Abu Dhabi is a great destination to explore thanks to the sheer variety of experiences travellers can have within a short span of time. Within one day you can experience looking at a Picasso painting, ziplining in a snow filled room and playing a futuristic Virtual Reality (VR) game where you are killing zombies and beetles alike. To me, Abu Dhabi has been a place I can travel to with friends and family and return with memories for a lifetime. It is only around three to four hours away by flight from most cities in India, which makes the Emirati capital one of the most accessible tourist spots outside India. With all that in mind, here is a short but scintillating list of experiences you can check out the next time you are in Abu Dhabi.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi
Multiple masterpieces find pride of place at the Louvre Abu Dhabi
Vidhi BubnaThe Louvre is hands down the first place you should visit when you are in Abu Dhabi. The first thing I noticed from outside the Louvre was the design by French architect Jean Nouvel, specifically the infamous ceiling, which is inspired by the light and shadow effect of mosques in the city. I was mesmerised by the ceiling and would certainly recommend everyone to take several pictures to prevent any FOMO later. Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Claude Manet and works of many other geniuses can be explored inside, with dedicated inscriptions near each artwork. For an art fanatic like me, an hour inside the Louvre was barely enough, so I would suggest spending around three hours if you like reading all the inscriptions about each artwork. Louvre Abu Dhabi signifies globalisation, unity and tolerance across the world, in keeping with the founding principles of the UAE. I personally liked how the exhibits were not restricted to fine art but also showcased sculptures, relics, coins, tombs, carpets, crockery and a diverse range of objects.
Snow Park
Snow Park has eight to 10 rides for adults and children
Vidhi BubnaThis is one experience which will definitely unleash the child in you. Snow Park has around eight to 10 rides for adults and children combined. They have tube slides, indoor zipline, zorbing, dashing cars, miniature slide, a merry-go-round and a toy train, all with the theme of snow wonderland. Snow-themed hot chocolate carts and restaurants are also located inside with plenty of options for foodies. There tends to be a long queue outside each ride, though, without any provision for a fast pass. Hence, I recommend allocating around four to five hours here. You can also do each ride multiple times. I enjoyed wearing the entire snowsuit along with gloves and boots before entering the Snow Park. The indoor zipline was my personal favourite, since I had not experienced an indoor zipline around snow before. The Snow Park is larger than most snow parks in India and has many unique rides I had not seen anywhere else.
The Yellow Boat tour, Yas Island
The Yellow Boats move in a perpendicular fashion and you need to hold tight to not end up in the ocean!
UnsplashThe Yellow Boat tour is a perfect way to experience the Abu Dhabi skyline, sunset and unmissable locations such as the Yas Marina Circuit (Formula One race track) and the W from a unique perspective. The Yellow Boats are speed boats, which seem just like any other speed boat from the outside but have an interesting element while you are riding them. The boat moves in a perpendicular fashion and you need to hold tight to not end up in the ocean! It is one hell of a joy ride and especially attractive for travellers from India. I recommend people in big groups try this experience by booking the entire boat for the group. My friends and I went around dusk so we could experience the sunset by the skyline, too. We also came across an interesting circle-shaped building, which is owned by Etihad Airways. It is an architectural marvel which is challenging to spot from outside on the usual tourist routes but the Yellow Boat tour took us quite close to it. The tour takes around one to one-and-a-half hours, but be careful not to eat anything before you embark on it lest your joy ride gets spoiled.
Qasr Al Watan
Qasr Al Watan reminded the author of the Taj Mahal in Agra
Vidhi BubnaGrand, even awe-inspiring, Qasr Al Watan translates into the “Palace of the Nation” in English. As big as 55 football fields put together, the main palace, where presidential meetings and official delegations are invited, has several smaller palaces within. They have a special room dedicated to gifts offered by leaders across the globe to leaders in the UAE. It was interesting to see how most of these gifts were related to falcons or horses, since falcons used to be kept as pets by the rich in the UAE and horse racing remains a common sport in the country. They also have an official library, a storehouse of knowledge from across the world on diverse topics. I recommend spending two hours here, since one hour is only enough for a quick tour and you will need more time to see everything and click good photos. As a traveller from India, Qasr Al Watan reminded me of the grandeur of the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Pixoul Gaming
Each game at Pixoul Gaming can teleport you to a different world using VR
Vidhi BubnaAs the name suggests, this gaming centre is all about pixels and Virtual Reality (VR). Each game has a VR set that teleports you to a different world. While one game was a bike race where I had to escape laser lines on the ground, the other game had me team up with a friend and kill futuristic beetles and robots. I also enjoyed the VR rollercoaster. We had only budgeted three hours for this experience but ended up spending four, with many more games left to explore. There were some games we wanted to play more than once because their VR world was so beautiful and engaging. Travellers from India will especially love this as this is something which has not been launched in India yet.
