Emirate’s worth more than one stopover

The water running through the mangroves is completely clear in the early morning sun. Flocks of small fish flit over underwater tree roots, occasionally obscured by the reflections of passing clouds floating on the calm waters. This is a peaceful place to start your day, and an extraordinary oasis hidden in a bustling city.

It never occurred to me that a day in Abu Dhabi could start with a walk through the mangroves. As we meander along the boardwalk that winds through the Jubail Mangrove Park and watch herons linger in the shallows, my guide tells me that the wetlands attract a wide variety of birds— — and sometimes even flamingos. As we approached the exit, we saw a group of kayakers slowly descending into the water, ready to paddle. I make a mental note of that experience to sign up for the next time I travel.

This isn’t the last time I’ve found myself planning a return trip. Abu Dhabi’s extraordinary diversity means there’s always another experience to try – and more to come. I spent a wonderful afternoon at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, housed in a striking building designed by renowned architect Jean Nouvel, an attraction in itself. Its silver dome has lace-like perforations that filter sunlight and create an ever-changing dappled dance of light.

A series of planned museums will soon join the Louvre Abu Dhabi. My stay coincided with a preview exhibition for the planned Natural History Museum, which will open in three years. Exhibits include a meteorite older than our solar system and one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons ever found, which promises to be another scene stealer.

Also scheduled to open the same year are the Guggenheim Museum in Abu Dhabi, designed by Frank Gehry, and the Zayed National Museum, designed by Foster and Partners, dedicated to the United Arab Emirates’ natural and human history.

One of the most fascinating buildings in Abu Dhabi was designed by an architectural firm I had never heard of. Aedas Architects are the team behind the striking Al Bahar Towers, whose façades are clad in panels that open and close with the movement of the sun. My guide told me that the energy to run the system is generated by solar panels on top of the tower.

However, when it comes to Abu Dhabi’s most memorable buildings, there is no competition. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was conceived on an extraordinary scale. Its 22,400 square meters can accommodate 40,000 visitors, with 106 minarets, 82 domes and the world’s largest hand-woven carpet. However, what really sets it apart is its serene beauty. 165,000 square meters of gleaming Macedonian marble, elegant arabesques and ornate inlaid columns, are quaint and elegant.

There’s nothing quite like rust-colored desert sand like the cool marble of a mosque. However, the desert tour is another Abu Dhabi experience not to be missed. One afternoon we headed to the Tele resort in Al Ain for a jeep ride into another world as the wind painted pictures on the ever-changing sand. This arid land is home to a surprising amount of life: as we drive, we see graceful Arabian oryx and even odd deer.

My guide told me that Abu Dhabi was founded when a hunter followed a deer to the aquifer where Abu Dhabi is located – the name itself means “Father Deer”. In the desert, we seem to have returned to the starting point.

The author is a guest of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and Etihad Airways.

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