Locals will tell you that if you only do one thing in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, it should be a desert safari. Choose either the adrenaline-packed dune-bashing variety, where you assault sand dunes at high speed in 4-wheel drives, or the more sedate camel trekking. Tours often include dinner at a Bedouin campsite, belly dancing, a traditional henna artist, a falconry demonstration and the chance to try out sandboarding - snowboarding on sand. A multitude of operators offer these trips, so be sure to compare prices.

Where: Abu Dhabi, Dubai
How: Call +971 2 617 7810/11 or email: halaabudhabi@etihad.ae

One of the largest and newest mosques in the world, Sheikh Zayed Mosque, also known as the Grand Mosque, is as breathtaking as it is large. Take a tour and you will be dazzled by the Swarovski crystal chandeliers, 24 carat gold and precious stonework, the endless white marble domes and columns, and the largest hand-woven Persian carpet in existence.

Remember that this is a working place of worship and a holy site for Muslims. Women are expected to wear headscarves, and no shorts or bare skin is allowed.

Where: Abu Dhabi
How: For Abu Dhabi city tours, call +971 2 617 7810/11 or email: halaabudhabi@etihad.ae

Dhow cruise

Experience life the way it was lived here before the discovery of oil by taking a trip on an authentic Arabic sailing boat – while enjoying panoramic views of the Abu Dhabi skyline. Several companies in Abu Dhabi offer sunset Dhow cruises that include traditional food and drink, and Dhows may be chartered for larger private parties. Ask at your hotel’s concierge desk for a reputable operator.

Where: Mina Port, Abu Dhabi.

The corniche

Arguably the most picturesque part of Abu Dhabi, the Corniche is a coastal promenade dotted with manicured gardens and fountains, against an impressive skyline. There are trees for shade, play areas, a new beach with “softer sand” and bicycle rentals for the more adventurous. In the distance, you’ll notice what was once the tallest unsupported flagpole in the world - until Jordan and Turkmenistan built bigger ones. All in all, the Corniche is an ideal place to kick back and relax while enjoying the view.

Where: Abu Dhabi waterfront
How: For Abu Dhabi city tours, call +971 2 617 7810/11 or email: halaabudhabi@etihad.ae

High tea at the Emirates Palace Hotel

Many people don’t realize that Abu Dhabi has its own seven-star hotel: the enormous Emirates Palace. Lavishly appointed and set upon an impeccably manicured lawn at the end of a long drive, the Emirates Palace Hotel is a favourite of celebrities and football stars. If staying here is a bit out of your budget, you can still experience its famed luxury by booking yourself in for its decadent high tea. You’re also likely to chance upon one of the many fascinating exhibitions which are regularly held here.

Camel racing

No visit to the desert is complete without seeing camels, and if those camels are galopping at speeds up to 65 km/hr (40 mph), so much the better. A visit to the camel racetrack near Abu Dhabi allows you to experience this traditional Middle Eastern sport. Admission is free, so what do you have to lose?

Where: Al Watba Camel Racetrack, 45km outside Abu Dhabi, on the road to Al Ain.
When: Races are held early on Thursday and Friday mornings from 20 August – 19 February.

Al Jahili fort

Located about 2 hours from Abu Dhabi in Al Ain, Al Jahili fort is a must see for anyone interested in the history of the region.

One of the largest and most impressive forts in the country, Al Jahili dates from 1891. Built by Sheikh Zayed the First, it has served as both defensive fort and royal summer residence. Having recently undergone an extensive renovation, the fort contains a visitor information centre, a temporary exhibition space and a spellbinding permanent exhibition about the noted British explorer and travel writer Wilfred Thesiger, also known as Mubarak bin London.

Thesiger crossed the Empty Quarter in the 1940s, a notoriously dangerous and inhospitable desert, not once but twice. Many of his photographs are on display in the museum, providing a fascinating look into Abu Dhabi’s past.

Over and above the exhibitions is the chance to take a look around the fort itself. Most of the rooms and towers are open to the public and may be explored at will.

Where: Al Ain
Hours: Open daily: 8am-6pm
Admission: Free

Falconry – the sport of Sheikhs

Originally used by the Bedouins for hunting small game, falconry enjoys a long and exalted history in Abu Dhabi. A popular sport among the ruling class, it is not uncommon to see these birds being carried into Etihad Diamond First Class cabins at the height of the hunting season. Experience the noble art of falconry for yourself at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital.

Guided tours include a visit to the Falcon Museum, a falcon show and lunch in a Khaima, a traditional Arabian tent. Reservations should be made two days in advance for individuals and a week in advance for groups. You can reserve your place by contacting the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital.

For those who would prefer something more modest, the Heritage Village in Abu Dhabi also occasionally offers falconry demonstrations.

Where: The Falcon Hospital and the Heritage Village are both in Abu Dhabi cty

Scuba-diving

Abu Dhabi offers year-round diving and a wide variety of dive options. Reefs, wrecks, night diving – they’re all here. Although not as spectacular as the better known east coast, there’s plenty to hold your interest if you’re only in town for a few days and don’t feel up for the three-hour drive to Fujairah or Mussandam. Snorkelling trips are also available. The main hotels have facilities.

Where: Abu Dhabi

The Heritage Village

In the headlong rush into the future, most of old Abu Dhabi has disappeared. If you’re looking for a sense of how life was before oil, visit the Heritage Village by the Marina Mall. You’ll find recreations of many aspects of the traditional Bedouin way of life, such as a goat’s hair tent, a desert campsite complete with camel and an example of the falaj irrigation system. Artisans demonstrate traditional crafts and there is the occasional falconry display.

Where: The breakwater by the Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi
When: Sat, Mon-Thurs: 9am-1pm and 5-9pm. Friday: 5-9pm. Sunday: closed
How: For Abu Dhabi city tours, call +971 2 617 7810/11 or email: halaabudhabi@etihad.ae

Qasr Al Sarab – desert luxury

Head south from the capital and you’ll reach the Empty Quarter, the largest uninterrupted desert in the world and home to some of the tallest dunes on earth. This is a unique and genuinely awe-inspiring place, a combination of epic scenery and eerie stillness. It’s like standing on the moon.

What’s more, the founding tribes of Abu Dhabi came from here, and the government wants to introduce visitors to its desert heritage. In 2009 Qasr Al Sarab opened, a luxury hotel situated on the shoulder of a natural dune with stunning views over the surrounding desert. Designed to look like an ancient fort, the resort combines lavish facilities – it took 500 builders three years to finish - with desert activities including wildlife tours, camel rides, archery, falconry and Bedouin style dining.

With palatial rooms, fine restaurants and a world-class spa, this isn’t a budget option. But for travelers seeking authentic Arabic hospitality and desert beauty it’s difficult to see how it could be bettered. 

Liwa Date Festival

Fancy a date at a beauty competition? Look no further than the annual Liwa Date Festival in Al-Gharbia, the Western Region of Abu Dhabi (see map). The festival is a celebration of the age-old tradition of date production, and usually runs in July but check with your hotel or tour guide for specific dates.

Did you know there are around 120 different types of date? Typically, more than 3,500 farmers enter their best 250 dates in this beauty competition for six varieties of dates: khallas; dabbas, abu maan, fardh, nukhba and the khanizi. Winners receive vehicles and cash prizes of up to AED 5 million. Dates are big business in the UAE!

Alongside the date festival are lectures on agriculture, special educational sessions for children, poetry evenings and Islamic cultural celebrations. Camel, horse and falcon races also set pulses racing at the festival in Liwa, organized by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).

Where: Liwa, about 150km south-west of Abu Dhabi
When: July
Participants: 3,500+ farmers, 80,000+ visitors
Area: 52,000 square metres