Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the name of one of the Emirates. The majority of the city of Abu Dhabi is on an island, connected to its mainland suburbs by bridges. The city is a new, modern, cosmopolitan urban center with a population of approximately 1 million, of which the vast majority are expatriates from India, Pakistan , Egypt, Bangladesh, the UK, and elsewhere in the Arab world and beyond.
Saying that the city is new can be somewhat misleading. That is, people have lived in the city’s area for thousands of years, but most of today’s Abu Dhabi has been built or rebuilt within the last few decades, and construction continues to boom.
The city has a garden-lined path along the waterfront, which is great for walking, and there are numerous small parks with benches and fountains. When wanting to enjoy the near-permanent sun outdoors, residents and visitors can also enjoy the city’s beaches, go dune-bashing in the desert, or play a round of golf. Indoors, explore museums or take in a concert by world-famous performers organized through the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, or head to a movie.
And because Abu Dhabi is the wealthiest emirate of the UAE (in terms of (GDP and per capita income), there are also plenty of opportunities for locals and visitors to spend money shopping, dining, or even having a night out at a club or bar. Yes – bar: alcohol is permitted for non-Muslims.
As a city that promotes tourism, Abu Dhabi also enjoys a more relaxed dress code; however, as a sign of respect for local culture and customs, visitors and expats (male and female) are advised not to wear excessively revealing clothing in public places.
