Abu Dhabi: The Emirates' Older Brother

“I guess you’re going to Dubai.”

And... poof!

When my tourist visa wasn’t immediately renewed in Kuwait due to some unforeseen holidays and circumstances, fate led me to the Emirates.

I spent the first day of 2017 at the airport - 10% of it was me worrying that I might not be able to leave at the right time. Thanks to Kuwait Airways’ delayed flights! Well, not leaving at the right time or day means overstaying and overstaying means paying fines and a bad record. We definitely don’t want that!

Fortunately, after a few hours, a cup of coffee with a new-found friend and two gate transfers, I was finally on board to DXB.

I have a confession to make.

I totally forgot that Dubai is not the United Arab Emirates’ capital. Haha! Sorry, Ma’am Hoyumpa (my high school History teacher)! With Dubai’s popularity, you can’t blame anyone who assumes that everything in the Emirates revolves in there.

Since I’m staying with my sister-in-law, who is based in Abu Dhabi, I was able to find my inner Dora and learned a little more about Abu Dhabi, which is a two-hour drive away from Dubai.

Let’s start with a quick geography refresher course, shall we?

Marked in red are the places that I've been to in the UAE.
(c) Map photo courtesy of www.lonelyplanet.com

The United Arab Emirates is composed of seven emirates – Abu Dhabi (the capital), Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. I think as you know now, the Middle East boasts its oil reserves and the UAE, for that matter, ranks seventh in the world.

Only a small percentage of its population are locals. Approximately 80% of its population are expatriates, which include Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Indians, Iranians, Westerners and of course, Filipinos.

If you’re going to travel here for the first time, here are a few things to consider:

Currency: Arab Emirates Dirhams (AED) subdivided into Fils (AED 1 = P 13.50 as of writing)

Mobile Networks: Etisalat or Du

Plug & Socket Type: Type G (Check out the different types here)

I wish I could give you a reliable source and a detailed description of how you can go around the area via public transportation. But, I have to be honest! Haha! Most of my Abu Dhabi adventures are either done through random walks, via a friend’s personal transportation or the ever-reliable taxi ride. Almost all the people here know how to speak English. So, no need to worry. You’ll survive.

Here’s a glimpse of the places you can visit when in Abu Dhabi.

1. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Grand Mosque's inner facade.

As we have churches in the Philippines, UAE has several outstanding mosques with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as the key place of worship. Thousands of people gather here on Fridays and most especially during the Eid.

This was built through the heart and vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan. With this deep foundation, visitors are expected to follow several rules especially in the dress code and photo ops. Yep! No peace signs, no raising of hands, no wacky shots and definitely no sexy poses. You don’t want to be kicked out or reprimanded just like Rihanna or Selena Gomez, right? ✌🙌

No blogger poses. Just authentic stolen shots. Lol!
(c) Acho Carillo

Clean and intricate designs.

Glowing at sundown.

On guard.

Columns and symmetries.

2. Hameem Beach

Chillin'

Love fishing, seaside camping or doing outdoor activities with family and friends?

Yes? Then this place is definitely for you.

An hour-drive from Abu Dhabi, Hameem Beach is a haven for gulf birds and flamingos. Yes! I saw freakin’ pink and flying flamingos for the very first time! But due to my excitement, I have no pictures. Hahaha! But, who cares? *excited shriek*

Cotton candy skies.

Come here early to witness cotton candy skies and a magnificent sunrise. Also, if you come here during winter (coolest between December to February) make sure to have layers of clothing to protect you from the chilly wind. Believe me, we’d rather stay inside the car than stay in our poorly setup tent. 😜

Starting early.

Sunrise perspective.

He went for it.

3. Emirates Palace

Yeah, I know. I don't know how to pose for pictures. Lol!

Now, back to the city spots.

The Emirates Palace is a luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi. It’s famous for its golden interior designs which will make you really feel like royalty.

With its 7-star distinction, expect the prices to be golden as well. 💲 Hotel room rates may start from

AED 2,000 (Php 27,000) a night for 2 persons. 😲

Since we were only there for a quick look, might as well enjoy and take lots of photos. Haha! And by the way, wearing shorts is not allowed.

Of corridors and columns.

Look up!

They're really into details here.

This reminds me of Ariel's secret trove.

More of its golden hallways.

Glamour.

View of the beach from the inside

4. Etihad Towers

View of the Etihad Towers from the Emirates Palace

Fast and Furious 7. Remember?

If you can’t, click here to remind you of how Vin Diesel and Paul Walker (may he rest in peace 👼) defied all the laws of science to get the perfect scene. Hehe!

Standing face to face with the Emirates Palace, the Etihad Towers is a proof of Abu Dhabi’s vision to be a mixture of progress and tradition.

A luxury hotel and home of exclusive designer boutiques, the Etihad Towers are some of the tallest buildings in Abu Dhabi.

5. Marina Mall/Marina Eye

Marina Eye at daytime.

One thing I have observed in the UAE, is people love some R&R. So, it’s no surprise that they have a lot of malls and entertainment destinations.

One of many is the Marina Mall, which is one of the city’s biggest. This is located along Corniche Road, close to the Emirates Hotel.

If you’re not afraid of heights, you may visit Colombia Coffee House at the Marina Mall's Sky Tower to have an aerial view of the nearby villas and yacht club. Since we just had lunch, we decided not to stay long. The food’s a little expensive, too. 😁

View from the top.

View from the top: That's Marina Mall down there!

6. Ferrari World

Enteeeer!

If you’re up for speed and cars, then you shouldn’t miss Ferrari World.

Home of Formula Rossa, the fastest roller coaster in the world, Ferrari World is located on Yas Island. You can enter the amusement park through Yas Mall.

Ticket prices start from AED 230 (Php 3,000+) for kids and AED 275 (Php 3,700+) for adults. However, there are available vouchers online that could probably help you in your budget. It’s a little pricey, so make sure to make the most out of your time here.

We lined up for the Formula Rossa, but unfortunately, my little big companion didn’t make it to the height requirement. As I was on #TitaDuties, we were not able to go through all the rides in the park. We tried Bell’Italia, Benno’s Great Race, Junior Training Camp and visited Galleria Ferrari. These are the more tolerable rides, I guess. 😜

For a list of activities and rides, click here.

Don't forget the hashtag! #FerrariWorldAD

All things bright and shiny.

Marlon Stockinger?! Where are youuuu?

Head turner.

Abu Dhabi is definitely a reflection of the Emirati tradition and the opulence that the UAE got over the years. He’s like an older brother who’s conservative but still tries not to be left behind by his modern and over-the-top younger brother, Dubai. 😉

What other spots did I miss? 😄