in association with DESTINATION REPORT NEWS


From fledgling town to global city in half a century, the host of this year’s Travel Convention is a must-see emirate, says David Whitley


Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque


Abu Dhabi has revved up to become a choice destination


The photos inside the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village are likely to prompt a double take. They show a tiny, fledgling town coming off a distinct second best to the surrounding sand. The contrast to what can be seen outside in the real world – glamorous, shining towers lining the marina and the Corniche, reaching for both the sky and the future – is startling. And it is especially so once you realise that the photos were taken only in the 1960s.


What has been created in Abu Dhabi since that time has been a fascinating experiment carried out on a blank canvas. Landmark, showcase architecture – such as the leaning Capital Gate building or the mirage dream that is the Emirates Palace hotel – is the most immediately obvious result. There are also the high-prestige


projects built on two deliberately planned islands. Yas has the Formula One Grand Prix circuit and Ferrari World indoor theme park, while Saadiyat is taking on


“What Abu Dhabi has created has been a fascinating experiment carried out on a blank canvas”


showpiece museums including new branches of the Louvre and Guggenheim. These big-ticket items are designed to act as a lure, turning Abu Dhabi into a destination in its own right rather than just a transit hub. The growth of Etihad Airways into a carrier connecting the globe has seen millions pass through its home base at Abu Dhabi airport. For British travellers, this has meant multiple daily flights from Heathrow and Manchester, complemented by a route from Edinburgh launched in June last year, and relatively seamless connections through to Asia, Australia and Africa. The temptation to use Abu Dhabi as a journey-breaker has


been there ever since Etihad kicked into gear. A couple of days in the sun, with some of the world’s most luxurious hotels to choose from, is always going to have some appeal for anyone flying long-haul. But the perception that Abu Dhabi is good only for a couple of days of poolside recuperation is very swiftly changing – and for many it is becoming the sole destination rather than an add-on. It is very much a global city,


where a hotel’s restaurant roster can merrily include Indian,


Ferrari World


Mediterranean, Lebanese and Japanese cuisine. But conscious efforts have been made to preserve the Arabic heritage – and this is often what gives it a more thoughtful, less brash, less intense feel than neighbouring Dubai. The Heritage Village is the most


obvious manifestation of this drive for culture, but an impressive array of excursions can open windows into the worlds of falconry, camel racing, oasis management and date farming. Many of them also have the benefit of heading through some of the most spectacular desert scenery on Earth. It’s a cold heart indeed that doesn’t end up entranced by the subtly shifting, seemingly endless horizon of rolling, multi-coloured dunes. There has also been a big push


for Mice tourism. The Formula One Grand Prix in November is the heavily promoted flagship, but there is an increasingly packed calendar. And rumour has it that Abu Dhabi is doing fairly well in attracting major conferences too...


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