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A Glimpse at Abu Dhabi |
During the time that the cities in the Middle East were being
developed, it seems as if Abu Dhabi has taken a backseat to Dubai in
terms of the attention that the world is giving it. Although Dubai
at the time had ultra-modern developments, Abu Dhabi was actually
not far behind.
Today, you will find that Abu Dhabi has turned into a world-class
luxury travel and business destination. So if you’re paying a visit
to this part of the globe, you should definitely make a pit stop to
Abu Dhabi.
An Introduction to Abu Dhabi
As you may already know, Abu Dhabi is one of the seven emirates
which make up the United Arab Emirates which include Dubai, Sharjah,
Ajman, Umm al Quwain, Ra’s al Khaymah and Fujairah. Abu Dhabi is the
capital of the UAE, although Dubai is the most common entry point
for travelers.
CNN describes this sprawling Middle Eastern city as one of the
richest in the world, where there are plenty of green gardens,
parks, boulevards, high-rise buildings, luxurious malls and lavish
hotels.
Fifty years ago, Abu Dhabi was no more than a fishing village
interspersed with a few modern buildings. But over the years, the
city has turned into the dazzling modern tourist haven that it is
today. For those who would like to have a taste of a quieter part of
the Abu Dhabi, you can venture outside the city territory in Abu
Dhabi Emirate which covers more than half of the UAE. Here is where
you will find endless miles of desert extending into the borders of
Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar.
How Abu Dhabi has Spawned into a World-Class Luxury Vacation,
Shopping & Business Destination
So how did a former fishing village turn from a sleepy fishing
village into a city which perfectly describes the height of
modernity? Being the oil-rich country that it is, there are plenty
of resources to go around which resulted to a building of the
futuristic buildings within the area.
One of the top tourist drawers of Abu Dhabi is the fact that is has
plenty of duty-free shopping opportunities that shop-a-holics who
wouldn’t mind putting a huge dent on their credit cards couldn’t
resist.
Perhaps another thing about Abu Dhabi which draws tourists in is the
fact that the weather is hot and sunny all year long. If you’re
suffering from a miserable winter in your own country, fly off to
Abu Dhabi and you just might find the scorching heat of the desert
sun to be a welcome respite.
There are plenty of attractions to visit when you are in Abu Dhabi,
including the waterfront stretches in Corniche and the Khalifa Park.
Future and soon-to-be-finished constructions include the Saadiyat
Island, the Louvre Abu Dhabi which is set to open in 2012, the
Sheikh Zayed Mosque which is almost finished and the Lulu Islands.
Once you have finished a tour of Abu Dhabi, you can easily venture
out into Dubai which is a mere two hours away. Or, you can visit Al
Ain which is the UAE’s largest oasis, or have a glimpse of what an
Iranian tourist island looks like when you go to Kish Island.
There’s really no sight more spectacular than lush green gardens and
futuristic skyscrapers or manmade beaches amidst the Arabian desert
– which is why Abu Dhabi should be included as one of your places to
visit in this lifetime – no matter which part of the world it is
that you’re from.
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