With year-round sunshine and dazzling skyscrapers, holidays to Abu Dhabi combine international glamour with the romance of the desert.

Sun, speed and skyscrapers

Modern towers jostle for attention with ornamental mosques in the United Arab Emirates' Abu Dhabi, a city that combines the cutting edge with the intensely traditional. Home to a Formula One Grand Prix as well as the world's fastest rollercoaster, it's one of the Middle East's most thrilling cities.

Mosques and fortresses

Abu Dhabi's greener than its flashy cousin Dubai, and its oldest building, the Qasr al Hosn Fortress, was built from coral and sea stone way back in the 1700s. The white marble Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque attracts more than five million visitors every year, so head there early to avoid the crowd.

Shopper's delight

From bright gold jewellery and Arabic coffee pots to rugs and Eastern spices, city breaks in Abu Dhabi are a shopper's paradise. The traditional markets offer affordable treasures for bargain hunters, while its world-class malls are filled with bright lights and luxury goods for big spenders.

At a Glance

  • Admire one of the world's most modern skylines
  • Venture across the desert on a dune buggy
  • Shop 'til you drop in the gleaming Abu Dhabi Mall

TOP THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN ABU DHABI

BEACHES

SHOPPING

NIGHTLIFE

FOOD & DRINK