Abu Dhabi, UAE | It is hard to drag a teen away from a phone, but you know you’ve got a good problem when it’s harder to drag her away from a museum!
We were at the Louvre on the second day of our trip to Abu Dhabi organised by its Department of Culture and Tourism, and our allotted hour and a half at the attraction stretched to almost three because my 16-year-old couldn’t get enough of the stunning artefacts on display. And I don’t blame her. How do you not spend a few extra minutes when you are confronted by the beauty of the “Bactrian Princess” from the Central Asian Oxus civilisation that flourished in the late 3rd and early 2nd millennium BCE—all of 25 cm, clad in a grand green chlorite coat of intricate design with puffed sleeves, and delicate features that beg question about her identity? And how do you not stand agape staring at a Neolithic two-headed statue from 7500 BCE with origins in Jordan’s Hashemite Kingdom, even though you know you have a dinner booked at the fancy French brasserie, Fouquet’s, at 7 pm?
The Louvre Abu Dhabi had 1.4 million visitors in 2024 and over 6 million since it launched in 2017. When we visited, the place was teeming with people. While most were to be found at the galleries, a sizeable number, mostly influencers, were there to take some dramatic shots against the iconic architecture. Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the museum’s geometric dome, with its latticed canopy of metal stars, is its most striking feature.
We, too, got some decent shots against the setting sun and the sea before making a mad dash for the restaurant where our delightful Iranian guide, Gazelle, was pacing the foyer. Her worried face broke into a smile as she spotted us almost sprinting to meet her for our foie gras and cod meuniere dinner date!
The Saadiyat Cultural District, where the Louvre is situated, is a 2.43 sq km hub of cultural institutions, art spaces, and museums on picturesque Saadiyat Island. Surrounded by the unreal turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf, Saadiyat Island is a paradise of powdery white sand, stunning views and rich biodiversity.
The complex is slated for completion this year with the opening of much-anticipated attractions like the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Natural History Museum and the Zayed National Museum. The Guggenheim, a collaboration between Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, will showcase modern and contemporary art, the Zayed National Museum is all about on the origins of the UAE, going back 300,000 years, while the Natural History Museum, with its traditional focus on public education and research, will present some of the rarest exhibits on earth.
The Saadiyat Cultural District is also home to teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, the most happening new attraction in the region that was launched with much fanfare in mid-April. Created by the Japanese Art Collective teamLab, the immersive 17,000 sq m digital art museum has 25 constantly evolving “living” digital art installations shaped by their environment. Even the teamLab Phenomena building is of an indeterminate shape, almost amoeba-like, as if it too is changing and morphing according to its milieu.
The teen and I waited impatiently in the long queue of mostly parents with children of varying ages. The dimly lit interiors momentarily blinded us after the bright sun of early summer. With our eyes still adjusting to the darkness, we held on to the walls and each other as we made our way to the galleries.
We first entered the Dry Zone into an exhibit called “Spontaneous Order in Chaos,” an enchanted forest of what seemed like giant colourful sequoias connecting the earth and the sky. All the galleries are interconnected and lead from one to another, so you could be frolicking with digital butterflies at one gallery and then finding your balance at “Biocosmos,” a 360-degree immersive experience where you walk gingerly across a mesh, while projections of flowers, coral, and birds swirl around you.
The museum’s Wet Zone requires you to shed your shoes and splash about in ankle-deep water for the full sensory experience. We dutifully kept our footwear in the lockers and proceeded to play with the delightful bobbing “ovoids” at “Floating Microcosms” that produced light and sound when touched. At other galleries, beautiful floating lamps on water created a synchronised display, water levels rose and fell, altering our perception of space, and a magical “Waterfall of Light Particles” cascaded down as we marvelled at its luminous flow.
There’s a time in every parent’s life when amusement parks feature prominently—the pre-teen years, when you trail your children haggardly carrying water bottles, snacks, extra clothing, and sundry other things, while they try the games and rides. When I saw Warner Bros. World on our Abu Dhabi itinerary, those flashbacks came flitting back, but I wondered if my daughter would still get as excited as she used to or if it would be met by disdain by the semi-adult. I needn’t have worried. The lure of nostalgia and the remembered childhood pleasures was strong, and from the first Looney Tunes photo with Bugs Bunny and gang to the last hair-raising ride, she had a wonderful time.
Warner Bros. World is situated in Abu Dhabi’s entertainment hub, Yas Island, and at 1.65 million sq ft, it is one of the world's largest indoor theme parks. Climate-controlled all year, it was almost chilly inside, perfect for the hot desert temperatures. The park has five “lands,” like Batman’s Gotham City, Superman’s Metropolis, Dynamite Glutch, Cartoon Junction, and Bedrock, but my daughter was most enamoured by the dimly lit allure of Gotham City and its thrilling rides.
If you, like me, aren’t particularly keen on having your innards tossed about on the rollercoasters, you can hang around at the Warner Bros. Plaza with its Art Deco theme and overdose of Hollywood nostalgia. There are plenty of themed restaurants and shops selling Warner Bros. memorabilia.
Abu Dhabi is the UAE’s wealthiest emirate with a GDP of approximately USD 326.71 billion. With its large oil and gas reserves, sovereign wealth funds, infrastructure investments, and growth in non-oil sectors, it was crowned the World’s Richest City by finance firm Global SWF in 2024. This wealth is visible everywhere—from the gleaming skyscrapers, the high-speed highways, the vast infrastructure projects, and the sheer scale of the entertainment, tourism, and cultural hubs.
However, there was a time, before oil was discovered in Abu Dhabi in the 1950s, when the land of gazelles (dhabi) was a modest settlement dependent on the pearling industry. And Qasr Al Hosn, one of the emirate’s most important national monuments, is testament to this remarkable transformation. Situated in downtown Abu Dhabi, close to the tony Corniche road, the watchtower at Al Hosn was built by Sheikh Dhiyab Bin Isa of the Bani Yas tribe in 1761 to protect the only freshwater well in the area. Today, Al Hosn is a key heritage centre that educates visitors and locals about the region’s history. After experiencing all of Abu Dhabi’s modern amenities and attractions throughout our trip, it was refreshing to immerse ourselves in the emirate's heritage through this ancient structure that is the humble cornerstone of this megapolis. At Qasr Al Hosn’s House of Artisans, we explored the UAE’s rich heritage through traditional crafts like Al Sadu, Talli, and Khoos, and joined a coffee-making ritual that walked us through roasting, grinding, and brewing.
In the UAE, coffee is more than a beverage; it is a symbol of hospitality, social bonding, ritual, and tradition. As Gazelle, my daughter and I sipped on our tiny cups of cardamom-flavoured coffee, tired from our explorations at Al Hosn, we shared stories of our lives, celebrated a newfound friendship and promised to remain in touch.
To travel from India to Abu Dhabi, consider flights offered by Etihad Airways, IndiGo, or Air India Express, which offer direct flights from various Indian cities including Mumbai, Chennai, and Delhi.
Indians require a visa to enter Abu Dhabi. If you are flying with Etihad Airways, a transit visa may be arranged for you upon request. If you have booked your trip through a travel agency, in most cases they will be able to arrange this for you.
The best time to visit Abu Dhabi is during the winter months, specifically from November to April, when temperatures are mild and pleasant for outdoor activities.
Key places to visit in Abu Dhabi include the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, known for its scale and architecture, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which houses art and artefacts from around the world. Qasr Al Hosn offers insight into the city’s history, while the Heritage Village presents traditional Emirati life. Yas Island is home to major attractions like Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, and the Yas Marina Circuit. For outdoor experiences, visitors can explore the Mangrove National Park or walk along the Corniche, a waterfront promenade with views of the Arabian Gulf.
Several destinations near Abu Dhabi are worth visiting for a change of pace or day trip. Dubai, just 90 minutes away, offers modern skyscrapers, shopping malls, and cultural sites like Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. Al Ain, about 1.5 hours inland, is known for its UNESCO-listed oases, Al Jahili Fort, and the Jebel Hafeet mountain. The Liwa Oasis, located on the edge of the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter), offers desert landscapes and sand dune adventures. Closer to the city, Sir Bani Yas Island features wildlife safaris, nature reserves, and luxury resorts. Saadiyat Island and Jubail Mangrove Park also provide nearby options for art, relaxation, and nature.
