Welcome to Abu Dhabi
Proudly modern and cosmopolitan, this dynamic young capital seems to have ants in its pants with its rate of development. Swaths of beach and theme park thrills add family-friendly fun while the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosques jaw-dropping architecture and the new Louvre Abu Dhabis globe-trotting collection cement the citys reputation as the UAEs forward-thinking cultural heart.
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Abu Dhabi Top Sights
Global heritage under one roof.
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Abu Dhabi Top Sights
Islamic archi-tectures modern triumph.
ARCHITECT: YOUSEF ABDELKY. LUCIANO MORTULA - LGM/SHUTTERSTOCK
Abu Dhabi Top Sights
Close encounters with Emirati heritage.
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Abu Dhabi Top Sights
A city-centre nature escape.
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Abu Dhabi Top Sights
An urban playground and promenade.
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Abu Dhabi Top Sights
Monumental memorial to Sheikh Zayed.
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Abu Dhabi Top Sights
Get your Gulf glitz on.
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Abu Dhabi Top Sights
World-famous Formula One circuit.
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Abu Dhabi Top Sights
A futuristic sustainable city experiment.
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Abu Dhabi Top Sights
Modern architecture and a dining hub.
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Eating
Seafood, Middle Eastern, Indian, Thai and Peruvian. Multicultural Abu Dhabi offers everything from cheap biryanis and eat-on-the-go shawarma to fine dining from across the world. The traditional Gulf dishes of Emirati culture can be more difficult to search out, but theres a handful of options among the wealth of international offerings.
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Where to Eat
Abu Dhabis top fine-dining restaurants tend to be found in the five-star hotels and newer shopping malls. Al Maryah Island is fast becoming one of the major destinations for dining in style. In contrast, the streets one block south of Zayed the First St present a geography of regional cuisine from Syria to Yemen.
What to Eat
Abu Dhabi is a great city for sampling classic Middle Eastern food, despite the fact that it hails from the Levant, not from the Gulf. This usually involves small hot and cold dishes (mezze) such as hummus, moutabel (pure of aubergine) and sambusak (cheese-filled pastries), which are enjoyed over long chats and with a watermelon juice to aid digestion. This is followed by rice and meat in various preparations with unleavened bread. Dessert is an afterthought.
Best Middle Eastern Flavours
Fine-dining Levantine style. The place to come for mezze.
Families flock here for good-value mezze, shawarma and kebab plates.
Some of the crispiest falafel and creamiest hummus in town.
The Middle Eastern menu in this villa bounces from Marrakesh to Istanbul.
Best Traditional Gulf Tastes
Emirati cuisine gets a fine-dining makeover in the Emirates Palace.
Despite the tack-o-rama facade, this place dishes up the best classic Gulf dishes in town.
Contemporary twists on Emirati flavours.
Tuck into traditional stews and seafood dishes amid Middle Eastern decor.
Best International Dining
Peruvian cuisine with contemporary flourishes.
All the dim sum a person could want.
Dig into the menu of richly spiced Indian curries.
A menu infused with the fragrant flavours of Southeast Asia.
Best Friday Brunch
A globe-trotting foodie bonanza from oysters to Wagyu beef at the Ritz-Carlton.
Italian flavours, beach dune views and a wandering saxophonist to boot.
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