With Saudi Arabia to the south and Iran to the north across the Persian Gulf, Abu Dhabi is right in the heart of the Middle East – no hijab (aka head covering) required. While you can hear the Islamic call to prayer five times a day in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, you can still wear your bikini on the beach, get your morning latte from Starbucks and find top designer labels in one of the world’s best duty-free shopping zones.
Where to Sleep:
Splurge for a night at the Shangri-La Hotel Qaryat Al Beri, designed with modern Arabian architectural flare. Each room (starting at 850AED) has a balcony or terrace overlooking a 1 km stretch of private beach. Relax by the infinity pool with apple-flavoured shisha or enjoy a glass of merlot at the rooftop Pearls Bar as the sun sets over the Arabian Sea and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – the third largest mosque in the world.
Where to Eat:
The iconic Emirates Palace Hotel is one of the world’s most luxurious hotels, dripping in gold leaf and Swarovski crystals. Even if you can’t afford to stay here, it’s the hippest place in town for dinner and drinks. Treat yourself to gold-drizzled chocolates and champagne at Le Café & Caviar Bar, while listening to live traditional music. Anar, the Persian word for “red pomegranate,” offers a contemporary twist on traditional cuisine, such as aromatically spiced kebabs and slow-cooked stews. Or hang out with Abu Dhabi’s elite at the opulent Etoiles Abu Dhabi, a lounge and club overlooking the moonlit waters of the Arabian Sea to the grooves of international DJs.
What to Do:
Choose from 18 shopping malls in this oil-rich city where shopping is the national pastime (top picks are Abu Dhabi Mall and Marina Mall). For antiques, the Blue Souq in nearby Sharjah offers the widest range of carpets, including hand-woven silk Persian carpets from Iran. Search the Deira Old Souq in nearby Dubai for an Arabic coffeepot made of hand-beaten copper or wander the narrow alleyways of the exotic Spice Souq for the world’s finest frankincense from neighbouring Oman – once considered more valuable than gold.