pipes, antique silver jewelry, khanjars (curved daggers), inlaid jewelry boxes, miniature dhows, brass items and traditional wooden furniture.
Recreation
Golf in Abu-Dhabi
For the keen golfer, Abu Dhabi offers several options, with top clubs boasting world-class facilities and the bonus of ideal weather conditions all year round. Courses are either grass, sand, or a mixture of the two.
The Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton (www.adgolfsheraton.com) features two 18-hole grass courses that will interest to all levels of golfer; the Garden Course even has a floodlit back nine, so players do not need to retire to the clubhouse when the sun goes down.
Traditional Sports in Abu-Dhabi
Camel racing remains a significant activity in Abu Dhabi and provides visitors with a unique opportunity to see this ancient – and highly competitive – sport at close quarters. Races are held on Thursday and Friday mornings during the winter months at the Al Maqam Camel Racetrack, 45km outside Abu Dhabi, and at Al Ain Camel Racetrack, with additional races often held on public holidays.
Besides watching camel racing, visitors to Abu Dhabi can also enjoy the memorable experience of riding the ´ship of the desert´ at specific heritage sites and on the desert-safaris organized by Abu Dhabi´s tour companies.
Another traditional activity still practiced is falconry, known as the ´sport of sheikhs´. Visitors can witness displays that illustrate the speed and precision of these majestic birds of prey and even have the chance to try the sport themselves.
Diving in Abu-Dhabi
The waters around the UAE are rich in a variety of marine and coral life, and it is fun to dive all-year-round in the warm seas. In addition to exotic marine life such as clownfish and seahorses, divers may be able to spot rays, moray eels, small sharks, barracuda, sea turtles, and much more.
Many good diving sites are easily accessible from Abu Dhabi, including wreck or Deepwater dives and reef dives. Visitors may also venture to the east coast to dive in the Gulf of Oman, and further north to explore the Musandam Peninsula.
Abu Dhabi´s numerous diving companies can organize all manner of trips from recreational snorkelling to dangerous scuba diving and provide training from beginner to instructor level. Several hotels and resorts also have their boats and equipment for guests to hire or borrow.
Watersports in Abu-Dhabi
With the warm, clear waters of the Arabian Gulf and year-round sunshine, it is no surprise that Abu Dhabi is the perfect destination for water sports enthusiasts. Sailing, water skiing, canoeing, jet-skiing, and windsurfing are all available through beach clubs, resorts or hotels.
