Abu Dhabi: Exploring the Modern Marvels of the UAE’s Capital

Abu Dhabi: 

While Dubai maybe the most well-known city in the United Arab Emirates, its second highest populated city of Abu Dhabi is actually the capital. Many people choose to spend their time is the luxurious “city of gold” surrounded by the skyscrapers that make up Dubai’s skyline. However it’s only a two hour drive or train ride to the desert to explore this wonderful capital city. 

We unfortunately had limited time and only spent one day in Abu Dhabi this trip, but it was enough to know that I would love to return and explore it properly! With that being said here  are the main highlights from our day trip to Abu Dhabi. 

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Accommodation:

We only visited for a day trip from Dubai, so personally we do not have any recommendations for hotels. However you can find anything you are looking for here:

Sites:

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque:

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque represents a key fixture of the city’s architectural patrimony. Its construction was initiated under the administration of the late President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He was a key figure in the foundation of the modern UAE. The mosque was constructed with materials from countries around the world, including Italy, Germany, Morocco, Pakistan, India, Turks-, Iran, China, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Greece and of course the United Arab Emirates. 

Tours:

There are many options for entering the mosque. You can I go with a group, a tour or as an individual. Depending if you are staying in the city or traveling from outside (perhaps Dubai) the prices for the transportation and entry fee can differ. For us, we spent ~€35 per person for our day trip from Dubai. 

Clothing:

Many people know that the UAE is a more conservative country and different rules apply to men versus women. While men are allowed to enter the mosque wearing shorts and a T-shirt, women need to be covered from head to toe. This means, no hair, no wrist, no ankles showing. I thought I was prepared with my maxi dress, long sleeve cover and head scarf. However a few centimeters of my wrist and ankles were deemed to be “showing”. I was quickly escorted to the shop nearby selling the traditional Abaya.

Now, I want to be clear that we of course want to be respectful of their culture. However it would feel dishonest not to say this almost felt like a tourist “tax”. The tour guide was sending every female in our group into the shop no matter what they wore. If even a smidge of skin was showing you had to buy one.

Rules:

While inside the mosque there are many rules you need to be aware of. Men and women are not allowed to touch. This means AT ALL. The workers in the mosque are very strict. They will not hesitate to scold you if you make any gestures, hand symbols, or “pose” for photos. Any of the photos you see me with my hand holding the hood was simply to keep the wind from blowing it off and exposing my hair. Even this, they weren’t a fan of. My advice is try to keep your hands by your sides as much as possible. 

YAS marina:

We made a quick stop at the YAS Marina as well before heading back to Dubai. The island occupies a total land area of 25 km2 (9.7 sq mi). It is a popular leisure island and one of the top tourism projects in Abu Dhabi. 

Other sites:

• Emirates Palace
• YAS mall
• Ferrari World 

I hope to make it back to the Middle East soon, and would love to spend more time in the capital city of Abu Dhabi, so stay tuned for more to come. 

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