Jul 18, 2024 鈥 7 min read
Superlative city: where to find the biggest and best of Abu Dhabi
Apr 17, 2018 鈥 4 min read
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Image by Jiti Chadha / 500px
As one of the richest cities on earth, Abu Dhabi is the king of bling and an expert at showcasing the sublime. Picture white-domed mosques, candy cane minarets and sweeping romantic deserts; it is the essence of Arabia, from camel racing at dawn to burning-red sand dunes at sunset.
But alongside this storybook slice of the Gulf, the capital of the United Arab Emirates has a more indulgent, contemporary side that is anything but subtle. Combining the biggest and the brashest with the flashiest and the fastest, Abu Dhabi is home to some of the world鈥檚 most exciting new adventures. So what if your budget may not stretch as far as a local sheikh鈥檚? Here are some of the city鈥檚 perfect spots to live out the millionaire lifestyle for a day.
The world鈥檚 most expensive mosque
It may not predate the ancient mosques of Mecca or Medina or outclass the iconic turquoise-and-gold domed prayer halls of Esfahan, but the venerable Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has a more audacious calling card. Built in the late 1990s, it has become the world鈥檚 most expensive mosque. As its outer perimeters are growing every year to house even more worshippers, no one quite knows what the final bill will tally up to.
Inspired by both Mughal and Moorish mosque architecture and paved with floral marble from 鈥 count them 鈥 28 different countries, the mosque has a trifecta of superlatives. Beneath your feet spreads out the world鈥檚 largest carpet, made by a 1200-strong army of the finest Persian carpet weavers. Above your head, hang the mosque鈥檚 seven gold and Swarovski-crystal chandeliers: usurped as the world鈥檚 largest by neighbouring Qatar, they remain incomparably the most expensive disco glitter balls ever made. And then the pi猫ce de r茅sistance towering above the 1000 columns outside is the glistening main white marble dome. At 85 metres in height, it is the largest of its kind.
Want a peek inside? Regular tours run every morning except for Friday. A strict dress code is enforced, and women must cover their heads.
The world鈥檚 fastest rollercoaster
Here, it pays to choose your lunch carefully. Ferrari World, the world鈥檚 largest indoor theme park, is also home to the world鈥檚 fastest rollercoaster. An extreme white knuckle ride for adrenalin junkies and petrol heads, the Formula Rossa ride reaches speeds of 240km/h in less than five seconds and recreates the Formula 1 cockpit experience in all its glory. After flying through chicanes with a maximum acceleration G-Force of 1.7Gs, you鈥檒l end up having a face that looks like a sand-blasted desert dromedary. Go regardless; it鈥檚 worth it.
The world鈥檚 most expensive hotel
Big, brash and bold: even the cakes served at the Emirates Palace are made from gold. Like a cross between a fairy tale castle from Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin鈥檚 Cave of Wonders, the capital鈥檚 self-proclaimed seven-star Emirates Palace was the world鈥檚 most expensive hotel when it was built 鈥 to a tune of US$3 billion. Unashamedly grandiose, it epitomises the regal opulence that the world has come to expect from the Gulf: where else would a hotel become a star attraction?
Wander past the fountains, water features and landscape gardens, and follow any number of gold-painted corridors to a surreal backdrop of excessive chandeliers, ballrooms and decadent restaurants and drinking saloons, thankfully open to non-guests. For those with cash to splash, the Emirates Palace also offers the world鈥檚 most expensive tailor-made holiday at US$1 million.
If the bling becomes too much, don your sunglasses to explore the kilometres of golden beaches on its doorstep or throw moderation to the desert wind and attempt to eat your own weight in edible gold, with the hotel鈥檚 famous desserts and cakes. Come in December, and you鈥檒l be blinded by the world鈥檚 most bejewelled Christmas tree.
Want more?
Abu Dhabi is home to some more dubious wonders. It has the world鈥檚 most expensive license plate, the world鈥檚 furthest leaning manmade tower and 鈥 er 鈥 the world鈥檚 largest Ferrari logo. If this isn鈥檛 enough to impress you, the Burj Khalifa (the world鈥檚 tallest building) and Meydan Racecourse (the world鈥檚 most expensive racetrack) are on show in nearby . The famous Burj Al Arab also serves up what is said to be the world鈥檚 most expensive cocktail.
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