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WITH OVER 200 ISLANDS DOTTED OFF THE COAST, ABU DHABI OFFERS A VAST ARRAY OF UNTOUCHED HIDEAWAYS FOR GROUPS KEEN TO GET OFF THE BEATEN TRACK OR FOR AN EXCLUSIVE VENUE FOR A HIGH-END INCENTIVE EVENT
for a team-building race event. A total of 18 two- storey buildings equipped with their own kitchens and relaxation areas line the main Paddock, and are ideal for small group events. The circuit's North Grandstand acts as a natural amphitheatre setting for larger gatherings or gala entertainment options. There are also a further six smaller rooms incorpo- rating office facilities, which are being marketed for niche meeting and incentive activities. For a sunset cocktail event, the stunning rooftop terrace of the media centre can welcome several hundred guests for a uniquely memorable experience.
Offshore activity
With over 200 islands dotted off the coast, Abu Dhabi offers a vast array of untouched hideaways for groups keen to get off the beaten track or for an exclusive venue for a high-end incentive event. Futaisi Island, a 10-minute boat ride away from the capital, offers unmatched virgin beaches, chalet accommodation and plenty of wildlife. It also features an Arabian fort, which can be hired out for events, making it an ideal venue for gala banquets. Other islands that are equally accessible from the city include Bahraini Island and Lulu, as well as Sir Bani Yas located in the emirate's under-development Western Region. All offer excellent opportunities for snorkelling or camping and are blank canvases for a memorable dinner setting or special evening of
themed entertainment. Sir Bani Yas Island, the island nature reserve and experimental agricultural base, has undergone a massive amount of land reclamation, planting, irriga- tion and wildlife husbandry, creating a destination that somehow defies all expectations in terms of what can live and grow in this southern Arabian Gulf region. Future island developments include Saadiyat, which will be home to the Abu Dhabi Louvre and Guggenheim museums.
Desert roaming
Dune driving safaris are a perennially popular and unique team-building event for visitors to the region, and Abu Dhabi is home to some of the most impressive dunes in the UAE. Rub Al Khali, the famed Empty Quarter, offers a vast expanse of dunes and oases for groups looking for a taste of desert life. Local tour operators and DMCs can arrange half and full-day tours, which typically include a convoy of 4x4 vehicles zooming up and down the large dunes before arriving at a re-enactment of a tradi- tional Bedouin camp for dinner and drinks. A desert safari experience traditionally includes a barbecue dinner, belly-dancing, and sometimes the opportunity for a sleepover under the stars.
The spectacular sand dunes of Liwa provide a remarkable sight, and experience, for visitors. The journey to Liwa oasis, which is located southwest of Abu Dhabi, adjoining the Empty Quarter, is an exciting adventure.
The desert here has remained unchanged for centuries with its mountainous red dunes. An occasional Bedouin encampment nestled among the dunes is the only sign of habitation. Special trips into Liwa cover camel rides over red sands and overnight camping. Away from the splendour of Liwa, groups will find that the former arid desert land has been converted into a prairie for fodder grass, covering many kilometres in the vast western region that extends out to the town of Bida Zayed (also known as Medina Zayed), Abu Dhabi's second largest inland town after Al Ain. This area can be reached by travelling some of the way in a 4x4 vehicle, and also partly on camel back. È
abudhabi 2011
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