Culture of Abu Dhabi. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Abu Dhabi is a beautiful modern city that never ceases to amaze its visitors by the beautiful parks, skyscrapers, and fabulous mansions. The most beautiful villas and palaces are located close to the waterfront. You will find luxury shopping malls, entertainment centers and restaurants there. In the city’s suburbs you will find beautiful old mosques, beautiful Al Hosn Palace built in the end of the 19th century, and, finally, famous Hafeet Mountain. Magnificent Sheikh Zayed Mosque never ceases to attract travelers from different countries of the world. It is present in the list of the ten largest mosques in the world. The opening ceremony of the masque was held in 2007. The tomb of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first President of the UAE, is located near the mosque. Quite a notable fact - the mosque can be entered by anyone. Every day here are organized excursions for tourists, during which you can enjoy the beautifully decorated interior of the mosque and learn a lot about the culture and traditions of local residents.

Abu Dhabi is one of the world's largest oil production centers. There is an oil exhibition near National University. The exhibition is devoted to the development of the industry. Travellers are also recommended to visit Historical Museum, the exhibition of which includes ancient manuscripts and documents older than one hundred years. Tourists with children should definitely visit the local zoo, and make a walk through beautiful Ain Fayyad Park, which is decorated with amazing fountains and statues. Central Market can be also called the local place of interest as this is the place where you can purchase wide range of products, from jewelry and perfume to household appliances and toys. The shopping complex is the location of more than four hundred pavilions, each of which offers a certain type of goods.

An Nasr Street is the best place for gifts as you will find best souvenir shops there. If you want to buy an authentic oriental rug in the memory of your trip, the best place for this kind of purchase will be the local Carpet market. Fans of walking usually consider Corniche Road is the best place of rest. There is nothing strange in this as the street looks more like a huge park. The length of the embankment estimates 10 kilometers and it is decorated with exotic plants, fragrant flower beds and beautiful fountains. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Abu Dhabi is full of ultra-modern buildings that captivate travelers from the very first sight. The racetrack “Yas Marina” is one of such. It is designed for “Formula 1”. An artificial island has been specially built for this purpose. It can be called thematic as everything here is devoted to one theme: the shopping malls, the park “Ferrari World”, and the harbor. It is here that the Grand Prix of the city is held. The place has a seating capacity of about 50,000 people. In general, Yas Marina is a great place for a walk. Despite the fact that everything here breaths luxury, it is a quiet and peaceful place.

Car enthusiasts should definitely visit another place in the capital of the UAE, which is the Emirates National Auto Museum. It is a private collection of Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan. The most valuable exhibit here is a Rolls-Royce, which was in the possession of the royal family of Great Britain. Also in the collection is a 5-meter tall Dodge, and a chic trailer, where there is everything for a luxurious life. In order to take a proper look at the beautiful city which at a height looks as though it were in your palm, you should climb the viewing platform Observation Deck at 300. It is part of the Etihad towers – another symbol of the United Arab Emirate (UAE) capital. From here you can see the Persian Gulf, the islands that make up Abu Dhabi, as well as the legendary hotel Emirates Palace.

There are also historical places in the city, for example, a historical-ethnographic village presenting the life of the Bedouin as it is. Here you can get to know everything that interest tourists regarding the traditional Bedouin fishery and their way of life. Perhaps you cannot find a better place than this to get acquainted with the local culture. UAE Sheikhs are known for their love of falconry, and it is for this reason that there is a falcon hospital here in Abu Dhabi. The main treatment at the hospital is aimed at helping precisely the falcons, however, other birds and domestic animals are treated here too.

There are two towers in the city that are certainly worthy of a visit. We are referring to the Etihad towers as well as the Al Bahar towers. The first is a complex of five skyscrapers, among which is located one of the tallest buildings in the city (300 meters high). Al Bahar is sort of a combination of tradition and modernity. Here, both Arabic architecture and fashionable design all merge into one, presenting a bizarre combination. Due to all this, the towers have an extraordinary and at the same time futuristic look. Another interesting skyscraper is called the Capital Gate. When you look at it, it conjures up in your mind a clear image of a falling tower, whereas the building is well-known for its functionality and environmental friendliness. Nonetheless, Aldar Headquarters skyscraper has the most interesting design – it is built in the shape of a seashell. Be sure to take at least a glimpse at the miracle of architectural and engineering design.