Set on an island just off the Arabian Gulf, the sparkling city of Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE.
Following years of rapid construction and development, Abu Dhabi has been transformed from a modest settlement to a city of superlatives, boasting a number of quirky world records including the fastest rollercoaster and the largest Iranian carpet in the world.
Aside from sumptuous dining and world-class shopping, for which the mega-metropolis has long been celebrated, visitors to Abu-Dhabi can enjoy the city’s many architectural attractions. Among its most important landmarks is the magnificent Sheikh Zayed mosque, the brainchild of the UAE’s first President, with over over 80 domes and 1000 pillars, and featuring Swarovski crystal chandeliers, pure Macedonian marble, and many other luxurious materials and designs.
Some of the city’s most stunning structures are also to be found on offshoot islands, including Yas Island, popular among thrill-seekers for its Formula One circuit, as well as the sleek and ultra-modern Abu Dhabi Louvre, majestically seated and semi-submerged in the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea.
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