Abu Dhabi: the most elegant and attentive to the art of the Emirates
From a small village to global capital
From Camilla Rocca
Today it is the homeland of elegance, art and culture of Arab Emirates. As well as their capital. The city, whose name in Arabic means “Land of the Gazzella“, It has evolved from a small island settlement, based on fishing and the collection of pearls in the eighteenth century, in the modern emiratin capital, a dynamic city where modern luxury merges with a rooted heritage. The city, recently selected as one of the National Geographic “Best of the World” destinations for 2025, offers an iconic skyline, beaches and world -level attractions, more and more destination for tourism thanks to its Zayed international airport of Abu Dhabi, appointed “most beautiful airport in the world” from the Prix Versailles, to accommodation and cultural sites. In 2023, almost 24 million were travelers in the small Emirates, numbers that the Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030 aims to increase up to 39.3 million by 2030. Abu Dhabi includes other awards such as that of the most secure city in the world for 2025 according to the Online Database Numbeo, a title that he has been holding since 2017, and has been designated as a “city of music” by UNESCO.
The charm of a city with a rich culture
Walking through the neighborhoods of Abu Dhabi, not to be missed is the visit to the Great Mosque of sheikh Zayedone of the largest in the world, capable of hosting up to 40,000 faithful. Masterpiece of modern Islamic architecture presents 82 white marble domes, over a thousand columns inlaid with semi -deprecious stones and the largest hand -knotted carpet in the world. The mosque was erected at the behest of the sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan alla Nahyan, founding father of the United Arab Emirates, and his building was designed and erected by professionals from all over the world. The visit along the marble rooms offers unique treasures: seven 24 -carat gold plated Swarovski chandeliers that exceed 15 meters high and 10 meters in diameter, large mosaic with marble pieces in the courtyard and water mirrors that reflect some of the many columns set with amethyst and diaspri. Outside you can admire the four minarets that stand out at a height of 106 meters. The mosque is a key cultural point of reference, and welcomes millions of visitors every year that appreciate the intricate craftsmanship and the spiritual atmosphere. His guided tours offer insights on Islamic culture and traditions of the Emirates. Another important cultural reference is the presidential palace Qasr al Watan With a design created to pay homage to its legacy and Arab art. The characteristic is the attraction “Palace in Motion”, a show of lights and sounds that pays homage to the history of the Tre -acts. The show is held in front of the main building and repeats itself every 30 minutes after sunset. The structure also houses the Qasr library at the Watan Library and the House of Knowledge, which contains an immense collection of books, manuscripts and other resources to discover the history from the dawn of the Emirate to the present day.
Qasr al Hosn It is the oldest and most significant building of Abu Dhabi, and houses the first permanent structure of the city, the guard tower. Built in 1790, the structure dominated coastal commercial routes and protected the settlement. It includes two important buildings: the internal fort (originally built in 1795) and the outside building (1939-45). The structure hosted the reigning family, the government of the government, an advisory council and a national archive; Since 2018 it is a memorial of the nation. There Abrahamic Family House It is a multireligious complex in the Saadiyat cultural district which includes a mosque, a church and a synagogue. It offers guided tours and immersive trips of understanding and coexistence: visitors are invited to experiment with each of the three cult houses and discover the fundamental principles of every faith. The Louvre Abu Dhabidesigned by the famous architect Jean Nouvel, is a museum that unites eastern and western cultures through art and heritage, and is the largest museum of art and civilization of the Arabic peninsula. The use of the name Louvre expresses a thirtieth anniversary of France, of which loans of works of art and special exhibitions are also part of the part. Particularly the dome of the museum that creates a “rain of light” effect, and the exhibitions that include finds of ancient cultures and masterpieces from the Renaissance to the contemporary era.
Opportunity to know and experience local culture atEzba: A journey into the heart of the world of the Emirate, not that surrounded by skyscrapers and the frenetic life of the city, but in a private space where to connect with nature and the desert, discovering the house of the Warden people, camels and Arab horses, with the experience of trying Arabic coffee attached. And to have a “modern” view of the city, a visit to the Etihad towers, Located 25 minutes by car from the mosque, a complex of five skyscrapers with a panoramic view of the Persian Gulf. The towers host shops, hotels, restaurants, luxury residences and panoramic observation points at the observation deck at 300 which is located on the 74th floor of Torre 2, at a height of 300 meters above sea level.
Fun with the whole family
Do not miss a visit to Yas Islandone of the artificial islands located a few minutes from the airport of the capital that received the World’s Leading Theme Park Destination (World Travel Awards), Best Holiday Destination (International Travel Awards) and Best Entertainment Destination in the United Arab Emirates. On the island there are also three large themed parks, dedicated to the world of engines and Ferraris, to the world of cartoon heroes and comics and one of the most important water parks in the world. The Warner Bros Worldthe first themed park of the brand, houses characters such as Batman, Superman and Bugs Bunny in six unique theme areas, and, just 20 minutes from the city of Abu Dhabi, the Yas Waterworld It is a water park, the largest in the world, whose theme is the story of a young local girl looking for a legendary pearl. The park has a equipment of forty rides and slides, ideal for fun with family and friends. Inaugurated in 2010, the Ferrari World, It is the “World’s Leading Theme Park” for the fifth consecutive year of World Travel Awards. The park, inspired by the famous single-seater, houses the fastest Russian mountains in the world, red formula, as well as the Russian mountains Flying Aces and the mega-mission mega-montagne Mission Ferrari. Protected by a huge red cover of 86,000 square meters crowned by the rampant horse logo is the largest covered thematic park in the world. In 2024, the Ferrari World Yas Island launched the first Ferrari themed Esports Arena in the world, a cutting -edge run center in which guests of all ages can experience the thrill of running with a real Ferrari racing car. Feature the visit toNational Aquarium of Al Qanathe largest in the Middle East, immersed in aquatic fauna, with over 46,000 animals of over 300 unique species and 60 attractions distributed in 10 thematic areas. In addition to its biodiversity, the Park offers tours with dating with sharks, sea pulcinelle and freshwater breeds. The Sea World Abu Dhabi It combines rides and exhibitions and to create a deep link with the ocean: the park offers immersive areas dedicated to the education and conservation of marine life, allowing visitors to explore different ecosystems and interact with over 100 species of marine animals.
It houses the largest indoor aquarium in the world, cutting -edge structures for animal care. For the sportiest to try the kayak To combine sporting activity and the possibility of seeing natural wonders and approaching the nature and wildlife of the emirate. The most popular place is the mangrove forest which with its spectacular scenarios is a must for animal lovers and for passionate photographers. And not only the show of mangroves, but also experiences for adrenaline lovers such as Jebel Hafit’s rapid flow water channels, a paradise for those who want to do kayak at high speed. More relaxing sports at Yas Links Abu Dhabithe field designed by Kyle Phillips, considered among the 20 most beautiful in the Golf Digest world, which includes 18 holes overlooking the ocean. The Club House, along the edge of the water offers spectacular views of the Persian Gulf, and is the ideal place for dinners and events. And to relax in the sun, Yas Beach It offers a long white sandy beach where you can choose physical activity between beach volleyball, outdoor gym, sailing and kayak. The Saadiyat Cultural Districtfor twelve consecutive years entitled “Middle East’s Leading Beach Destination” by the World Travel Awards and in completion in 2025, will host the Zayed National Museum, the TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi: a commitment with different cultures to promote the dialogue, ideas and innovation. The Abu Dhabi Spherewhich echoes the size of the 20,000 seats in Las Vegas, will offer residents and visitors a new form of entertainment with events, concerts and shows. THE’Heritage Village, Just ten minutes from the city, it offers a look at life before the boom of the oil industry, with a traditional Warden field, a souk and a mosque to explore, to know and understand the life of the Emirates of the past. And not to be missed the Waat to Karama, The best position for Golden Hour, to admire the sunset. It is an imposing sculpture erected in honor of the Emiratine martyrs who sacrificed their lives to serve their country. Visit to nature to Al Ain Zoowhere there are rare species in an environment dedicated to conservation and among the golden dunes of Nujum desert campwhere you can walk on the camel, sandboarding, off -road safari and a dinner under the stars with traditional local shows.
For information on the destination: Visitobudhabi.ae/it
Win a trip … to Abu Dhabi
That’s right. In addition to organized car trips, to tour operators, travel agencies, to discover and travel in the world you can also participate in a real lottery that allowed to win a journey towards a mysterious destination … and Abu Dhabi was the goal. Wizz Air With the #letsgetlost competition it allowed 150 winners of the contest to visit some of the most beautiful places in the capital of the Arab Emirates for four days. And for all those who want to live the same experiences starting from June 2, Wizz Air will operate direct flights daily from Milan Malpensa to Abu Dhabi. A journey that combines culture and sustainability: the carrier used will be the Airbus A321XLR, the most efficient aircraft in terms of consumption and more sustainable in its category. Info: www.wizzair.com