A Mix of International Influences Paired with Loyalty to its Heritage

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is a well-organized, dynamic, and lively city recognized for its impressive infrastructure, adventurous activities, luxurious hotels, vast desert, rich heritage, and stunning beaches with a picturesque waterside setting. This was a short stopover on our return home from a trip to Europe, and to be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect. This was a case of relying on our Sense of Adventure attitude and seeing what we uncover.

We were booked into the Sheraton Hotel, and as we walked into the foyer it felt like we had arrived at an Arabian palace furnished with expensive furniture, a grand staircase, large marble columns and archways for as far as the eye could see. This would have to be the grandest hotel I have ever stayed in and was worried for a moment that perhaps they had dropped us at the wrong hotel.

Upon arrival were given the opportunity to upgrade to the Royal Suite for a nominal fee. We had spent the past 4 weeks moving around Europe from one hotel to another and given the small cost we decided to indulge as we reached the end of our trip. It was enormous and gave us an authentic taste of the grandeur we were surrounded by at this amazing hotel.

No trip would be complete if I didn’t check out the local shopping. The Arabic word souk translates into market. For centuries Abu Dhabi has been a hub for trade and commerce. Shopping in Abu Dhabi is on a whole other level. In this ever-growing city, we found intimate souks, selling authentic wares and filling the air with the heady scent of spices. I found myself lured into stores lined with gold trinkets, cashmere scarves, jewelry, perfume and souvenirs all of which I wanted to bring home to remind me of my time in this exotic country. The quality was good and the prices reasonable so luckily there was still some luggage allowance left to accommodate the shopping I had done as I meandered from store to store searching through the treasures my head spinning from side to side not knowing what to look at next.

We crammed so much into this stopover, but an absolute must on the list was a desert sunset drive with a traditional dinner in a desert camp. We arranged this through Hala tours and were picked up in 4WD vehicle from our accommodation. Our first stop on the outskirts of the desert was an authentic camel farm where we had an up-close encounter with these very curious and friendly creatures! It was hot, dusty and smelly but worth every minute. The local camel farmer wanted to ensure we got some great selfies with his camels and despite not speaking a word of English he laughed along with us as we made the most of this hilarious experience.

The next part of the tour had us making our way deep into the desert landscape looking for that perfect spot to watch the sun go down. The experience of a desert safari and dune bashing is thrilling, exciting and absolutely sensational. The adrenaline rush and buzz of riding over ever-changing sand dunes and feel of being in the middle of a desert with nothing but sand all around you, is incomparable. While I seek out new adventures when I travel, I am by no means an adrenaline junky so there were many white knuckle, heart pounding moments during this part of the tour. It was exhilarating and I’m glad I did it, but I was also extremely relieved when we stopped, and I was able to get out of the car. Read more about this exhilarating Bucket List experience here.

Once the heart rate dropped, we spent some time exploring the immediate area climbing up and down the dunes as the sun started to set. There was more laughing as we tried to walk on the fine powdery sand and find some grip to take the next step. There were times where climbing on your knees was the only way to make any ground. When we sat back and took in our surroundings it was purely magical to be in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by sand for as far as the eye could see. It is a feeling that cannot be described but needs to be experienced to understand. The sunset itself was something out of this world and we all sat silently taking in the moment as daylight turned into night.

Our next stop on the tour was a Bedouin-inspired camp amid the dunes, where we could engage with some traditional Emirati activities on offer such as sand boarding, camel riding, henna painting and shisha smoking. No trip to the desert would be complete without a camel ride, and despite not being keen to allow the kids to smoke, they were making their way to the shisha tent before I could argue. It was quite an unusual feeling moving around the camp in the middle of nowhere. Given the twists and turns we made to reach this point in the desert it amazed me how our guide knew even which direction to take to get us back to our accommodation.

Persian rugs laid on the sand, cushions, couches, blankets, low tables, a tent with a bar, another one where bread was baked and at the BBQ, we could pick up grilled lamb chops, kofta, shish taouk, tiger prawns and veggies. We found a spot to indulge in the food on offer and enjoyed a traditional show which included Sufi men, who spin non-stop and dance with energetic movements, performing to Sufi music and the popular Arabic tradition of Belly Dancing. When the evening came to an end, we all reflected on what an amazing experience this had been. For any traveler with a Sense of Adventure this is a must on your bucket list!

To get a taste of Abu Dhabi we went on a half day tour of the city which included the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Here, people from all walks of life come together to take in the architecture’s beauty and gain a deeper understanding of religion and culture in the United Arab Emirates. The mosque is one of the world’s largest and was the vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – the Founding Father of the UAE. He envisaged the creation of a welcoming and cultural haven that inspires people from all backgrounds.

Even the construction was a cultural collaboration. The grand structure was designed and built by skilled teams from all over the world, including 1,300 Iranian artisans who hand-knotted the main prayer hall’s carpet – the world’s largest. On your journey through the marbled halls, you’ll see one-of-a-kind treasures, including gold-plated Swarovski chandeliers, the courtyard’s vast marble mosaic artwork and reflective pools that mirror some of the many amethyst-and-jasper-embedded columns. When you’re outside, look up to see the mosque’s four stunning minarets that proudly stand at 106 meters. For women entering the mosque you must be completely covered, and our guide had spare long black Abaya’s with a Shayla (head covering) we could borrow. The men and women entered through different doors and shoes taken off. No photo could truly show the grandeur and detail we witnessed moving through the mosque.

Our flight back to Australia wasn’t until later in the evening so we checked out of the hotel, stored our luggage and filled our day at Ferrari World. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is a mostly indoors theme park located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. It is the world’s first Ferrari-themed park and is the home of Formula Rossa, which has held the record for the world’s fastest roller coaster. You don’t have to be a Fromula 1 fan or car enthusiast to enjoy this theme park and there is plent to enjoy for all the family. As a Formula 1 fan it was great to have a go at changing a tyre on a F1 car and appreciate the experts on race day when they typically do it in 3 seconds.

Note the empty seat next to my husband……as I have said before, love a new adventure, but not an aderaline junkie like the rest of my family!!!!!!

For a three day stop over it felt like we packed in a weeks worth of sightseeing and adventure. Abu Dhabi was never a place high on my list to visit, but breaking up a long haul flight to or from Australia is a perfect way to explore this facinating city. I would highly recommend anyone who had a willingness to unleash their inner Sense of Adventure and experience something different to come here and see for yourself!