—
PAST MEETS PRESENT —
Abu Dhabi conjures up images of luxury hotels and endless sunshine, but the
emirate also offers a rich cultural heritage and age-old traditions, says Abra Dunsby D
espite its relatively newfound wealth, today’s Abu Dhabi isn’t just about swanky hotels, sun-blessed beaches and
supercars. The city is also steeped in tradition with residents who are fiercely proud of their culture. This is clearly evident at Qasr Al Hosn, built in
the 1790s as a fort and reopened last December as a cultural centre and museum. Alongside videos, art and artefacts, there are live demonstrations from local artisans keen to display their crafts. During my visit, I watch bejewelled grannies with henna on their fingertips practising talli, the Emirati art of embroidery. The women wrap the brilliantly bright threads around a pillow, deftly arranging numerous bobbins to braid the threads into complex patterns. Further on, a stooped, grey-bearded fisherman beams with pride as he demonstrates how he would dive deep into the waters searching for oysters to shuck, wearing a turtle clip to keep his nostrils shut and a stone tied to his foot to keep him below the water.
52 WTM OFFICIAL EVENT DAILY 05.11.2019 NEW HOTELS
W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, located at Abu Dhabi’s Formula 1 track, opened on 1 November ahead of this year’s race on 1 December. The property was previously known as the Yas Viceroy and Yas Hotel Abu Dhabi.
Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Resort in the Yas Bay development will include 641 rooms, seven dining outlets, an “urban beach concept” and infinity pool suspended over the Gulf. It will also feature a multi-purpose conference centre.
A new Accor hotel is due to open in Abu Dhabi, but details of this are yet to be released.
Photography: DCT Abu Dhabi
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
