Must see/do in Abu Dhabi

[artylady14]

We are off to Abu Dhabi next month for a week. Is there anything I must/see or do while I am over there? I know about the Ferrari World - myself I could give it a miss but if my husband wants to go is that worth the money. We are thinking of visit Dubai one afternoon til the evening - didnt want to go on holiday there as I think its too built up/busy. I love going out on a boat and would like to see something cultural too. Thanks

we took a boat from the Yas Marina to the mangroves - had a conservationist on the boat, and got a little tour around the mangroves, a swim with dolphins nearby - very nice trip and was good for kids too. The company was something like Tony's boats? (we booked through the Hyatt, and it was their conservation lady - arabella??? - who was the guide).

Also loved the falconry show out in the desert which we did from the desert hotel we stayed in, but I"m sure it can be done from the city too. Enjoy... wish I was going back!

Not sure if you have children but my DC loved the water park.

Dubai:-

Water fountains at Dubai Mall, they're in twice during the day, then every half hour in the evening.
Atlantis Hotel - huge aquarium and extensive public access areas

Abu Dhabi:-

Best beaches are at Saadiyat Island, the others while beautiful are generally man made and so not many waves.

Rays Bar at Jumeirah Towers - best view in Abu Dhabi

Afternoon tea at the Emirates Palace, or even just go in for a drink or coffee.

Grand mosque is staggeringly beautiful and fascinating.

Water Park on Yas Island, right next to Ferrari World.

Coaches to Dubai run every fifteen minutes and are very luxurious, much cheaper than a cab.

I will be in Abu Dhabi next week too . Can't wait. Love it there and visit loads.

The water fountains are right next to The Burj Khalifa so you'll get to see that too. Lovely fish restaurants where you can sit and eat and watch the water dancing.

Oh and book a Friday Brunch at one of the hotels, tons of amazing food and you can have it with alcohol or without. Also bear in mind that weekend starts on Friday back to work Sunday, so would avoid going to Dubai at the weekend, it's painfully busy.

Wow, thanks for all this information!
Nickifury - the coaches to Dubai, where do we pick them up from? We are staying opposite the Grand Mosque so will definitely go and see it.

We plan to go to Dubai mid-afternoon one day (if too hot to go earlier) and come back at the end of the evening. Will go to the mall and not sure what else yet.

It's a two hour journey to Dubai from Abu Dhabi. Personally I would go earlier, while it's cooler, spend the middle of the day inside in the malls, or hotel bars or restaurants . Are you taking kids? All the malls have indoor play areas with mini roller coasters and even ice skating rinks in them. The bus goes from Abu Dhabi bus station.

Mall wise they're all pretty much the same but if you want a more authentic experience try the Meena Mall in Abu Dhabi. The rest are absolutely massive and have pretty much all the shops you will recognise from the UK and many from the US with many Arabic shops too.

Most of the hotels have bars and even English style "Pubs" in them, it is totally usual for non residents to use the hotel bars so don't feel worried about going into pretty much any of the big hotels you see.

You can also do dining cruises along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi, they are non alcoholic though. Some are traditional dhows. Get yourself signed up to Abu Dhabi Groupon, some great deals on there, including the cruises.

Definitely visit the Grand Mosque, it's gorgeous and fascinating. I'd avoid Ferrari World, it's not that great. You can do a tour around the F1 track which is more interesting IMO.

I have heard that Ferrari World isn't that great too. I will go to the Meena Mall. I dont really need to go and see loads of English shops on a brief holiday, as you say, but would love to see Arabic shops and souks. We are staying at the Fairmont Bab al Bahr and I believe some souks are walking distance. No idea what a dhow is. Will look all this up!

Sorry, where do you get a coach to Dubai from in Abu Dhabi?

Abu Dhabi bus station. You'll need to get a taxi there.

Great, thanks! I'm really looking forward to it now.

This a great mall too, not as big as some of the others but has a souk attached world trade centre mall. All of the malls have Arabic shops in them, usually a whole floor .

Do try to go to the Emirates Palace for a drink though, it's where SATC2 was filmed (not that that is much to recommend it!) and it's just amazing in there.

I loved the hotel bits in SATC2 - it seemed unreal! Will definitely try and have a drink there. I tried to find links to Meena Mall but couldnt - will ask at the hotel. Thanks a lot, you have been very helpful!

For the difference in time taken on a bus as opposed to a cab, I'd pay the difference TBH - a taxi will be around 35 quid each way (DH did it to and from work today - we live near the airport and he works near Mall of the Emirates and is was less than 30 quid each way, and we're about a fiver from the grand mosque). The bus is dirt cheap, but it'll take 2 hours for a journey that'll be 1 hr 15 or so, as bus speeds are limited on the highway. I wouldn't worry about the temperatures for going up to Dubai - you're unlikely to be outside much

Depending on how old you all are, try the mangrove kayaking through www.noukhada.ae

The boat company Tranmere mentioned is Captain Tony's (he's an architect who bought a boat - really nice guy)

The brunch at the Fairmont is really good. The souk (arabic type shops) that you've heard are close will be Souk Qaryat Al Beri at the Shangri La - its arabic style but a tourist development.

Thanks for that info, SteveBrucesNose. It's really helpful to know all that. I was hoping to go to a real souk but they all sound like modern shopping developments!

Glad the Fairmont brunch is good as I dont think I am that bothered about going to see other hotels' food as I am sure it is all great.

I want to go to a great beach. I believe the best is at Sadiyat Island?