ABU DHABI
The Grand Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a treat for the senses, most of all, your sense of wonder. The mosque, named after the founding father of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is one of the largest in the world. Under its 82 domes, it can house over 40 000 worshippers, most of them on the largest Persian rug in the world. Huge Swarovski chandeliers, plated in 24-carat gold, hang like bright, colourful flowers from the ceiling and you find yourself dropping to a whisper as you walk beneath them.
You have to take your shoes off before you enter and though you can keep your socks on, don’ t. Walk through this wonder barefoot to feel the cool marble tiles and soft carpet on your skin.
Saadiyat Island
Saadiyat is dedicated to cultural attractions. Well, mostly. There’ s the large exhibition and visitor centre, Manarat Al Saadiyat, with two galleries hosting non-permanent exhibitions and a permanent one on the island’ s past and future.
A Louvre Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum are under construction. The Louvre, once completed at the end of this year, will span 9 200 square metres and will display many works of art for which there is no space at the Paris museum.
The island also has a public beach where you can dip in the Gulf, several holiday resorts and a Gary Player golf course sitting like a bright green blob of paint almost at its centre.
Brunch is big in Abu Dhabi and the St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort recently won the title of Best Brunch in the UAE. If you’ re in the city on a Friday, visit the St Regis Saadiyat to fill your to fill your hump with both cultural and culinary delights.
Yas Island
At the other side of the attraction spectrum, but only 20 minutes by taxi from Saadiyat, lies Yas Island, dedicated to adventure and outdoor activities. It is here where you’ ll find the famous Ferrari World theme park and Abu Dhabi’ s Formula 1 racetrack.
You’ ve probably noticed superlatives like‘ biggest’,‘ highest’ or‘ longest’ feature in descriptions of things built in the UAE. True to form, Ferrari World is the biggest indoor theme park in the world and home to the world’ s fastest roller coaster, Formula Rossa. You know you’ re in trouble when you’ re asked to hand in all loose objects at the entry gate. And when you’ re handed a pair of tight plastic goggles before you board, your heart beats like Jenson Button’ s on the final straight.
The metal snake rips away to reach a tunnel-visioninducing 240 km / h and a g-force of 4.8. It’ s so fast, most people forget to scream, ending instead with action photos that look as though they were snapped in a wind tunnel.
There’ s a long list of other attractions at Ferrari World, ranging from a Ferrari Gallery( yes, the world’ s largest outside Italy) to more rides, restaurants and a climbing gym for small children. Next door is a huge mall with plenty of international brands and eateries.
40 Travel Update | issue 9