Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, was once just a lookout point for the Bani Yas tribes that roamed the country’s desert, as it strategically overlooks the Arabian Gulf. Now, it is one of the wealthiest, and most modern cities in the world filled with mind-bending skyscrapers, ultra-luxury hotels, gigantic malls, and the best golf courses in the Middle East. When you’re not busy browsing boutiques or putting some holes, you’ll probably be soaking up that sweet Emirati sun on the city’s beachfront. Its pristine beaches stretch for kilometres along the restaurant-lined corniche, boasting the finest white sand you’ll ever see. Perhaps its most iconic views, however, are of its famous Grand Mosque, a titanium-white palatial mosque crowned with more than 80 magnificent domes.
Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), the city’s primary airport, offers direct flights to and from many major destinations worldwide. It is located 32 km east of Downtown Abu Dhabi, which can be reached in around half an hour by road.
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Abu Dhabi is usually hot in December, with highs of 25°C and an average temperature of 23°C. The climate tends to be very dry, with an average 6% chance of rain each day.