Abu Dhabi is not just the capital of the United Arab Emirates. It is an archipelago consisting of more than 200 islands. It is the only place in the world where, in a single day, you can descend into an underwater world, accelerate to the speed of a Formula 1 car, and travel 200 years back in time to a village of pearl divers. Today, Abu Dhabi is becoming the museum capital of the Middle East.
This city is wealthier than its famous neighbor Dubai (it is here that 90% of the country`s oil is concentrated), yet it has preserved an aristocratic restraint and genuine Arab authenticity.
The History of Abu Dhabi: From Gazelle to Skyscrapers
The history of Abu Dhabi began not with oil, but with fresh water. Legend has it that in the 1760s, hunters from the Bani Yas tribe, chasing a gazelle, came across a source of fresh water on a barren island. In gratitude to the animal, they named the settlement "Father of the Gazelle" — Abu Dhabi. For a long time, life here was measured by the rhythms of the tides and the pearl diving seasons. In 1793, the rulers settled here, building the Qasr Al Hosn fort.
Everything changed in 1958 when oil was discovered off the coast. Within 30 years, a fishing village with huts made of palm fronds transformed into a metropolis with futuristic skyscrapers. However, unlike many "oil boom" capitals, Abu Dhabi did not tear down its memory. To this day, they honor the legacy of Sheikh Zayed, whose philosophy is built on the harmony of nature, humanity, and progress.
Key Attractions of Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
This is not just the main mosque of the country — it is an architectural masterpiece of white Macedonian marble. It is one of the few temples in the world where grandeur does not overwhelm, but elevates the soul. The mosque can accommodate up to 40,000 worshippers. The main hall houses the world`s largest hand-woven Persian carpet, weighing 47 tons, woven by 1,200 Iranian weavers. The seven chandeliers, inlaid with Swarovski crystals, have been untouched by time: the main one weighs 12 tons and is adorned with over 15 million crystals.
For tourists: Entry is free, but online registration is required. Women are given traditional abayas at the entrance.
Museums of Abu Dhabi:
Abu Dhabi is investing billions in culture, transforming Saadiyat Island into a Middle Eastern Museum hub.
Louvre Abu Dhabi (Saadiyat Island)
The only branch of the Paris Louvre outside France. The building, designed by Jean Nouvel, is an art form in itself. A massive silver dome, 180 meters in diameter, consists of 7,850 star-shaped layers. Creating a lace-like shadow, it lets sunlight through in pinpoint beams — an effect called the "rain of light" (reminiscent of sun rays filtering through palm leaves in an oasis). Inside is a bridge of civilizations: the Bible, the Quran, and the Torah under one roof; masterpieces by da Vinci, Van Gogh, and Monet sit alongside artifacts from the first Arab settlements.
Qasr Al Hosn
The oldest stone building in Abu Dhabi. The white watchtower, built in 1793, remembers cannon fire and the silence of pearl divers. It is now the National Archive and a museum where, through artifacts, you can trace the city`s metamorphosis from a Bedouin camp to the capital of an empire.
Sheikh Zayed National Museum (opened December 2025)
A new architectural symbol of the city, shaped like falcon wings (a tribute to Sheikh Zayed). The museum is a repository of history: from the Paleolithic era to the formation of the UAE. The centerpiece is the world`s oldest natural pearl, aged 8,000 years.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum (opening late 2026)
The long-awaited opening of the Guggenheim branch on Saadiyat Island will take place in 2026 – 20 years after the project was announced. The building, one of the last works of the legendary Frank Gehry, is a breathtaking sight: an ensemble of nine cone-shaped towers rising to a height of 88 meters.
It will be the largest museum in the entire Guggenheim network – 12 times larger than the New York original. Inside – 28 galleries of various scales, a 350-seat theater, and a restoration laboratory.
But the main treasure is the collection, assembled over 15 years: around 1,000 works, where masterpieces by Basquiat, Warhol, Pollock, and Rothko sit alongside pieces by artists from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world, whose names have yet to be discovered by the wider public. "We wanted to understand what a 22nd-century museum should be like," say its creators, promising the integration of AR and AI into the art narrative.
Natural History Museum (opened November 2025)
The building is designed as a rock rising from the waters of the bay. It will house the 67-million-year-old skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex and a meteorite aged 7 billion years — a particle of matter older than Earth itself.
Emirates National Auto Museum
The collection of a mad genius — Sheikh Hamad. Over 200 retro and custom cars, including the world`s largest motorized vehicle model. The pyramid-shaped building conceals all-terrain trucks, golden Cadillacs, and cars embedded into the walls.
Heritage Village
A reconstructed desert village near Marina Mall. Workshops on glass blowing, pottery, and weaving. Only here can you see Bedouin women making cheese from camel milk.
Theme Parks: Yas Island — Impossible, Perhaps
Yas Island is located 26 km from the city center. It is the "Latin Quarter" of entertainment, operating indoors year-round, saving tourists from the 50-degree heat.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
A giant red dome with the "Prancing Horse" logo. The Formula Rossa roller coaster accelerates passengers to 240 km/h in 4.9 seconds. You are not riding; you are flying at a G-force of 4.8G, like a Formula 1 driver. For little guests – the junior version, Junior Rossa, and a driving academy.
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi
Total immersion into childhood. 6 themed zones, including Gotham City and Bedrock. Batman, Superman, Scooby-Doo, and Tom & Jerry come out for live meet-and-greets. The Justice League: Warworld Attack (5D) attraction is the gold standard of family action.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi (opened in 2023)
The world`s largest multi-species aquarium. 60 million liters of water, 150 species of marine animals. This is not just a spectacle, but a rehabilitation center for endangered species. Here you can observe the rescue of sea turtles.
Perspective: Disneyland Abu Dhabi
By the early 2030s, the world`s seventh Disneyland will appear on Yas Island. Its uniqueness: it may become the world`s first fully indoor Disney Park.
Beaches, Promenades, and Famous Hotels
Saadiyat Beach
9 km of snow-white sand. This is a protected nesting zone for Hawksbill sea turtles. Humpback dolphins frolic in the waters. The beach is awarded a "Blue Flag" for its ecology. Windsurfing, sunset yoga, and no high-rise construction at the water`s edge.
Corniche
An 8-kilometer promenade divided into zones: for families, singles, and picnics. Perfectly manicured lawns, palm trees, bike paths, and free public beaches with turquoise water.
Emirates Palace Hotel
A palace built for $3 billion. 114 mosaic domes, 40 tons of gold used in interior decoration. Even if you are not staying here, a tourist`s duty is to have a cup of coffee. This is where they serve the famous 24-karat gold cappuccino. The price is around $20, but the very feeling of touching the "Arabian Versailles" is priceless.
Mangrove Groves: The Green Lungs of the Desert
Just 10 minutes from the futuristic ADNOC towers is the Eastern Mangrove National Park. This is an utterly alien landscape: tree roots protrude from the saltwater, where kayak trails weave through.
Kayak Tour: Rent a kayak or a traditional abra boat. You paddle along winding channels, breathing in the iodized air. Here you can find flamingos, herons, fiddler crabs, and those same Red List sea turtles. Complete silence and the reflection of palm trees in the mirror-like water.
Desert Safari by Jeep (Al Khatim and Liwa)
Al Khatim Desert (30 minutes from the city)
An ideal option for those short on time. The dunes here are not as high as at the edge of the Empty Quarter, but they are perfectly comfortable for dune bashing.
What is Dune Bashing? It`s a roller coaster without rails. An experienced driver in a Nissan Patrol or Land Cruiser "surfs" the sand waves at a 45-degree angle. Arabic music plays inside the car, outside – clouds of dust and your heart dropping. Tourist reviews call this the best thing that can happen in the Emirates.
After the adrenaline – a Bedouin camp. For an additional fee: camel riding, sandboarding, henna painting, and shisha. The main course of the evening – the sunset. In the Al Khatim desert, there is no light pollution, and when the sun touches the horizon, the dunes become velvety, and the sky – liquid gold.
Liwa Oasis (2 hours from the city)
The heart of the Empty Quarter (Rub` al Khali). Here the dunes rise up to 300 meters – some of the tallest sand dunes in the world. On the edge of this ocean of sand stands Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort – a five-star mirage with pools and a spa, offering views of infinity.
Abu Dhabi is an intriguing place where museum luxury coexists with wild nature, and cultural treasures — with real sand dunes. Over the past year, the city has confirmed its status as the museum capital of the Middle East: Saadiyat Island is home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, and in 2026 they will be joined by the Guggenheim. But Abu Dhabi is not just about art. It is also miles of snow-white beaches. And yet, just thirty minutes from the skyscrapers, another reality begins — the desert. Here you can drive a jeep down a thirty-meter dune, ride a camel, watch the sunset among the Al Khatim dunes, and try Bedouin coffee under the stars.
