Abu Dhabi

Being on a trip to Dubai with a friend, we rented a car and decided to come and discover Abu Dhabi, just an hour’s drive from Dubai.

The city has grown significantly, largely due to oil revenues, since the 20th century. Today, Abu Dhabi has nearly 600,000 inhabitants and is the third largest city in the United Arab Emirates. It is the capital of the country.

Although the city is less known than its neighboring Dubai, it is richer because it has carefully monitored its growth and has relied heavily on the arts and preservation of the city’s heritage. It has a street course similar to Manhattan with wide avenues and plenty of green greenery.

In the city center there are a large number of skyscrapers, as well as other older buildings of a more modest size. It is a mixture of modernity and authenticity.

There are many things to discover in this city, including the world famous Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme park. There are plenty of future projects, ever more grandiose. I will introduce you to the main things to visit and see in the city of Abu Dhabi.

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque: This is the absolute must-see place in the city of Abu Dhabi, the place to visit absolutely. Magnificent and absolutely gigantic, this is the iconic building of Abu Dhabi. There are elements of Mamluk, Ottoman and Fatimid style. It was inaugurated in 2007 after 12 years of construction. Capable of containing 40,000 faithful, it is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates, and is dedicated to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

It is quite possible for non-Muslims to visit the Mosque, but be careful for women, you have to cover yourself.

La Corniche is an epic 6.5 km walk along the beach where you can stop to eat or enjoy the sun with stunning views of the city and the buildings.

Etihad Towers: This complex of 5 skyscrapers with a total area of more than 500,000 m² is 305 meters high and has 80 floors. It’s very impressive from the bottom. It is possible to climb to admire the city from the observation deck.

Emirates Palace: This 5-star hotel represents the luxury of the city of Abu Dhabi. Composed of 394 rooms, it has gardens absolutely sumptuous. The complex is open to visits, you can take pictures in front without any problem. We were even able to go inside, out of curiosity.

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