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With year-round sunshine and dazzling skyscrapers, holidays to Abu Dhabi combine international glamour with the romance of the desert.

Sun, speed and skyscrapers

Modern towers jostle for attention with ornamental mosques in the United Arab Emirates' Abu Dhabi, a city that combines the cutting edge with the intensely traditional. Home to a Formula One Grand Prix as well as the world's fastest rollercoaster, it's one of the Middle East's most thrilling cities.

Mosques and fortresses

Abu Dhabi's greener than its flashy cousin Dubai, and its oldest building, the Qasr al Hosn Fortress, was built from coral and sea stone way back in the 1700s. The white marble Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque attracts more than five million visitors every year, so head there early to avoid the crowd.

Shopper's delight

From bright gold jewellery and Arabic coffee pots to rugs and Eastern spices, city breaks in Abu Dhabi are a shopper's paradise. The traditional markets offer affordable treasures for bargain hunters, while its world-class malls are filled with bright lights and luxury goods for big spenders.

At a Glance

  • Admire one of the world's most modern skylines
  • Venture across the desert on a dune buggy
  • Shop 'til you drop in the gleaming Abu Dhabi Mall
  • Prep for your trip with our Holiday Extras

Best time to go to Abu Dhabi

Thanks to its year-round warm weather, basking in sunshine’s part and parcel of trips to Abu Dhabi, whenever you visit. The mercury often hovers well over the 30°C mark during July and August. Meanwhile the likes of April, May, June and October are a little bit cooler, with temperatures hitting the mid-twenties. January’s the coldest month, but even then, things don’t dip lower than the mid-teens. And, as you’d expect in the desert, rain’s a pretty rare occurrence.

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Top things to see and do in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi’s beach scene is fitted with swanky beach clubs, soft-white sands and super-see-through waters. There are all sorts of swathes here – from shallow spots suited to sprogs to beat-busting beach clubs hosting stylish pools and DJ decks.

Corniche Beach is one of the city’s most popular picks – with its eight-kilometre stretch of sand and zero entry fees, it’s not rocket science to figure out why. Saying that, if you’ve got tots in tow there is a section you can pay a little extra for – the family section’s pitched close to a playground and a string of sports courts.

Make a move for Mirfa Beach if you’re looking to escape Abu Dhabi’s most sought-after sands. This place is a little bit of a loner – there’s no skyline to be spotted on beach days here, and beat-playing beach clubs are well out of earshot.

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Abu Dhabi’s Central Market takes its style from a souk, with narrow alleyways lined with small shops on both sides. You can fill your bag with all sorts at this place – from boutique-clothing buys to spices and souvenirs.

As you’d probably expect in UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi majors in malls. And, while there aren’t as many as there are in Dubai, you’ve still got stacks of options when it comes to shopping trips here. Marina Mall’s a bit of a one-stop-shop for shopping and entertainment – more than 400 brands fill the shop fronts here, and it’s even got an ice rink, a bowling alley and a cinema.

Most of the malls here have their fair share of designer buys, so you won’t need to mooch too far to seek out high-end pieces. The Galleria’s loaded up on luxe though – this stylish spot’s home to all the big names like Alexander McQueen, Michael Kors and Dolce & Gabbana.

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Yas Island really dials up the fun factor – its map’s marked with a water park, a mall and even an F1 racing track. It’s got tonnes of bars and late-night clubs, too.

If you’d prefer to swap DJs and dancefloors for cosy seats and stylish bars, Abu Dhabi’s lounge bars are probably the ones for you. They’re spread out in locations right across the city and come with a super-chilled vibe. Lots of them have al fresco terraces where you can watch the sunset, too.

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Khuzi is the national dish of UAE, so it’s almost a cert for menus in Abu Dhabi’s eateries. It’s a dish of roasted lamb, served up on a bed of spicy rice topped with nuts, raisins and potatoes.

This dish is a bit like Abu Dhabi’s answer to a hog roast, and it’s a popular pick for parties and big events. The clue’s in the name really – a whole camel is stuffed with eggs, chicken, lamb and rice before being cooked over a huge charcoal pit. It’s got the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest dish.

These deep-fried dumplings offer up a tasty treat for dessert. They’re soaked in a sweet and sticky syrup before being rolled in sesame seeds.

Fish fans are in for a treat with this dish – it ticks the boxes for both sweet and savoury, consisting of spiced fish served on a bed of sweet, caramelised onions and sugar-coated rice.

Spring onions, tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, crushed wheat, lemon juice and fresh mint all play a part in this dish. It’s often served as a side alongside a main meal, but you can have it as your main dish if you’re after something light, fresh and tasty.

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