Abu Dhabi Honeymoon

Consider a honeymoon or breaking your long-haul flight in Abu Dhabi.

With its glittering skyscrapers, luxurious 5-star hotels, fine dining restaurants, ornate mosques, lively souks, expansive shopping malls and white-sand beaches, this vibrant island city offers all the ingredients you need for a short break or longer holiday.

Things to do and see
Unwind on a choice of white-sand beaches, enjoy sailing and kayaking the calm waters surrounding the island and take a relaxing stroll along the picturesque garden-fringed Corniche, a 6km-long coastal road that runs parallel to the sea.

Visit the iconic Qasr Al-Hosn Palace (White Fort), once home to the ruling Al-Nahyan family and the city’s oldest structure, built in 1761. Admire the triple-domed roof of the Grand Mosque, the world’s third largest mosque, and take a guided tour through its opulent interior.

Get an insight into Abu Dhabi's history and traditions at the Heritage Village, which replicates a traditional Bedouin nomad camp. Watch demonstrations of camel riding and falconry, see artisans’ workshops and browse stalls selling pottery, perfumes and spices. Learn about the desert kingdom’s fast rise to a glittering 21st century city at the Petroleum Exhibition.

Explore some of the almost 200 uninhabited offshore islands on a sunset cruise or go dune-bashing in an air-conditioned four-wheel drive through the sweeping sand dunes around Liwa Oasis.

Browse for local Arab handicrafts, antiques, gold and carpets in the bustling souks or shop for high-end fashion, jewellery and perfume at the glittering air-conditioned Marina Mall or the Abu Dhabi Mall.

After dark, enjoy a range of nightlife options at any of the major hotels, including belly dancing shows and swinging your heels at one of the many hotel nightclubs.

A massive US$27 billion tourism and cultural expansion program is presently underway to transform the offshore island of Saadiyat into a cultural centre. The centre will feature the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi contemporary art museum, designed by Frank Gehry (scheduled for completion in 2011) and the Louvre Abu Dhabi (expected to open in 2012). Also planned are several luxury hotels, two championship golf courses and three marinas.

The capital of the United Arab Emirates occupies a T-shaped island that juts into the Persian Gulf and is connected by numerous bridges to the mainland. Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven Emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates.

Accommodation
Choose from a selection of Abu Dhabi hotels . . .

Best time to visit Abu Dhabi?
The best time to visit Abu Dhabi is during the winter months between October and April, when the temperature averages 24°C with a high of 35°C. You can expect sunny skies in Abu Dhabi year round.

Summer, from May to September, is very hot – often reaching 48˚C – so it can get uncomfortable. For more climate info: Abu Dhabi Weather Guide