While Dubai is a more cosmopolitan destination, Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, stands out for offering greater contact with Islamic culture, in addition to having a growing offer of museums. It is home to the imposing Sheikh Zayed Mosque, named after the founder of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918-2004), whose portrait is ubiquitous in the country.
The only mosque in the city open to non-Muslims, the temple is a must-see in Abu Dhabi. Women are required to cover their entire bodies and hair to enter, but scarves for this purpose can be provided at the entrance to the complex.
Abu Dhabi, by the way, is more conservative than cosmopolitan Dubai, so it is recommended that women, even on the street, avoid wearing clothes that expose their body too much.
In addition to impressive Islamic architecture — with grandiose domes and minarets, reflecting pools and a huge courtyard with a white marble floor with floral prints — a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is one of the best opportunities to get to know the religion. The guides explain basic questions about Islam and are available to answer any questions you may have.
In the grandiose interior area, the floor is entirely covered with a carpet of 5,700 square meters – the largest handmade carpet in the world. In all, the mosque has the capacity to receive more than 7,000 worshipers.
The visit can be made even during the holy month of Ramadan, but times change. Inside the mosque complex there is also a library with around 10,000 titles, most dedicated to Islamic art and architecture.
But it’s not just the religious culture that the UAE’s capital stands out for. The emirate has been striving to become a reference in terms of art and architecture. The Louvre Abu Dhabi, opened in 2017, has a project signed by French architect Jean Nouvel, winner of the Pritzker, the “Nobel” of Architecture.
The museum was just the beginning of a project to place the city on the world map of the arts. In the cultural district, right next to the Louvre, a Guggenheim unit, with architecture by Pritzker winner Frank Gehry, and a Natural History Museum, designed by the Dutch firm Mecanoo, are being built. The idea is that all of them will be delivered by 2030.
In addition to the cultural offer, Abu Dhabi also has the typical luxuries of the United Arab Emirates. The Emirates Palace is one of the most sophisticated hotels in the country. It’s where heads of state usually stay when they visit the capital. It has its own marina, equipped to receive large yachts, and suites with a daily rate of up to US$ 30,000 (about R$ 140,000).
Anyone looking for entertainment and excitement should go to Yas Island. There are the liveliest bars, the racetrack that hosts Formula 1, and some amusement parks, including Ferrari World, the theme park of the Italian team.
The complex has car exhibitions, shops with Ferrari items and various toys. The main one is the Formula Rossa, a roller coaster that, at the start, goes from 0 to 240 km/h in 4.9 seconds. To ride on the attraction, it is necessary to empty your pockets and leave all your belongings in a luggage storage, in addition to putting on goggles – after all, there is no helmet and, therefore, the passenger is “faced into the wind”.
Unlike most roller coasters, where the descents and loops are the most exciting parts, in Formula Rossa what really impresses is the speed. The sprint is meant to make every Formula 1 fan feel like they’re starting a Grand Prix. It is, by the way, the fastest roller coaster in the world — it’s just that we’re still in the United Arab Emirates, land of superlatives.
