Cruising through the desert on the E11 at 140 km/h, it only takes a mere 1-1.5 hours drive to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi (city). Often a little more conservative and quieter than Dubai, Abu Dhabi still has many attractions to visit, from theme parks to museums and the glittering palaces. (This is a compilation of several trips over the last few years)

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

This mosque was completed in 2007, and was inspired by Sheikh Zayed’s desire to combine different styles of Islamic architecture. It is one of the largest (if not the largest) mosques in the world, and allows visitors freely. (*The mosque, as are all mosques, is currently closed due to COVID-19).

If you have the chance, I highly recommend a visit, just be sure to bring an abaya and head scarf as a woman, and to make sure that shoulders and knees are covered for men. (If you do not have appropriate clothing, you will be given something to cover yourself more modestly.)

When you arrive, go through gate 6, where you will find parking. You will walk through a shopping centre before registering for the free admission (keep the ticket, if you want to look into the interior of the grand mosque, which houses the largest prayer rug, made in Iran).

My personal recommendation is to go in the late afternoon, just before sunset, so that you can see the mosque both in the daylight (sparkling white), and also at night (when it is lit up). There are many places to take pictures for the best shot!

Qasr al Watan (National Palace)

I have now been to the Palace twice, and each time, the mosaic tiles and gold detailing is amazing. The second time I went, there were measures in place to take our temperature etc. When you arrive, you will start at the visitors centre, where you can get your tickets before catching a bus to the actual palace. (*If you are a teacher, you can use your ID for a 50% discount on tickets. I only tried with a UAE teacher card though, so I don’t know if it works with international teaching IDs).

Depending on the weather, you can admire the exterior first, before heading through the massive doors. The main colours of the palace are white, gold and blue. I think it was to represent the natural colours of the landscape (sun, sea and sand), but I could be wrong. Once inside, be prepared to be amazed by mosaic tile work and shiny surfaces. Once you have admired the Grand Hall, you can go through the library, view the dining hall and see the Presidential gifts.

 

Mangrove National Park

Although this area has had a lot of construction lately, it is always a nice little getaway to pretend that you are out of the city. I have tried both stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), and kayaking. I would recommend kayaking, since the tide and the wind can make the SUP quite difficult to maneuver. There is also a beach area where you can stop for a break or some lunch.

I haven’t actually been back since the official national park opened with the boardwalk, but hopefully it is still nice!

Corniche

After you leave Emirates Palace, or Qasr Al Watan, you can drive down the corniche. There is parking available if you want to take a walk, or go to the beach (there are both paid and free sections of the beach). There are also many little restaurants and cafes that you can stop at. We had coffee at the Third Place Cafe, which had a really chill vibe, and I recommend checking it out. The staff was also very friendly!

The Louvre Abu Dhabi

On Saadiyat Island, you can find the Louvre Abu Dhabi. They have both a permanent exhibit and temporary exhibits. I would recommend going a couple of times to experience the permanent exhibits, since I found that after half the rooms, I was losing focus.

Check out their website to know what the temporary exhibit is. When I was there, it was Japanese art, which was quite cool. Also, as a teacher, you can get a discount on your entrance here as well.

Warner Bros World/Yas Island

Lastly, if you want to have some indoor, air conditioned fun, you can head to Yas Island for the themed rides. When we went, the lines weren’t too bad. It is pretty impressive that they can fit roller coasters in an indoor space! They also combine video and interactive elements to make the rides more fun. Personally, I enjoyed Dynamite Gulch, Cartoon Junction and Bedrock. (*currently closed due to covid-19).

While you are on the island, you can also go to Yas Mall, and Ferrari World (although I haven’t been there).