TOUCH DOWN
Etihad Airways is the local airline, with flights morning, noon and night from Heathrow. British Airways has a single daily departure from Heathrow.
The airport, almost 20 miles east of the city centre, is connected by the 901 bus that leaves from outside the terminal every 40 minutes; the fare is three dirhams, or NZ$1. The journey time to the downtown Old Fish Market is 45 minutes. A taxi will cost around $25.
GET YOUR BEARINGS
The discovery of oil here in the late 1950s changed Abu Dhabi's course from that of sleepy fishing hub to busy metropolis. The capital is formed from more than 200 tightly packed islands close to the mainland, with the heart of the city on one of the largest it is a grid of wide boulevards, lined with skyscrapers more reminiscent of Manhattan than the Middle East.
To the east, across the Khalifa Bridge, is Saadiyat Island. Bold developments are under way to transform it into a cultural district by 2020. The complex will have its own Louvre (due to open in 2015) with the Guggenheim, designed by Frank Gehry, set to follow two years later. At the moment, there is just a sprinkling of resorts to be found here.
There are six tourist information centres, including branches at the airport and inside the 200-year-old Al Maqtaa Fort, found near the Al Maqtaa Bridge.
CHECK IN
The five-star St Regis (3) opened on Saadiyat Island a year ago. This sprawling resort of 337 rooms features a golf course and a beach frequented by nesting hawksbill turtles between April and July. Doubles from $430, including breakfast.
Despite the name, the best asset of the Beach Rotana isn't its small stretch of shoreline but its central location. Situated on 10th Street, it offers easy access to all the downtown attractions. Doubles from $342, including breakfast.
Design fans will feel at home at the Aloft Hotel inside the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Sleek rooms with walk-in showers and marina views, are available from $98, room only.
DAY ONE
TAKE A VIEW
Set to open this month, the Observation Deck on the 74th storey in one of the five Etihad Towers is the place to go to get acquainted with Abu Dhabi. Open 10am-7pm daily, admission $23.
TAKE A HIKE
Stretching for 3km and dotted with palm trees, the Corniche makes a good starting point. Wander west with the sandy shores to your right and gleaming skyscrapers across the road. The blue-flag beach is patrolled by lifeguards and its worth taking a dip. In the distance are the domes of the Emirates Palace, one of the most lavish hotels in the city.
Veer right, towards the national flag of the UAE proudly billowing beside the port, and youl'l soon reach the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village. Among the cluster of stone buildings, designed to replicate a traditional village, are a museum with exhibits of old Bedouin culture and a mosque that travellers are welcome to visit. Open from 9am to 5pm Saturday to Thursday, 3.30pm to 9pm on Fridays, free entry.
LUNCH ON THE RUN
Within the village is Al Asalah, an eatery serving good Emirati staples such as nakkhi (chick peas cooked with cumin) and balaleet (noodles with egg). Mains from $4.
WINDOW SHOPPING
The Abu Dhabi Mall on 9th Street has three floors lined with luxury shops, department stores and coffee shops. Open 10am to 11pm on Thursday, 3.30pm-11pm on Friday, and 10am-10pm on other days. Visit the Emirati take on a hypermarket, the Abu Dhabi Co-op.
For a more local flavour and photo opportunities head to the Iranian Market in Al Meena. A short walk away is the fruit and veg section where most of the stalls specialise in dates, some selling more than 50 varieties from Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East. Open 6am to midnight daily.
An aperitif
Alcohol is served only in hotels and associated bars such as Left Bank at Souk Qaryat Al Beri. Choose one of the 40 signature cocktails the Mangorissima (rum, mango puree, red chilli, citrus liqueur) is recommended at $14. A Dim Sum platter of nibbles is $39.
From the outdoor terrace you can see Abu Dhabis star attraction: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest in the UAE.
DINING WITH THE LOCALS
Mezlai (reservations essential) inside the Emirates Palace on West Corniche Road is said to be one of the first restaurants in the UAE to serve local cuisine. The star dish $37 is chicken medfoun, in which the bird is wrapped in banana leaves before being roasted.
The no-frills restaurant Lebanese Flower at 17 Salam St makes a bold claim by describing its shawarmas (grilled meat in a flatbread wrap) as the best in town; the locals who pile in here seem to agree. Don't miss the homemade hummus, either. Mains from $14.
DAY TWO
SUNDAY MORNING: GO TO THE MOSQUE
With 82 white marble domes and four slender minarets sparkling under the sky, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a sight to behold. Named after the UAE's first president, who is buried within the complex, this mosque of Italian glass mosaics and hand-woven Persian carpets can accommodate more than 40,000 worshippers at once.
Open 9am to 9pm daily (Fridays from 4.30pm), admission free. Guided tours take place throughout the day including at 10am and 11.30am on Sundays. Dress respectfully. On arrival, women are provided with head coverings and full-length black robes.
OUT TO BRUNCH
Owner Aida Mansoor has filled the Caf Arabia (open 7am to 10.30pm daily) on 15th Street near Al Karama Street with vibrant local art and comfortable armchairs. The Arabian breakfast of ful medames (fava beans mashed with garlic and parsley) with feta cheese and olives at $18 is the perfect way to start the day. The coffee is good and strong, too.
A WALK IN THE PARK
Across the road are the Mushrif Khalifa Gardens, a pleasant patch of greenery that attracts local birdwatchers. Several species, including a number of warblers, wagtails and pipits, have been spotted.
ORNITHOLOGICAL AFTERNOON
As the national emblem of the UAE, falcons have been highly prized for centuries. See these exquisite birds of prey up close at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital. Since opening in 1999, it has won acclaim for its pioneering work. Two-hour interactive tours take place at 10am and 2pm every Sunday to Thursdays, costing $57.
TAKE A RIDE
Formula 1 arrived in Abu Dhabi in 2009 with much fanfare and proved an instant hit. The Grand Prix took place here earlier this month, but the Yas Marina Circuit is open all year round and offers adrenalin junkies the chance to go for a spin. Drives cost from $397.
- INDEPENDENT
