Year-round sunshine, fabulous shopping malls and opulent hotels, gleaming ultramodern skyscrapers, sandy beaches and crystal blue waters, and the alluring mystique of the Arabian Desert entice many to visit Abu Dhabi, the largest of the seven Emirates. With new attractions like the Yas Island with its F1 racing track and Ferrari World, and the upcoming Louvre on Saadivat Island, and challenging world records from the world’s largest hand-loomed carpet, the fastest roller-coaster and the highest high-tea to the tower with the greatest lean and the largest cluster of cultural buildings of the 21^st century, Abu Dhabi is an exciting and intoxicating city of ultra-modernity and extravagance, but delve a little deeper and you will find remnants of an older and more traditional society, like the traditional wooden fishing dhows still tied up along the quays, and the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village. The Abu Dhabi Corniche stretches out along the coastline offering miles of walking, cycling, jogging and roller-blading, and there are plenty of cultural, sports, and leisure facilities to be found in the city itself, while other popular sights include the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, the massive Emirates Palace.

First-hand knowledge

Bella, Amy, and Rachel have been to Abu Dhabi

KEY FACTS BEFORE YOU GO:

• Capital: Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates
• Currency: UAE Dirham
• Time Difference: Abu Dhabi observes Gulf Standard Time throughout the year, which is 3 hours AHEAD of BST, and 4 hours AHEAD of GMT
• Flight time: Just over 7 hours direct
• Official language: Arabic
• Entry requirements: Visas are required, but can be obtained upon arrival, allowing for stays up to 30 days and terminated on day of departure. Your passport must have a minimum of six months' validity from date of entry (if you're only transitting the UAE, your passport must have a minimum of 3 months' validity from date of transit).
  For information about medications you can bring into the UAE, please read more here.
  Vaccinations and Health: For up-to-date information, please check this website (as recommended by the Foreign Office): https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/233/united-arab-emirates#Vaccine_recommendations
  General information on travel vaccinations can be found on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/travel-vaccinations/

To find out more, and for the most up-to-date advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/united-arab-emirates