The Corniche (or Corniche Road) is an 8 km long road located in the city of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. In this area there are children’s play areas, separate cycle and pedestrian pathways, fountains, parks, restaurants, cafés and the Corniche Beach. Between 2002 and 2004, land was reclaimed from the sea and the Corniche was extended. Some of the earlier landmarks (the volcano fountain and Abu Dhabi clock tower) were demolished in the process. Busiest in winter, Corniche boasts plenty of parking and public transport. Corniche offers affordable street food, to beach side cafes, to great coffee. For a private experience away from prying eyes, the family and singles beaches are worth the $2.75 entry.
Corniche Beach
Immaculately clean Corniche Beach consisting of powdery stretch of white sand sloping down to turquoise waters, was awarded Blue Flag status, it also has a beautiful seaside boardwalk, with well-kept walkways, manicured gardens and benches overlooking the picturesque Arabian Gulf. In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.
The 2km beach has three sections: Al Sahil (Gate 4) is perfect for singles and larger groups with free entry, Gate 2 is ideal for families and has its own quiet zone, with Gate 3 also being great for families and kids. The two latter beaches are shielded from view with a fence. Showers, changing rooms and cabanas are available, and sun loungers and umbrellas can be hired for a fee. A lifeguard is on duty until sunset. Entrance fee for two latter Gates is AED 10 for adults and AED 5 for children. Kids under five are allowed free. Sun lounger will cost AED 25.
Corniche Breakwater
Corniche Breakwater is at the far western corner of Abu Dhabi Corniche. Here are two of Abu Dhabi’s biggest attractions: Marina Mall and Heritage Village.
Marina Mall
Marina Mall is an entertainment complex that includes a bowling alley, ice rink, 400 shops, restaurants, cafes, and cineplex, as well as an array of designer brand outlets in its shopping mall. The Observation Deck 300 is at 74th floor of the Jumeirah at Emirates Tower Hotel, in Tower 2 of Abu Dhabi’s 5-tower Etihad Towers development. It is 300 metres above sea level. The Observation Deck is equipped with binoculars, allowing you to take a closer look at landmarks such as the Emirates Palace, Sky Tower, Marina Mall, and the Persian Gulf.
Marina Mall’s observation tower, ‘Sky Tower’. has traditionally been the budget way to get 360-degree aerial views of the city. The coffee shop here serves the highest high tea in the city. Admission includes ARD50 towards food and drink.
Abu Dhabi Corniche Beach
Heritage Village
Heritage Village transports you back to the UAE of the past thanks to its authentic reconstruction of a pre-oil-era enclave. Its open-air museum includes a campfire with traditional coffee pots and a tent made from goat hair.
Corniche Breakwater Founder’s Memorial
This memorial celebrates the life and achievements of Sheikh Zayed, the founder of the United Arab Emirates. The Constellation, a giant avant-garde 3D art piece reflecting the portrait of the sheikh is set inside the garden of the Founder’s Memorial. In order to fully appreciate the full spectacle, you will have to visit after dark when The Constellation comes alive with lights. Free 30-minute tours of the site are offered throughout the day when booked online or reserved on arrival.
Emirates Palace
Emirates Palace
Emirates Palace is a luxury hotel with 392 rooms and suits and 1002 crystal chandeliers, built at a cost of AED 11 billion. It is located in the Corniche Breakwater area. The hotel hosts operas and orchestras during the Abu Dhabi Classics concert season, Afternoon high tea in the foyer (from Dhs387 for two people), is very popular along with cocktails at the trendy Hakkasan, fine seafood at Sayad and upmarket Emirati cuisine at Mezlai.
Food offerings at Corniche
In the far western corner of Corniche Beach there are some excellent eating places such as Catch for fresh seafood, or Marl’s Organic for juices and salads. Rosina Bellina, overlooking the seafront, offers fine Italian dining with al fresco views, while further along Corniche Road you’ll find a collection of tempting dining options next to Corniche Park.
Manarat Al Saadiyat ( “place of enlightenment,”) is a cultural community centre owned and operated by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi. It consists of an art studio, a photographic studio and a space for rent. Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museums are located in Manarat Al Saadiyat. The centre also hosts special events, art fairs, panel discussions,talks, workshops, and educational initiatives from time to time. Occasional workshops include printmaking, figure drawing, and robotics; there are also one-off events like comedy nights, star-gazing, and yoga classes.
Art Zone
Art Studio
Art Studio at Manarat Al Saadiyat is a multi-disciplinary arts space offering hands-on arts education programmes, art classes, drop-in sessions, workshops and outreach initiatives to students, adults, children and families in the Emirate. The emphasis on photography and multimedia. Fully equipped studios for ongoing classes, an open plan collaborative space for adults and interactive features make Art Studio the perfect place for creating art. Art Studio also hosts an arts supply store, making it easier for young artists to continue their practice at home. The arts education programmes continually adapt and respond to the needs of the community and dedicated outreach programmes such as helping teenagers develop their art portfolios, or proposing hands-on classes for people of determination continue to thrive.
In November, every year, the centre hosts an international art fair.
Cultural Hub
Photography Studio
The Photography Studio now offers an essential platform for photography enthusiasts, professionals and artists to improve their skills, expose them to new techniques and the latest approaches in the field, and assist them in maintaining a steady and professional growth of their talent. Photography Studio encourages the participation of local, regional, and international photographers by hosting community-driven photography exhibitions as well as developing and promoting a year-round calendar of activities and programmes. The studio offers workshops and courses conducted by professional photographers, along with a large workshop space, a makeup and dressing room, a digital lab and a studio available for rent. Master classes led by regionally and internationally established photographers will include studio lighting, smartphone photography, videography, photo editing, black and white photography, photography for all levels, city-scape photography, still-life photography, fine art photography and food photography, amongst others. Every Wednesday, from 6pm to 8pm, the studio will host meet-ups for enthusiasts who are free to attend. They will be given an opportunity to brainstorm ideas, exchange tips and techniques, share a photo of the week, ask about different equipment and gather information related to photography. The Photography Studio has 250-seat auditorium and three gallery spaces for temporary exhibitions. The new café and brasserie, Larte, offers a modern interpretation on northern Italian and European classics. There is also a gift shop/
Motiongate is theme park like Universal Studios Hollywood and Disneyland. It is based on four world-famous motion picture studios: Dreamworks Animation, Columbia Pictures, Lionsgate, And Smurfs. Motiongate Dubai is operated by Dubai Parks and Resorts. There are 40 world-class attractions spread around 5 unique zones. These shows are suitable for children over 3 years of age as well as adults. The theme park occupies 1.9 million square feet in an area where it will be able to expand up to 4 million square feet.
There are 3D simulators and 4D theater, roller coasters, and a launch/drop tower, as well as rides for children. There are also actions from gravity-defying rides like The Hunger Games’ Capitol Bullet Train, to immersive attractions such as and Kung Fu Panda. Studio Central The park’s main entrance is shaped like a movie reel. Studio Central area provides shopping and dining facilities, themed like a 1950 New York street. This hub is with an impressive fountain and leads to other four zones in the theme park complex.
Motiongate Dubai
Columbia Pictures
Themes here are based on Sony Pictures’ films and franchises such as Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Hotel Transylvania, Ghostbusters, Zombieland, The Green Hornet, and Screen Gems’ Underworld. In the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs there is River Expedition Swallow Falls hich is a world where food and animals combine to create fascinating new species with their own ecosystem! Set sail on a fun and adventurous river expedition before heading deep into the heart of the lush jungle. Riders will get up close and personal with this phenomenal foodimal world. Zombieland Blast-off is a drop off in a 58 meter lift.
DreamWorks
The DreamWorks area consists of four sub-area all based on DreamWorks Animation franchises such as Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, and Trolls. Shrek is a themed area with a flat ride for children. A “flat ride” refers to attractions at amusement parks, carnivals, fairs, and theme parks that typically spin around and usually include a circular platform.
Madagascar is themed after a Circus.
Kung Fu Panda is a Chinese themed area featuring a 3D simulator and a flat ride.
How to Train Your Dragon is a Viking area with a highly themed coaster adventure featuring fully-immersive rides and attractions that include the Swinging Viking, a thrilling ship-based adventure; Camp Viking, an interactive, adventure play area with crawl netting, dragon training tools and duelling Viking ships; and action-packed roller-coaster Dragon Gliders.
The Smurfs’ Village
The Smurfs’ Village is themed after a Belgian comic franchise centered on a fictional colony of small, blue, humanoid creatures who live in mushroom-shaped houses in the forest. The village of the internationally beloved Smurfs offers 5 attractions including interactive play zones, exciting family rides and a charming theatre show for all generations to enjoy.
Lionsgate
The attractions include delectable food offerings, trendy merchandise, and high-energy live entertainment. THE WORLD OF THE HUNGER GAMES brings to life the fast-paced action. STEP UP DUBAI is a live dance favorite show based on the latest installments of the Step Up franchise. This Zone brings to life the fast-paced, action-fueled world of The Hunger Games.
The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization in the Heritage Area of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, opened in 2008, covers Islamic culture, from the first century AH (7 AD) to the fourteenth century AH (20 AD)from the Islamic world. The artifacts are displayed according to their time periods in six distinct galleries.
The museum is located on the Corniche Street in the Al Majarrah area, on the opposite side of the street from Sharjah Creek. Its characteristic golden dome makes it visible from far. It was originally constructed as an indoor market.
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
The museum comprises more than 5000 artifacts in seven galleries and display areas as follows:
The Abu Bakr Gallery of Islamic Faith
This gallery showcases the principles of Islam and the Holy Qur’an. Here, the five pillars of Islam, the foundations of the Islamic faith, are presented and the rituals of Hajj and Umrah are defined. It also depicts anthropomorphic parts of the Ka’aba and original parts of the honorable clothing of the Kaaba, the “Kiswah”, rare historical Quran manuscripts as well as model figures and pictures of mosques and their architecture from different parts of the Islamic world and Europe.
The Ibn Al-Haytham Gallery of Science and Technology
The most influential Islamic scientific achievements and contributions by great Muslim scholars are displayed here. Sophisticated three-dimensional models , audiovisuals and extensive information panels chart some of the most outstanding discoveries, inventions and theories developed by Muslim scholars in all fields, including astronomy, medicine, geography, architecture, mathematics, chemistry, military technology, marine navigation and engineering. The artifacts include complex early clocks, navigational aids and weapons.
Islamic Art Gallery 1
The artifacts displayed here include pottery, metalwork, woodcarving, manuscripts and textiles that date back to 1st to 7th centuries AH (7th ــ 13th centuries AD). This early period marked the expansion of Islamic civilization and culture from the Arabian peninsula to the Atlantic in the West and the borders of China in the East. During the early part of this period art taken from the ancient Hellenistic and Persian worlds were adopted and modified to suite the aesthetic, cultural and religious tastes of the new Islamic order. In the latter part a new style emerged, characterized by an emphasis on Arab-Islamic scripts as well as geometric and floral decoration.
Islamic Art Gallery 2
This gallery features important Islamic artworks dating back to 7th – 13th centuries AH (12th – 19th centuries AD). The artifacts include objects of post-Mongol invasion of the eastern Islamic world in the 13th century, as well as a selective collection depicting the Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal civilizations, the three main competing empires that dominated the Islamic world at the time. It was also a period of increasing global trade, economic growth and fruitful, creative interaction between artistic, cultural and indeed religious communities.
Inside Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
Islamic Art Galleries 3-4
These galleries exhibit mainly Islamic arts, crafts and weapons used between 13th – 14th centuries AH (19th – 20th centuries AD). This period is characterized by the increasing influx of European ideas and products. Traditional markets, artisans and craftsmen now had serious competition from cheap, mass-produced goods brought in from the West. Traditional weapons continued to be popular among local populations and tourists alike. Now, they were used less in battle, but in ceremonial parades, as part of a man’s formal costume, as honorable gifts to dignitaries or indeed as collectible artifacts in their own right.
Islamic Coins Display
The museum’s outstanding early Islamic coin collections are displayed in the atrium outside the Al Majarrah Gallery. Visitors can learn about the history and emergence of these coins through these outstanding displays.
Seven free-standing displays and several computer touch screens provide additional numismatic information about the collection. There are more than 250 coins on display and the text material on the sides of the displays provide information about various coins.
Islamic Coins
The Al Majarrah Temporary Exhibition Gallery
In this gallery, the museum hosts temporary world-class exhibitions twice a year in collaboration with other museums and institutions across the world like the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia and the Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin.
Hatta is located nearly 130 km from central Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. It is located high in the Hajar Mountains. Formerly an Omani territory, its ownership was transferred to Dubai in or around 1850. Hatta’s craggy mountain cliffs, scattered springs and lush valleys offer a stark contrast to the glassy facades of the city. Hike up the Hajar mountains and you will get to see breathtaking views of the historical village. The area was once called Al Hajerin, or Al Hajeran, in reference to the two mountain peaks guarding its north and south borders.
Old village of Hatta
The old village of Hatta includes two prominent military towers from the 1880s, a fort from 1896 and the Juma mosque, which was built in 1780 and is the oldest building in Hatta. The traditional water supply was through the falaj system, which also has been restored.
Hatta Heritage Village
The restored, centuries-old Hatta Heritage Village features a defensive tower, stone houses with palm-frond roofs, and falaj, the traditional water system. Other exhibits include traditional weapons, furniture and crockery. At the nearby Hatta Dam, the Hatta Reservoir Visitor Point overlooks the pools of striking green water.
Since Hatta is located in the mountains, it was the summer habitation of Dubai-based families escaping the heat and humidity of the coast and trying new outdoor activities.
The Hatta Dam
The Hatta Dam was constructed in the late 1990s. Hatta Dam is now one of the main attractions in the area, with the bright, turquoise water set against the earthy rock for a picturesque vista. Visitors can drive along the dam and stop at viewpoints for photographs, or trek across it and down the hilly terrain or kayak across the quiet lake formed by the dam.
Hatta Fort
Hatta Fort
Hatta Fort, built in 1896, is one of the most significant architectural monuments in the UAE. The structure served as a residence and defence facility with a large internal courtyard and an 11m-high watchtower. The building was restored in 1995. The two round watchtowers overlooking the mountain village were built in the 1880s. They are located 2.5m above ground level with a small door and semi-circular staircase leading to the roof. Guards would use ropes to scale the towers and enter through the doors.
Hatta Hill Park
Hatta Hill Park was built in 2004. The nearly 64sqkm area is popular for picnics and barbecues, as well as a tower, which makes for an excellent vantage point.
Hatta Heritage Village
Hatta Heritage Village
Hatta Heritage Village in the central town is a restored museum. It comprises 30 buildings, including huts and houses, reconstructed as they were hundreds of years ago. The Village also houses relics and documents of past life, where you’ll learn about Dubai’s Arabian heritage from food to folklore. There are two watchtowers and a fort, as well as a mosque from olden times. The museum also hosts several events during UAE holidays such as National Day (2 December).
Hatta Wadi Hub
Hatta Wadi Hub is the town’s home of action and adventure, open in winter. Here you can try your hand at archery and axe throwing. You can go twin ziplining with a friend. You can opt to paraglide with the Bird Eye Parachuting Club that will take you soaring into the air 500 feet off the ground. The 52 km of mountain biking trails provide cross-country bike paths of varying difficulty levels, encouraging novices and professionals to enjoy the picturesque alleys.
If you want to stay overnight, book at the Hatta Damani Lodges or Hatta Sedr Trailers, both providing chic accommodation nestled in the mountains. Hatta Dome Park will give you the ultimate glamping experience. Hatta Caravan Park is the first luxury caravan park in the region.
The JA Hatta Fort Hotel is great if you’re looking for a resort-style stay. The hotel has its own restaurants, spa, mini golf and petting zoo, while every room and suite comes with mountainside views.
Larger groups visiting Hatta can choose from one of several farm house rentals, including The Reef and Happiness Farm, each complete with facilities such as BBQ areas and a pool for the kids to splash around in.
Dubai’s Al Fahidi Neighborhood is the last remaining fragment of Old Dubai. It is also known as Bastakia. This part of the city reminds the simpler, gentler past of the city before skyscrapers took over the skyline. The district holds memories of an era that pre-dates the federation of the emirates — before the union of the Emirati tribes in 1971 and a time when the pearl trade flourished in the region. The buildings here date back to the 1890s and were made with traditional materials such as coral, stone, mud and wood. The 18th-century Al Fahidi Fort is now home to Dubai Museum’s pearl-diving exhibits. Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House is a former royal residence now displaying old photos and documents, while the Heritage and Diving Villages have replica mud huts with potters and jewelers at work. The Textile Souk offers colorful pashminas and handicrafts.
In the 1980s half of the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood village was demolished to make way for the development of a new office complex. The remaining houses were mostly used as warehouses or accommodation for foreign laborers.
Rayner Otter, a British architect, bought a house and renovated it for his personal use. He started a campaign to preserve the area and wrote a letter to Prince Charles, who was scheduled to visit Dubai that year. During his visit the Prince suggested that Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood should be preserved and the demolition was canceled.
Bastakia Quarter
Now the narrow, winding lanes in the area are lined with carefully restored traditional buildings in typical Arabian architectural styles. Many of the buildings feature the wind towers, which kept houses cool before air-conditioning became common.
Many of the buildings now house small museums, art galleries, and craft shops, allowing you to see the typical Arabian interiors. The Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding is also based within the quarter.
Dubai Museum
Dubai Museum is located here. The structure, originally built in the 1700s, is the restored Al Fahidi Fort. The building served as a home to a former reigning monarch and even served as a prison before it was converted into a museum in 1971. In the museum one can see replicas of the traditional markets of old, ancient weapons, pottery and tombs. Notable exhibits include those which depict pearl diving, which was an important part of the old economy before the discovery of fossil fuel.
Dubai Museum
Culinary side of Emirati life
Visitors can enjoy Bedouin-style traditional meals in this area, to experience local culinary heritage. Depending on whether you come for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner, you’ll get to taste such local dishes as balaleet (sweetened crunchy vermicelli), chabab (cardamom-spiced pancakes), saloona (a stew) or machboos (a rice and meat or fish dish).e local culinary heritage.
Al Fahidi Neighbourhood
Mawaheb
Mawaheb is an art studio. The purpose of the studio is to develop the artistic skills of people above or equal to the age of 16 and have special needs. Arabian Tea House Café serves traditional Arabic food. XVA Gallery specializes in contemporary art from the Arab world, Iran and the Subcontinent.The gallery also features an Art Hotel and Cafe, serving Middle Eastern vegetarian food.
Mawaheb
Shaikh Muhammad Center for Cultural Understanding
Shaikh Muhammad Center for Cultural Understanding, a non-profit organization, spreads cultural understanding among the people of Dubai. Guided by the motto ‘Open Doors, Open Minds’, this unique institution was founded in 1995 by Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, to build bridges between cultures and to help visitors and expats understand the traditions and customs of the UAE.
Sheikh Mohammed Centre For Cultural Understanding Al Bastakiya
Coffee Museum
On the ground floor of the Coffee Museum, visitors can buy coffee of their choice and on the second floor there are books relating to coffee. Coffee plays a big part in Emirati culture along with the wider Middle East, and here you can learn all about the cultural significance of this drink. You can discover the history of coffee, and get an insight into production processes and the many varieties of beans, along with different coffee cultures throughout the world.
Coin Museum
Coin Museum
The museum showcases nearly 500 coins mainly from the Arab world from different time periods and geographical locations. The display allows you to inspect each coin closely and gives you details of the minting date, shape and material. Housed in a traditional coral, stone, and sandalwood building, the collections are displayed in eight rooms.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is an art museum located on Saadiyat Island, or “Island of Happiness.” in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This island is connected by a bridge to the mainland. This site will eventually be a “cultural district” bristling with hotels, condos, malls and other museums, including an Abu Dhabi Guggenheim.
Louvre Abu Dhabi Agreement Between The UAE And France
It is operated under an agreement between the UAE and France. The agreement signed in March 2007 allows the use of the Louvre brand name till 2037 for a reported $520 million. Under the agreement France would loan artworks and provide management expertise for 30.5 years. This time period will give the museum time to assemble a permanent collection — the acquisition process is well underway — and create its own version of a global art history. The deal would also see wider cultural exchange and high-profile collaborations between the two countries.
Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum
The museum is approximately 24,000 square metres in size, with 8,000 square metres of galleries. The galleries are set in 55 detached buildings. The centerpiece of museum architecture is a huge silvery dome that appears to float above the museum-city. Despite its apparent weightlessness, the dome weighs around 7,500 tons. That’s about the same weight as the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The museum showcases artworks around the world, bridging the gap between the Eastern and Western art. By 2019, the Louvre Abu Dhabi had already attracted 2 million visitors, making it the most visited museum in the Arab world.
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Louvre Abu Dhabi Silvery Dome
The centerpiece of museum architecture is a huge silvery dome that appears to float above the museum-city. Despite its apparent weightlessness, the dome weighs around 7,500 tons. That’s about the same weight as the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The domed roof of the museum features nearly 8,000 metal stars set in a geometric pattern, which allows shards of sunlight to enter, casting shimmering rays throughout the interior.
Louvre Abu Dhabi Exhibits
Louvre Abu Dhabi Exhibits
Many exhibits come from its sister gallery in Paris, while others are resolutely Arabian. The story of humanity is told in 12 chapters, starting with ancient Egyptian and Cypriot antiquities and ending with contemporary showstoppers such as Ai WeiWei’s Fountain of Light.
Louvre Abu Dhabi Exhibits
Leonardo da Vinci’s La Belle Ferronnière, one of only 15 known paintings by him, is there. There are also Vincent Van Gogh’s 1887 self-portrait, Claude Monet’s The Saint-Lazare Station and Jacques-Louis David’s huge Napoleon Crossing the Alps. There are also modern artwork by art heavyweights such as Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol and Cy Twombly.
Aside from permanent collections, each year the Louvre Abu Dhabi hosts four temporary exhibitions co-organised with its French partners, meaning an ever-changing showcase of international talent. Sound is as important here as vision, so music and multicultural performances underpin the creative output from the museum’s auditorium.
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Louvre Abu Dhabi Collecting Photography
In 2012, the Louvre Abu Dhabi started collecting photography, making its first acquisitions in the field, including works by Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, Roger Fenton and George Wilson Bridges. The museum also acquired a sculpture of a Bactrian princess dating from the third millennium BC, a pavement and fountain set from the early Ottoman period, as well as the paintings Breton Boys Wrestling (1888) by Paul Gauguin and The Subjugated Reader (1928) by René Magritte.
