GENERAL INFORMATION
TRAVEL IDEAS
- Abu Dhabi 3 day stopover
- Sightseeing Extension Ideas
- Safari Extension Ideas
STAYS OF DISTINCTION
OTHER TRAVEL IDEAS
- Dubai Stopover, 3 days
FAR EAST REZ CENTRE
Since you will probably be visiting more than just one country in the Far East, take advantage of our experience and contacts in the whole area. We can also help you with the best airfares. Have your agent contact us or fill out the information request form.
Let us custom make an individual holiday you will never forget.
Abu Dhabi
COUNTRY QUICKFACTS
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The capital of the United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi. It is the headquarters for the president of the state, the cabinet, and most of the ministries, the Federal institutions, foreign embassies, Broadcast TV, Mina (Port) Zayed, Abu Dhabi Airport and most of the oil companies, establishments and commercial markets
ABU DHABI
Abu Dhabi, the thriving, exciting metropolitan capital of the United Arab Emirates beckons visitors into its melting pot of international cultures, styles and traditions. Here, contemporary styles successfully combine with traditional Arab values in a curious harmony that is reflected in the variety of sights and experiences this interesting city has to offer.
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and lies mainly on an island just off the coast around 100 km south of Dubai. Although not as cosmopolitan or developed as a tourist destination, as its neighbour to the North, Abu Dhabi is still a fascinating place to visit. Known as the "Garden City of the Gulf" Abu Dhabi has many mosques, parkland and palm trees.
The Skyscrapers of the city centre gleam above the streets, and reflect a very modern, clean city which is easy to get around, and pleasant. There are a couple of old souks to explore, in particular the Old Souk in the North West of the city where you can barter over pretty much anything that you fancy buying. With so many glitzy malls around the city, it may be wise to pay the old market a visit before they build over it. But there is more to Abu Dhabi.
Inland lies the ancient oasis city of Al Ain, while in the south-west you can explore the high dunes of the Arjan area, harbouring some of the most dramatic desert scenery in all Arabia.
A BRIEF HISTORY
The area of present-day Abu Dhabi was settled as far back as the 3rd millennium B.C. and its early history fits the nomadic, herding and fishing pattern typical of the broader region.
Modern Abu Dhabi traces its origins to the rise of an important tribal confederation the Bani Yas in the late 18th Century, who also assumed control of Dubai. In the 19th Century, the Dubai and Abu Dhabi branches parted ways. Sheikh Shakhbut granted Petroleum concessions, and oil was first found in 1958.
After the Emirates gained independence in 1971, oil wealth continued to flow to the area and traditional mud-brick huts were rapidly replaced with banks, boutiques and gleaming towers.
