أبوظبي
Abu Dhabi
The capital of grand mosques, island museums and the edge of the Empty Quarter.
Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven emirates by a long way, covering most of the country's land. The city itself sits on an island, and its big draws are cultural: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre on Saadiyat Island and the palace at Qasr Al Watan.
Head inland and the emirate changes completely. Al Ain, the garden city on the Omani border, has the country's first UNESCO World Heritage sites. Keep going south-west and you reach Liwa, where some of the largest dunes on earth roll off into the Rub' al Khali, the Empty Quarter.
Local tips
- Al Ain is far enough from the city to deserve its own day. Go up Jebel Hafeet for sunset and drive back after dark.
- Liwa is a long drive. Treat it as an overnight trip and stay near the oasis rather than rushing back.
- Many of the big sights cluster on Saadiyat and Yas islands, so plan your days by island to save time in traffic.
Wonders in Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
White marble and gold at sunset.
Louvre Abu Dhabi
A rain of light over the sea.
Qasr Al Watan
A working palace open to the public.
Al Ain Oasis
Shade, palms and ancient falaj.
Jebel Hafeet
A sunset road above Al Ain.
Moreeb Dune, Liwa
Where the Empty Quarter begins.