TRAVEL

IF Dubai is a bustling metropolis that entices the world to the United Arab Emirates, then Abu Dhabi is its earthy, culturally vibrant sister city.

It may sound like an exaggeration, but a media familiarisation tour late last year by AirAsia X to Abu Dhabi, the country’s capital and seat of government, supported this fact.

The city by the Gulf coast is not only scenic but it’s a potpourri of shopping and awe-inspiring mega projects. It is home to a peculiar Falcon Hospital with thrills and spills of a nearby desert to boot.

AirAsia X chose Abu Dhabi as its first Middle East destination due to its potential in tourism but has temporarily suspended its flights to Abu Dhabi beginning Feb 21 in a major seat refurbishment exercise to better meet the demands of passengers for this flight sector. AirAsia X will resume its flights to Abu Dhabi at a date to be announced later.

The long haul carrier says the city remains an ideal gateway for its expansion to the region.

A look into the history behind Abu Dhabi (which means father of the gazelle in Arabic), may shed some light into the AirAsia’s choice for this best kept secret.



History And Business



As with most cities in the UAE, Abu Dhabi’s story began a little more than three decades ago. The city was a coastal village thriving on fishing and trade.

The leader of the Abu Dhabi emirate, Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan had united the clan leaders in all seven territories and laid the foundation for the UAE and its capital Abu Dhabi. (The UAE is divided into seven territories referred to as emirates).

The achievement of Abu Dhabi emirate during this formative period was nothing short of staggering. The emirate has become one of the richest in terms of Gross Domestic Product and per capita income. It is also the biggest emirate, covering 67,340 square km or nearly 87 per cent of the UAE.

Business opportunities abound in this city, but tourism is set to make it even livelier. The city may soon give nearby Dubai a run for its money, what with up-coming projects such as the Ferrari World theme park and UAE versions of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums.

But Abu Dhabi’s existing charm is no less exciting as it also offers some spectacular adventure activities.



Dune Bashing



As with any trip to the Middle East, the sight of vast desert is a norm and Abu Dhabi has Rub al Khali, a popular spot for the dune bashing sport.

Tourists ride on four-wheel drive vehicles that move up and down the dunes in extreme sport fashion. The faint of heart and elderly may want to avoid it, but a roller-coaster ride it is not.

It is a fun way to experience the rugged desert. There are dunes as high as three-storey buildings. One may be driving downwards, sideways even, at angles of up to 45 degrees.

But as the group’s tour 4WD driver Mohamad Sharaf says, it is normal for tourists to throw up.

The 36-year-old Egyptian was a military driver for two years before joining Arabian Adventures (www.arabian-adventures.com) as a dune-bashing driver.

“Of course passengers throw up, but that is normal. Dune bashing is a hit with European tourists during summer.”

The package cost for Arabian Adventure’s desert safari ranges between RM285 and RM300 per person and includes the gravity defying dune-bashing, a visit to a camel farm, sunset view in the desert and a typical Arabian dinner with shisha in a bedouin camp.



Hospital For Feathered Kind



After the desert adventure, head on to the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital which has treated and accommodated about 35,000 animals since it was set up a decade ago.

The falcon is regarded as the national bird of UAE and the birds have their own passports for travelling in airplanes. They may be the only animals that are allowed to ride alongside their owners in the passenger cabin.

Falcon Hospital director Margit Gabriele Muller says services for boarding, grooming and medical treatment are available for these majestic birds.

She says the hospital began as a treatment facility for falcons but soon word got around about the work that was being done there.

“People started calling the hospital to ask for guided tours. Through the years, the hospital developed its own tourism programme.”

A visit includes lunch, a tour of the facility and explanation from the staff. If you are lucky, you may get a chance to be guided by Muller herself

Falcons are known to be one of the fastest-moving creatures in the animal kingdom. Certain types of falcons have been known to dive at speeds of 320km per hour.

Facilities in the hospital include operation theatre, intensive critical care unit, ophthalmology unit, in-patient rooms for accommodation, free-flight cages for moulting or shedding of feathers.



Beach In The City



After visiting the essential tourist sites, chill out the rest of trip in Abu Dhabi’s city centre. A recommended first stop is the scenic Corniche beach front area which commands a fantastic view of the city’s skyline and, more importantly, it is close to one of the hippest shopping malls in the city.

The best view is from the Cultural Village, which features permanent exhibits, fine dining restaurant and souvenir shops. But the Cultural Village’s star attraction is the white sandy beach and view of the city.

Visitors may get to see people riding on jet skis, while enjoying the warm weather. This idyllic setting may make tourists forget that they are in a country made up mostly of desert.



Shopping Therapy



After soaking up sun and sea, try the nearby Marina Shopping Mall for some serious rest and relaxation. This is a bigger version of Kuala Lumpur’s MidValley Megamall with its high-end boutiques, medium-range stores and numerous cafes and restaurants.

Shopping is quite a delight in Abu Dhabi and the summer sale season is a must for bargain hunters of quality goods.

The Marina Mall is home to Ikea, Carrefour and other household names such as Zara, Bvlgari, Gucci, Coach and Fendi. Besides shopping, it is a great place for watching the trendy Abu Dhabi folk.

Besides Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall on 10th Street is a well-stocked medium- to high-end shopping centre.

Those looking for Arab perfumes or souvenirs may want to try Madinat Zayed Shopping & Gold Center. The areas around this mall have many shops selling clothes and essentials for Abu Dhabi’s working class.

Besides shopping, many tourists from Western countries like to stop at the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan with its record-breaking features.

The imposing white structure is home to the world’s largest handmade carpet, measuring 5,627sq m. Twenty-four carat gold is used in its interior and on crescents topping the domes.



Beyond The City



Besides a city tour, there are packages for the countryside outside of Abu Dhabi. An interesting option is the royal vacation town of Al Ain, which is more than an hour’s drive east of Abu Dhabi.

This picturesque town is home to Al Jahili Fort, a structure of orange bricks built in the traditional bedouin fashion. The fort was built in 1891 but was refurbished into a mini-museum two years ago.

There are interactive exhibits highlighting the history of UAE and its founding fathers. A section is devoted to a famous explorer and traveller, Wilfred Thesiger, who was known to locals as Mubarak bin London. Thesiger remained close with the UAE royal family and was revered after he crossed the Empty Quarter desert twice in the 1940s.

Another must-visit in Al Ain is the Sheikh Zayed Palace Museum, which was home to the late UAE former president until it opened its doors to the public in 2001.

Visitors would not find typical museum exhibits here. Instead, they’d see an honest depiction of how a typical Emirati family lived.

Sheikh Zayed, who was known for his humble nature, had decreed the royal palace and royal residential areas should reflect his country’s culture, prior to its dramatic development during the post-oil years. The museum recreates spartan-looking bedrooms, guest rooms, school room and “majlis” (meeting room).

The best picture opportunity in Al Ain is along the road to one of the UAE’s highest peak, Jebel Hafeet. The peak rises 1,240m and the road leading up to it extends almost 12km with three lanes. The uphill road was called the greatest driving road in the world by motoring website Edmunds.com

The Mecure Grand Jebel Hafeet hotel, which sits near the mountain top, has a good lunch buffet that is worth a try. Visitors may take snapshots in a lay-by area on the way downhill.



Coming Attractions



Many existing attractions make Abu Dhabi a delight to visit and yet there’s more to come. In mid-2010, the first Ferrari World Theme Park will open its doors at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. This mega indoor theme park has the world’s fastest roller-coaster ride, which simulates the speed of an actual F1 car at 200km per hour.

Other coming attractions are the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum (opening 2013), and UAE version of the Louvre museum. These projects are part of the cultural district in the Saadiyat Island project.



How To Get There



Prior to the flight suspension, AirAsia X flies five times weekly to Abu Dhabi from the Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier Terminal. Tune in to the latest news about the resumption of flights to Abu Dhabi. When it resumes, expect low promotional fares with advanced booking. Its introductory fares last year ranged from RM324 to RM474.

Tour packages to Abu Dhabi will also be available at goholiday website (http://goholiday.airasia.com).



Pictures by AHMAD FAIRUZ OTHMAN and

AIRASIA X