Cultural Nuances

The UAE capital has a number of sites and activities you can enjoy.

- Neha Gupta Kapoor

The UAE capital exudes a casual persona, yet maintaining its opulence. This is evident on an afternoon drive in Corniche, along the promenade that leads up to the UAE’s Presidential Palace. The roads are almost empty, unlike a typical bustling metropolis. And maybe this is why it is easier to admire the beauty of the drive — you have an unrestricted view of the sea on one side and glass skyscrapers on the other. Some of these are an architect’s delight.

Capital Gate is one such example. It is on Khaleej Al Arabi Street, parallel to the seaside promenade, and has been purposely erected at an angle by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company. It caught the attention of Guinness World Records who recognises it as the World’s Furthest Leaning Man Made Tower. About a 12-minute drive from here is The Aldar Headquarters. This one is a 23-storey, 110-metre high, 2D circular building. Inspired by a clam shell, the building has two convex discs put together — a circular elevation on the front and rear — and curved in all other directions. Needless to say, both these buildings are coveted addresses in Abu Dhabi.

In fact, if you have an office or home in any of the multi-storey buildings around this area, consider yourself lucky. After all, your neighbour is the president of the UAE, with his palace being just a few minutes’ drive down the road.

The other affluent area of the emirate is Saadiyat, a recently developed island, about a 30-minute drive northward from Khaleej Al Arabi Street. What makes it even more special, apart from the expensive beachfront villas, is that turtles visit to lay eggs here around May and June. Tourists from all over visit to watch the animals waddle on the sand. There is also the Saadiyat Beach Club where you can buy a pass (weekday AED 220/₹3,852, weekend AED 420/₹