Put Abu-Dhabi in your 2025 list

#getgoing2025 Do you know that Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates? It’s not so famous as Dubai but… still so many things to do. If you have one day in Abu Dhabi here is my suggestion for you: 1. GRAND MOSQUE / SHEIKH ZAYED MOSQUE I begin with the most awe-inspiring place in Abu Dhabi: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, also known as the Grand Mosque. It is located towards the inland side of Abu Dhabi Island, about 20 kilometers from the airport. It is probably the most beautiful building in the world. Even if you are not religious or Muslim, I still highly recommend visiting it. There is a dress code. Females have to cover their heads, legs, and arms. Men also have to cover their arms and legs. You can either use your own clothes or rent clothes for free. There is also a changing room. 2. The Emirates Palace is one of the most expensive hotels in the world, and it is absolutely stunning! Unlike Burj al-Arab in Dubai, where only overnight guests or people with a written reservation for a restaurant/spa can enter, you can visit Emirates even if you are not a guest. 3. From the Emirates Palace, head to Heritage Village! It is a reconstruction of a traditional oasis village that gives you a little feeling of ancient Arabia. Find public workshops where craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills such as metalwork, pottery, weaving, and spinning yarn. 4. One of my favorite things to do in Abu Dhabi is to take a walk along the Corniche. It is a lovely promenade and includes children’s play areas, separate cycle and pedestrian pathways, restaurants, cafés, and the public Corniche Beach. 5. The Louvre Museum is a beautiful museum with stunning architecture that opened in late 2017. It is an art and civilization museum and is approximately 24,000 square meters in size, with 8,000 square meters of galleries which makes it the largest art museum in the Arabian peninsula. This is not a place to visit in an hour or so, but you will probably need more time to explore it. Apart from the art displayed, the interior also looks incredible. I recommend visiting Abu Dhabi between late October and March, as it gets boiling in summer (from April to the beginning of October). If you visit the UAE (or any Islamic country), you probably should avoid the time during Ramadan as well.