"Take what you know about the Middle East and throw it out the window while visiting the UAE." Those were the exact words spoken to me during our visit. I already knew that it's relatively more "westernized" and "progressive" than other Middle Eastern countries, but some things still surprised me. Western stereotypes would have one believe danger lurked around every corner, or at a minimum, an unfriendly environment. What we found was much less exciting and continues to hold true all around the world. This place is filled with people just trying to live normal lives. This was particularly accurate when I saw several women in niqabs scrolling Instagram. We also had the interesting experience of being there during the Islamic practice of Ramadan. Ramadan is a month-long fasting event when Muslims around the world do not eat or drink from sun-up to sun-down. This is to create a unified experience to show solidarity for all who live in poverty and regularly do not know from where or when the next meal will come. While we didn't have time to visit Dubai, we were able to get a representative taste of the hazy desert horizon, a backdrop of white and gold Arabic architecture, and the magical feasting at Iftar (the evening meal to break the daily fasting. Be sure to check out Part 2 of our trip when we ventured to Europe for my 30th.
Pre-trip Notes
Etihad Airways has a weight limitation on carry-on luggage (something like 10 kg). So, look into that if flying with them.
What We Did
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Free to visit and well worth it! Nick has visited Abu Dhabi a handful of times now, so I visited the mosque by myself. Women must be fully covered with a headscarf, and men also need to be fully covered. If you don't meet these requirements, don't fret! They have dresses, pants, and shirts to rent (for free). It is hands-down one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever seen.
Founder's Memorial: A new and unique art installation with the picturesque city as the background. Best seen at night!
Etihad Towers: Check out the gorgeous rock walls at the towers, and get the best views at Ray's Bar.
The Corniche: We walked the popular beach-side spot while everyone was having Iftar, so it was very quiet and peaceful. The general area is known to be loaded with food trucks.
Emirates Palace: One of the most luxurious hotels in the world. It's great to observe at night when it's beautifully lit.
Presidential Palace: The palace was just recently opened to the public. For 60 AED (~$16 USD) you can roam much of the main building, which includes expansive cathedral rooms, museums (the presidential gifts were a highlight), and the banquet hall. The entire complex is enormous, but just being able to see the portion we did was really worth the price.
Food
Zuma Abu Dhabi: Incredible sushi, saké, Japanese old-fashioned, and REAL wasabi! Also, the wooden interior is really beautiful.
Benjarong (Dusit Thani): We've come to learn that the hotels (contrary to the US) are the "places to go" for dinner. The Dusit Thani is known for its steakhouse, but the Suhoor (last meal before sunrise) and Iftar buffets at Benjarong were fantastic. At these buffets, it's important to try as much as you can, especially the desserts!
Ushna: Wonderful Indian food with a top-tier view of the Grand Mosque at a distance.
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