Visit the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village
Located on the Breakwater near the Corniche and Marina Mall, The Abu Dhabi Heritage Village is set in gorgeous gardens and boasts a mock souk, traditional mosque, a recreated Bedouin encampment and a barasti house. Workshops are held where you can watch craftsmen making pots, blowing glass, beating brass and weaving on traditional looms.
Visit the UAE University Natural History Museum
Operated by the UAE University in Al Ain, this incredibly educational museum and information centre is also known as the Museum of Living Resources. Exhibits you must take in on a trip include a herbarium (plant specimens) and collections of various species of animals and birds. Collections of rocks, minerals and fossils are also on display. Fee AED50.
Sun-Thu 8am-2pm. Al Ain University (03 713 3381).
Admire the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The awe inspiring Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a lesson in the superlative. Sitting on a site the size of five football fields it can accommodate 40,960 worshippers. Its columns are clad with more than 20,000 marble panels inlaid with semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli, red agate, amethyst, abalone shell and mother of pearl. There are four 107 metre minarets, reflective pools, coloured floral marble and mosaics and the world’s largest chandelier. It’s an awe inspiring building and a must see for all those visiting Abu Dhabi.
Sat - Thurs 9am-10pm | Note: The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is closed for tourism activities (and open for worship) on Friday morning and opens again after 4:30pm.
Visit the Women's Handicraft Centre
If you have an interest in traditional crafts, the government-run Women's Handicraft Centre, in the Women's Union building, is definitely worth an hour of your time. Start with the displays of traditional weaving, costumes, textiles, camel bags and crafts in the Exhibition Hall; there are some products for sale in a small shop here. Then head to the eight workshops out the back where covered old local ladies sit on the floor, gossiping and laughing (and totally oblivious to the German and French tour groups), as they demonstrate their crafts of saddu, talli, textile weaving, embroidering, tailoring, basket-weaving, palm-tree frond weaving, and henna. Take off your shoes before entering the rooms and leave them outside.
Male travellers should keep in mind that while you're welcome, in the local culture only male relatives would get this close to women; you should keep some distance out of respect, don't take photos without asking first, and then focus on photographing the crafts rather than the women.
Sun-Thu 7am-3pm. Karama St, Al Mushrif near the Immigration Office and the Royal Stables (02 447 6645).
The Emirates National Auto Museum is an amazing private collection of H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan. The collection houses a vast array of cars and other vehicles; some seemingly bought from owners there and then, such as a customised camper van, others received as presents from all around the world. While some have been kept as originally intended, others have been modified to suit the Sheikh's preference.
Open daily 8am-1am, 2pm-6pm. The Emirates National Auto Museum near Hafeen (02 667 6999).
Soak in the history at Liwa Forts
If you’re heading out to the desert oasis of Liwa in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, you should make a concerted effort to visit the nine ancient forts in the area. The dusty ramparts make for perfect picture opportunities to impress your friends back home, though finding them can be difficult.
Near Mezaira, Western Region, Abu Dhabi.
Read some books
Head to the National Library and choose from 18,000 books, DVDs and CDs that you can hire for free.
Airport Rd (02 657 6034).
Enjoy the Corniche Seaside
Enjoy This Seaside
A
leisurely stroll along the Abu Dhabi Corniche is one of the best things
to do when you travel to Abu Dhabi. This seaside boardwalk is 4 miles
long. The walkways are paved and dotted with benches, gardens and
amazing views of the Arabian Gulf.
It is a great spot for an evening walk (when its a bit cooler). The corniche is well lit and quite safe. You can easily walk from many of the Corniche hotels to Marina Mall and Heritage Village by following the Corniche pathways.
Don't miss out on a visit to the beaches along the Abu Dhabi Corniche. The free beach is open to anyone. - See more at: http://www.yourabudhabiguide.com/corniche.html#sthash.c5WNJ3D6.dpuf
A leisurely stroll along the Abu Dhabi Corniche is one of the best things to do when you travel to Abu Dhabi. This seaside boardwalk is 4 miles long. The walkways are paved and dotted with benches, gardens and amazing views of the Arabian Gulf.It is a great spot for an evening walk (when its a bit cooler). The corniche is well lit and quite safe. You can easily walk from many of the Corniche hotels to Marina Mall and Heritage Village by following the Corniche pathways.
Don't miss out on a visit to the beaches along the Abu Dhabi Corniche. The free beach is open to anyone. - See more at: http://www.yourabudhabiguide.com/corniche.html#sthash.c5WNJ3D6.dpuf
It is a great spot for an evening walk (when its a bit cooler). The corniche is well lit and quite safe. You can easily walk from many of the Corniche hotels to Marina Mall and Heritage Village by following the Corniche pathways.
Don't miss out on a visit to the beaches along the Abu Dhabi Corniche. The free beach is open to anyone.
