9 things that any visitor to Abu Dhabi should do

09.03.2024 - 08:59 / lonelyplanet.com

It’s no secret that visitors to the United Arab Emirates associate the country more with sizzling Dubai than stately Abu Dhabi. Yet the UAE’s capital has never been one to chase pizzazz.

Instead, Abu Dhabi has taken initiatives that emphasize heritage and culture, as well as family-friendly offerings such as theme parks. With easy access to beaches, mangroves and a gorgeous swathe of desert aptly known as the Empty Quarter, there’s plenty for nature enthusiasts here, too.

It’s true that Abu Dhabi is noticeably conservative, especially when compared to Dubai. But don’t let that deter you: it doesn’t take long to realize that the city is as ambitious as it is tradition-oriented, a mix that leaves newcomers wanting more.

Here are nine can’t-miss experiences that will show you the best of Abu Dhabi.

Among Abu Dhabi’s many architectural wonders, none enraptures visitors quite like Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Occupying a site the size of four football fields, it can accommodate up to 40,000 worshippers and hosts millions of visitors every year. Despite the footfall, a sense of serenity always obtains – a mood accentuated by the lilting call to prayer that reverberates through the air five times a day.

A team of artisans, architects and engineers from across the globe worked on the monument for 11 years, producing a monument that fuses Mughal, Ottoman and Persian architectural influences. Gold-leaf spires, gilded chandeliers and columns inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones like amethyst lend a sense of opulence.

Visitors can explore the premises solo or with a guide. We recommend arriving late in the afternoon, when you can linger long enough to see the four minarets and 82 domes – all clad in gleaming white marble – bathed in the blue-tinted late-afternoon light.

Detour: Directly opposite the mosque, Wahat Al Karama (Oasis of Dignity) is another architectural feat whose award-winning centerpiece, The Memorial, features 31 aluminum-clad panels that lean against each other to symbolize unity. The Memorial Plaza is where you’ll find the ultimate view of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: behind a shallow pool of water that reflects it beautifully.

This interfaith complex features three houses of worship representing the shared values of the three Abrahamic religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism – a celebration of the spirit of tolerance that governs everyday life in the Emirates. A meeting in 2019 between Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb inspired the project, which features the first synagogue built in the Middle East (outside of Israel) in nearly 100 years.
 
Each of the three cubic sanctuaries is equal in scale, respecting the equality of the faiths they represent. Subtle architectural details – an