Abu Dhabi

Home to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi is the UAE's capital.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque's scale and detail, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi's architecture and collection.

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. One of the largest mosques in the world, with hand-knotted carpets and vast marble courtyards. Modest dress is required, and abayas are lent at the entrance for anyone who needs one.
• Louvre Abu Dhabi. A collaboration with the French museum, housed under a huge perforated dome on Saadiyat Island that scatters light across the galleries below.
• Qasr Al Watan. The UAE's presidential palace, parts of which are open to visitors, with domed halls covered in intricate detailing.
• Corniche waterfront. A long promenade for walking or cycling along the Gulf, with a public beach at its western end.
• Yas Island. Ferrari World, Yas Marina Circuit (home to Abu Dhabi's Formula 1 race) and a growing waterpark and entertainment district.

November to March, avoiding the extreme summer heat.

Corniche. Central and walkable, close to the waterfront promenade and within reach of the older downtown grid.

Saadiyat Island. Quieter and beach-facing, built around the cultural district that includes the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Yas Island. The theme-park and entertainment hub, convenient if Ferrari World or the F1 circuit are the priority.

Downtown/Corniche is the older commercial core. Saadiyat Island is the cultural and beach district. Yas Island is the entertainment and motorsport hub. Al Reem Island is a newer residential area with its own waterfront.

Abu Dhabi has no metro; taxis and ride-hailing apps are the main way to get around, supplemented by a citywide bus network. The city is spread out and built for cars, so distances between sights are often longer than they first appear on a map.

Abu Dhabi International Airport sits east of the city centre. Dubai is roughly an hour and a half away by road, and many visitors combine the two cities in one trip.

Machbous, a spiced rice dish with meat or fish, reflects Abu Dhabi's Gulf Arab roots, alongside a large and varied international dining scene shaped by the city's expatriate population.

Dubai is a manageable day trip or onward stop by road, roughly ninety minutes from Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi is a comparatively expensive destination for dining and hotels, in line with its Gulf neighbours; museum and mosque visits are among the more affordable activities.

Dress modestly at the Grand Mosque. Shoulders and legs covered for everyone, and a headscarf for women; these are provided free at the entrance if needed.

The heat is extreme in summer. Plan outdoor sightseeing, including the Corniche, for morning or evening between roughly May and September.