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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi in the sunset

Abu Dhabi Vacations and Tour Packages

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Overview

Take a trip to Abu Dhabi on your United Arab Emirates Vacation

Abu Dhabi is located in the northeastern part of the Persian Gulf in the Arabian Peninsula and serves as the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The largest of all the emirates, Abu Dhabi makes up almost 87% of the country’s total area. Archaeological evidence suggests that civilizations have existed in Abu Dhabi since the third century BC. The origins of Al Nahyan family, one of seven ruling families in the UAE, was established in 1793. The emirate began to expand during the pearl trading days of the late 19th Century, however, this initial prosperity declined during the 1930s resulting in a massive financial blow. Everything changed for the emirate when, in 1958, oil was discovered and it has been said that with oil came the birth of modern Abu Dhabi.

Today Abu Dhabi is a cultural and commercial hub and is a centre for political and industrial activities in the UAE. It is the home of both the Abu Dhabi Emiri Family and the President. Once overshadowed by the construction boom of neighbouring Dubai, Abu Dhabi is now coming into its own as a luxury travel and business destination on Abu Dhabi tours. The development and urbanization of Abu Dhabi along with a high average income has helped to expand this emirate into a beautiful, diverse and multicultural metropolis. Despite offering a laid-back atmosphere, an Abu Dhabi vacation is an exciting one to remember.

At a Glance

Languages

Arabic

Currency

United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)

What do the experts say?

Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
For me, the best months are November to April. Anything in between that is too unbearably hot. Temperatures commonly reaching 50 degrees and higher are so unpleasant and even in Dubai, the little bit of humidity can make them dangerous. This is why even bus shelters on the streets are air conditioned, and very few people are actually outside during the daylight hours.
Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
Directly opposite of Dubai, on the eastern Golf of Oman, in the Emirate of Sharjah, lies Khor Fakkan. This beautiful little gem has mountains, clear blue water with white sand beaches and coral reefs. Shark Island, right off the Coast of Khor Fakkan, has some of the best snorkeling in the UAE.
Jodi Hartnell

Jodi Hartnell

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
For that Instagram shot, nothing beats the symbol for the Emirates that is the Burj al Arab hotel in Dubai. This is generally one of the most asked after spots, and where people can get the best photos. In reality, from the ground it is lovely, however, photos from the air on a helicopter pass show just how amazing this structure is and the effort that went into the world's only 7 Star hotel.
Jodi Hartnell

Jodi Hartnell

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
I always recommend that people go to the Camel races on Fridays, at Al Mormoon Race Track. Over the start line, there is a overhead walkway where you can watch the camels line up for their heats. As there is no gambling in the UAE, here the winners are the camels rather than the owners, and the camels are awarded the gifts.
Jodi Hartnell

Jodi Hartnell

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
Eid Al-Fitr or Eid Al-Adha are celebrated with large gatherings and public events. These are always accompanied by smiling, happy people with loads of new foods to try and sample. As the UAE has over 150 varieties of dates, and it seems that every single kind is brought out to celebrations and they are delicious!!

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is the largest mosque in the country. It was completed in 2007. The building complex measures approximately 290 metres/960 feet by 420 metres/1,380 feet. Covering an area of more than 12 hectares/30 acres, it was established as “a structure that would unite the cultural diversity of the Islamic world with the historical and modern values of architecture and art”. The library contains classic books and publications addressing a range of Islamic subjects such as science, civilization, calligraphy, and the arts including some rare publications dating back more than 200 years. The mosque is large enough to accommodate over 40,000 worshippers, while the main prayer hall can hold over 7,000. The courtyard, with its floral design, is considered to be the largest example of a marble mosaic in the world. The carpet in the main prayer hall is considered to be the world's largest carpet made by Iran's Carpet Company. The weight of this carpet is 35 tons. It is predominantly made from wool and took approximately two years to complete. There are 7 chandeliers, the largest of which is the second largest known inside a mosque and the third largest in the world.

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