TRAVEL INSPIRATION
BY KUONI
5 REASONS ABU DHABI WILL SURPRISE YOU Kuoni share with us the top 5 reasons to visit Abu Dhabi
Since its understated early beginnings as a simple Bedouin village, a mixture of investment and imagination has evolved Abu Dhabi into one of the world’ s most exciting destinations.
Whether you’ re seeking thrills and adventure or looking for luxury and relaxation, Abu Dhabi caters for you. To prove it, Kuoni take a closer look and share with you their top 5 reasons to visit.
1. The Culture With a modern skyline not too dissimilar to Manhattan, you’ d forgiven for not knowing about Abu Dhabi’ s rich cultural heritage. The people of the Emirate are proud of their history, firmly rooted in Arabic traditions. You can see these traditions in all their authentic beauty by visiting the local Souks, bustling market places where cultures old and new collide to create a unique sensory shopping experience. The soon to open Louvre Abu Dhabi, the centerpiece of the emirate’ s contemporary cultural ambitions, will set Saadiyat Island’ s cultural district apart. Louvre Abu Dhabi will be the forerunner to future developments of the Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, creating the largest concentration of world-renowned cultural institutions and complementing the emirate’ s deep-rooted cultural heritage. Another sight to behold is the Sheikh
Zayed Grand Mosque. Covering almost 30 acres and able to hold over 40,000 people, it is one of the world’ s largest places of worship. It was built over 10 years using a stunning combination of traditional and modern styles, from the Swarovski crystal chandeliers down to the world’ s largest hand knotted carpet. A visit to Abu Dhabi would not be complete without witnessing the nomadic traditions of the Bani Yas tribe. Experience The Oasis City Al Ain; this UNESCO Heritage site is known as Abu Dhabi’ s birthplace. Its lush greenery is a stark contrast to the nearby desert where you can visit an authentic Bedouin camp to get a true sense of the Emirate’ s humble beginnings.
2. The Adventure Abu Dhabi has built a reputation as a perfect destination for those in search of thrills and excitement on their holiday. From diving deep in the Arabian Gulf to flying high in a hot air balloon, there are a plethora of experiences to get your heart racing. Travel outside of the sprawling city and you will witness a seemingly endless landscape of sand dunes. This is Rub’ al Khali(‘ Empty quarter’), the largest sand desert on Earth. Explore this vast wilderness in a 4x4 safari and go dune-bashing for the adrenaline ride of your life. Alternatively, surf the sand for a ski experience that’ s a little warmer than the Alps would offer. Perhaps one of the best known attractions in United Arab Emirates is Ferrari
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