DESTINATIONS
thrills on Yas Island, the epicentre for leisure attractions. We chose Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, the world’s second-largest indoor theme park, twisting and turning on a Road Runner-themed rollercoaster and piloting the Batmobile on the thrilling Knight Flight simulator. Then it was time for a different take on Emirati nature as we swapped the desert for the mangroves. There are 60 square miles of mangroves in the UAE, much of it in Abu Dhabi, and we kayaked through the Jubail Mangrove Park learning about this unique habitat as we paddled. One of our favourite experiences here was also the most unusual: a visit to the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital. These high-value birds – they can cost up to $200,000 – are understandably well cared-for, and we were able to watch one undergoing
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | FAMILY HOLIDAYS TOP TIPS
E Combining Abu Dhabi and Dubai is easy; the interline agreement between Emirates and Etihad makes it simple to book open-jaw tickets to fly into one and out of the other.
E Travelling between the two is quick – it’s a 1.5-hour drive along the multi-lane E11 highway. A 30-minute rail link is due by 2030.
a minor medical procedure, visit their moulting quarters and even hold and feed Farhan, a beautiful female gyrfalcon. Her name means ‘happy’, and that’s certainly how this twin-centre trip, combining classic family thrills with fascinating cultural discovery, made our whole family feel.
TW
ABOVE: Louvre Abu Dhabi, which showcases artworks from around the world BOOK IT
Gold Medal offers three nights at Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi and four nights at Banyan Tree Dubai, both half-board, with return Etihad flights from Heathrow, departing August 9, and private transfers, from £4,077 in total for two adults and one child.
goldmedal.co.uk
E Suggest school holiday dates based on your clients’ tolerance for heat: Christmas and February half- term will be in the 20Cs, Easter and October the low 30Cs, while summer temperatures can hit 40C.
E Make a long-haul family holiday less daunting by adding a stopover in the UAE – airline promotions can offer free or discounted hotel nights.
travelweekly.co.uk
15 MAY 2025
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