Why Abu Dhabi Deserves a Spot on Your Middle East Itinerary—A Place of Fascinating Attractions

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), for most travellers from the West, is associated with cities like Dubai. However, if you have not explored its capital, Abu Dhabi, you are missing out on a lot of exotic attractions like glitzy hotel stays, futuristic architecture, and heritage sites. While Dubai is more of a modern hub catering to tourists' needs, Abu Dhabi is a time capsule and modern holiday destination rolled into one. It's a place that will enthral you with its past grandeur and desert allure, so if you want to know more, check out this article on why Abu Dhabi deserves a spot on your Middle East itinerary.

Explore the Presidential Palace

This is nothing like official government complexes you may know of; the Presidential Palace, or Qasr Al Watan, in Abu Dhabi, is a luxurious complex that embodies the elegance of Arabic lifestyles. The place is huge, sporting traditional architecture complete with a domed ceiling, while the interior is beautifully inlaid with marble columns and floors. Giant chandeliers hang from the domed ceilings, twinkling against mirrored backdrops as though they are clusters of diamonds, while the exterior is complete with well-manicured gardens, making you feel as though you are in the palace of a sultan from a 1001 Arabian Nights story. It's all very magical, especially the light shows that take place at night. This top attraction in Abu Dhabi is open from 11 a.m to 6.30 p.m. You can learn more about booking a tour and ticket prices by visiting the official website of Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi.

Discover the Rustic Allure of Sir Bani Yas Island

This one is not to be missed if you love nature and rugged surroundings. Sir Bani Yas Island is a wildlife reserve that is home to free-roaming desert animals as well as cheetahs, giraffes, and gazelles. The island is known for its rugged beauty, home to salt dome hillsides and desert surroundings. The waters of the Arabian Gulf that surround the island are loved for their thrills of scuba diving, snorkelling, and kayaking, for enjoying some of the best activities in Abu Dhabi, including safaris into the wilds. You can even visit the archaeological sites comprising a Christian monastery, which lay buried beneath the desert sands for centuries. Due to its huge popularity as a tourist attraction in Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island is home to renowned hotel chains, like Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort. The hotels on Sir Bani Yas Island co-exist amongst the rustic wilderness of the island, without causing any intrusion to nature. For example, some resorts feature private villas and pools that seamlessly merge with the lush savannah on the island. Well worth a visit and perhaps a stay, Sir Bani Yas Island, a top attraction in Abu Dhabi, will certainly leave you in awe of Abu Dhabi's natural beauty.

Visit the Louvre in Abu Dhabi

Quite unlike the original in Paris, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is a futuristic building that itself is a work of art. The museum is located on Saadiyat Island and is known as "France's largest cultural project abroad". As such, the museum has earned the right to use the name 'Louvre' until 2047, so you may want to get there before changes take place. Displaying a mix of Eastern and Western artworks, the museum is said to celebrate creativity across the globe. You can explore the museum's website to learn more about current exhibitions and displays, as well as ticket costs. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is tipped to be joined by three other world-renowned museums soon, including a Guggenheim, all of which will be housed at the same location. 

Photo by Diego F. Parra

Feed Your Creativity

Abu Dhabi's mix of culture and modernity makes it a great subject for photographers, whether you are a seasoned professional with a fancy camera, or someone with a smartphone and an active social media account you want to fire up. You will find inspiration in not only the modern architecture that adorns the streets of Abu Dhabi, but also in the traditional neighbourhoods that still cling to the old ways. The people, too, are great subjects to photograph; just make sure you ask for permission first. Also, if you choose to stay at desert resorts in Abu Dhabi, like those on Sir Bani Yas Island, you will have endless opportunities to capture the rustic surroundings and exotic wildlife.