Posts Tagged ‘island’

Island hopping in….Abu Dhabi

Think of Abu Dhabi and endless desert comes to mind. That and a goldmine of oil fields.

What comes as an unexpected yet welcome surprise is the Emirate’s in fact booming hospitality industry, cultural development and rich wildlife.

With nearly 200 islands lying off its shores, Abu Dhabi is the latest and certainly most glamorous destination for island hopping – without the monotonous cliché of just sand, sun and sea at every stop.

Take Yas Island, home to the new Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In true Emirati style, this circuit is destined to be the Monaco of the Middle East, with everything bigger, better and oh-so-decadent. The island also offers numerous adrenaline rushes, with a Ferrari Theme Park, a water park, several world-class golf courses and polo grounds. About 130km west of Abu Dhabi lies Bu Tinah, part of the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve, the first in the region to be recognized by UNESCO and a contender for the ‘New 7 Wonders of Nature’. With a rich marine ecosystem and towering mangroves, Bu Tinah is home to a number of rare species, including the endangered hawksbill sea turtle, over 800 dugongs and the occasional Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin.

For those in search of safari adventures, Sir Bani Yas Island offers a unique experience: originally the private sanctuary of the late ruler and founder of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the island now offers those in search of the novel the chance to explore, with game drives, guided walks and mountain biking through the desert hinterlands as well as luxurious accommodation at Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara.

With over half the island devoted to a wildlife reserve as well as a bird sanctuary, visitors will encounter a myriad of free-roaming animals – different sub-species of rare gazelles and antelope, herds of spotted deer, the strange Barbary sheep (a species of goat-antelope native to Africa), mesmerizing flocks of white flamingos at sunrise and the prized Arabian oryx, found only on Sir Bani Yas.

With the Emirate’s latest project – the massive, multi-billion dollar development on Saadiyat Island – already underway, Abu Dhabi is set to become the art centre of the East, with a planned Louvre and Guggenheim Museum, again the masterpiece of Frank Gehry. With so many gems to offer, a relatively untouched archipelagic haven surrounded by turquoise waters and unrivalled in decadence and luxury, Abu Dhabi is well on its way to becoming the destination – the new playground of the adventurous elite.

Lulu Island – Abu Dhabi’s slice of paradise

With a distinctly Arabian flavour, Abu Dhabi introduces itself to the world as the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai maybe the more jubilant and over-enthusiastic neighbour of this nation, never the less, Abu Dhabi serves as a good place to visit for those of us who do not have a deep seated desire to go clubbing every night. The dining, entertainment and shopping venues are just as great, and the people are just as friendly and warm. Just as little as 50 years ago, Abu Dhabi was a fishing village with Bedouin tribes living across the dessert lands, with the discovery of oil, this city has gained exponentially in wealth and chosen carefully when making its investments. With the spurt in growth, the country still remains true to its roots and values their seas and desserts.

One of the best things to do while living in Abu Dhabi or visiting it, is to go to Lulu Island. A popular tourist attraction in Abu Dhabi, Lulu Island is man made and covers an area of 1050 acres. Opened in 2007 by the government, this recreational and leisure park is a great escape in to a world of fun, frolic and entertainment for the whole family. Beach front of the island ensure plenty of water sporting activities, cafes and cafeterias serve a wide array of cuisine to suite just about every pallet, while horse and camel riding is also a plausible option. Two artificial fresh water lakes provide a great place for a picnic or to go paddle boating. Still under development, Lulu Island will host a wide variety of other thematic areas with wildlife, fun rides and accommodation.

Looking for hotels in Abu Dhabi ?With a wide selection on offer from budget to luxury hotels, Kingsgate Hotel Abu Dhabi comes to mind as a lodging option with exceptional facilities that meet the needs of both the traveller who is on business as well as on holiday. A fine array of rooms and suites await the guest of Kingsgate Hotel Abu Dhabi, which is suited for families, groups and individuals.

Lulu Island – Redefining Lifestyle, Leisure and Recreation in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, the capital of United Arab Emirates, rests along the Arabian coast overlooking the Persian Gulf. The city is popular as an excellent destination for tourism and nestles myriads of tourist attractions. These attractions vary from Bronze Age archaeological sites to large zoological parks, wonderful works of architecture to living museums and so much more.

Just off the coast of Abu Dhabi, and within its vicinity, sprawls another famous leisure attraction of Abu Dhabi known as Lulu Island. This is a completely man-made island, extending between Zayed Seaport and Abu Dhabi Breakwater.

Lulu Island, also referred as Al Lulu Island, was launched in April 2007 as a commercial and residential area, spanning over 1000 acres. It is quite popular among tourists as a cultural and recreational hub, spiced with enlivening leisure activities and stunning coastal panoramas. The isle is also visible from Corniche, a road in Abu Dhabi quite popular among tourists for sightseeing.

Towards the south of Lulu Island are sweeping white sandy beaches, fringed by a belt of verdant palm grove. Take a refreshing dip in the turquoise waters, sunbathe or engage in a variety of exciting water sports here.

Paddle across Lulu Island’s two freshwater lakes in paddling boats and have a little adventure while enjoying its peaceful ambience. And if that is not adventurous enough, climb up the simulated sand dunes and capture some breathtaking views around the isle.

Lulu Island has much more surprises awaiting the locals and tourists in Abu Dhabi, including fine marinas, harbours for yachts and boats. The island also offers water parks for children, botanical gardens, amusement parks and sanctuaries besides horse and camel riding centres.

A place to quench your thirst and gratify your hunger is all you need after an exciting fun filled day at Lulu Island. And to your delight, the isle presents scores of great restaurants, cafeterias and cafes offering an assortment of delectable cuisines and refreshments.

Take a ferry ride to reach Lulu Island from a marina in the vicinity of Heritage Village, a popular cultural tourist attraction in Abu Dhabi. You can conveniently access this marina from one of the cosy Abu Dhabi hotels like Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi sited on the picturesque Corniche. While indulging in this hotel’s luxury comforts, you can visit best shopping centres and key business venues of Abu Dhabi in no time.

Abu Zaby: Abu Dhabi, Emirat, Metro Dubai, Saadiyat, Yas Island, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Airways

Product Description
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Abu Dhabi ist die Hauptstadt des gleichnamigen Emirats Abu Dhabi und der Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate (VAE). Die Stadt mit inzwischen rund 860.000 Einwohnern befindet sich auf einer 70 Quadratkilometer großen Insel im Mangrovengürtel, die durch die Mussafa- und al-Maqtaa-Brücke mit dem Festland verbunden ist. Die Hauptinsel ist von einigen künstlich erweiterten oder neu aufgespülten Inseln umgeben, die zur Zeit erst zum Teil bebaut sind.

Abu Zaby: Abu Dhabi, Emirat, Metro Dubai, Saadiyat, Yas Island, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Airways

Dubai Island Trip

Dubai Island Trip

Uae Property Guide, Part 2 Of 8: Abu Dhabi Property

Abu Dhabi is an emirate (sovereign state) of the United Arab Emirates; it is also the name of the major city of this emirate, which is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (the UAE). Abu Dhabi is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf and is bordered by the emirate of Dubai and the countries of Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Several exciting property developments are currently under construction in Abu Dhabi one of which is the development of Saadiyat Island that is heralded to become the cultural centre of the region. Saadiyat Island is a natural island 500 meters off the coast of Abu Dhabi that will be connected to the mainland by two ten lane causeways. The island will be developed into six distinct precincts: Al Marina, the Cultural District, Saadiyat Park, Saadiyat Beach, South Beach and The Wetlands. The island is being developed as a major international tourist destination and residential area; it will house an estimated 150,000 residential inhabitants. Tourism will be extremely well catered for on Saadiyat with hotels, resorts, commercial shopping centres, and two golf courses (one of which will be a Gary Player Signature Course), to name just a few of the tourist facilities to be provided.

The Cultural Centre on Saadiyat Island will be world class with a performing arts centre and concert hall along with four museums including the Guggenheim Modern Art Museum designed by Frank Gehry, and a classical museum The Louvre Abu Dhabi designed by jean Nouvel.

Another island development in Abu Dhabi is Al Reem Island; this project is on another natural island off the coast of Abu Dhabi City that will again cater for residential, commercial and tourism uses. It is estimated that the island will house two hundred and eighty thousand residents, and the necessary amenities for these inhabitants i.e. schools, medical facilities, shopping centres, restaurants etc. The development will also include hotels, spas, resorts, a golf course, gardens and beaches to cater to the lucrative tourist trade.

Al Raha Beach is a development that is being built on reclaimed land on the coastal side of the main highway that links Abu Dhabi to Dubai. This development is again a mixed development aimed at tourism, commercial and residential occupancies. The development will be split into eleven distinct precincts that will all have different personalities or themes to appeal to people’s individual tastes and preferences. Al Raha Beach will accommodate One Hundred and twenty thousand residents in accommodation ranging from high-rise apartments to villas, townhouses and exclusive waterfront enclaves complete with private marinas, as well as private residential islands and a series of residential peninsulas stretching into the Persian Gulf. The development will include an extensive canal system along with bridges and water transportation including ferries, water taxis, abras and jet cats. The tourist precinct, which is housed on a separate island just off the coast, has direct beach access and will be the home to designer boutiques, spas, dining precincts and of course a luxury hotel among other features.