The dazzling city you see today has been around for less than 50 years and packed with modern architectural legends, as you’d expect. It’s the heartland of glossy, expensive shopping malls, big and beautiful beaches, modern plazas and the long, long Abu Dhabi Corniche for everything from kids’ playgrounds and cycle paths to ocean-front restaurants. There’s tradition here too in the magnificence of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, charming souks, ancient pearling boat cruises and the mesmerising view of the Arabian Gulf – always the city’s finest asset.

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has over 80 domes, 1000 columns and the world’s largest handwoven carpet.
• Don’t miss: Corniche Beach, Yas Water World, Ferrari World, Bawabat Al Sharq Mall, Al Mina souks, Al Raha Beach Plazas and Eastern Mangroves Prom.

The oldest inhabited settlement in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Al Ain is a brilliant combination of lively newness and the emirate’s most ancient history, less than two hours from the centre of Abu Dhabi city.

• Visit for Al Ain National Museum, Al Jahili Fort and the traditional Al Ain oasis.
• Drive (or cycle) to the top of Abu Dhabi’s tallest mountain, 1240m high Jebel Hafeet.
• Don’t miss Al Qattara Fort arts centre, the historic camel market, Hili Fun-City theme park, Al Ain Zoo, Wadi Adventure for manmade white water rafting, Al Ain Raceway go-karting and Al Ain Palace Museum.

Covering over a third of Abu Dhabi, Al Gharbia is where vast Rub Al Khali meets the

Arabian Gulf and, you can’t walk two steps, without running into a view so awe-inspiring it leaves you speechless.

• Liwa oasis is where to start your Al Gharbia adventure: gateway to the Empty Quarter and site of a 100,000 tree date-palm plantation.
• Qasr Al Sarab AKA Mirage Palace looks like an authentic Arabian fort but is really a magnificent 5-star resort hotel specialising in desert-only activities like camel trekking and dune walks.
• Al Gharbia combines endless sand with 100km of coast scattered with some of the emirate’s loveliest beaches.
• Don’t miss: Al Dhafrah Festival for the Camel Beauty Contest, Al Gharbia Water Sports’ Festival, guided tours of the Empty Quarter, traditional desert falconry displays and Bedouin barbecues under the stars.

Less than half an hour from Abu Dhabi city, Yas could quite happily call itself ‘Entertainment Island’. Ferrari World theme park is here along with enormous Yas Waterworld and Yas Marina Circuit which hosts the annual F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. If you want sand and sea, Yas Beach is relaxed and easy-going for families and – unusually – has plenty of parking nearby.

• Visit for the theme parks or to play golf at award winning Yas Links.
• Don’t miss: Yas Mall, Driver Experiences at Yas Marina Circuit, the yachts at Yas Marina and pearl diving at Yas Waterworld.