Here’s Why You Should Visit Abu Dhabi – Cradle of Wealth and Culture

The United Arab Emirates is a country formed in 1971 by the unification of seven sovereign sheikhdoms.

This happened when the British withdrew from the Gulf area after the bilateral treaty signed on the 22nd of December 1971 that is still valid today and the United Kingdom and the UAE are still close friends.

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, ruled by HM, the Emir Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is a very modern city.

It’s a wonderful combination of history, culture, tradition and modernism and technology.

Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate and it covers 374 square miles on the head of the “T” shaped island in the Persian Gulf.

According to billionairesweb.com, Al Ain Oasis is a popular attraction and as one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited settlements, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.

Featuring ruins of circular stone tombs, a number of wells, palaces, and towers; the site provides a fascinating insight into desert life dating back to 2500 BC.

To learn more, visit the Al Ain National Museum and admire the extensive collections of exhibits including pottery, stone and copper vessels, household objects, weaving looms and musical instruments, which, together, provide some understanding of local traditions and customs.

For those yearning for a true Arabian adventure, consider a thrilling desert safari on board a robust four wheel drive vehicle.

The Liwa Oasis, located on the edges of the Empty Quarter, is where you will find 300 meter high sand dunes; ideal for a spot of what is known as ‘wadi bashing’ or ‘dune driving’.

Highly skilled local drivers negotiate unexpected hazards in the harsh desert surroundings with ease and for those seeking a high octane adrenaline rush and a very bumpy ride, it is the ideal excursion.

Wildlife lovers may be fortunate to spot the odd resident including Arabian Oryx, gazelles and hyenas.

To get up-close and personal with feathered residents, visit the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, located on Sweihan Road.

The noble tradition of falconry in the Arab world dates back to 3500 BC, when it was practiced in Iraq and it is known that the Bedouin used falcons as a means to hunt for meat.

The Falcon Hospital, which was established in 1999, provides individual air conditioned rooms for more than two hundred Saqr and Peregrine Falcons.

Annual check-ups include precision talon-trimming and particular attention is paid to the bird’s feathers as the loss of just one can result in balance issues during flight.

The Falcon is a national emblem in the United Arab Emirates and the government initiated the introduction of falcon passports to curtail illegal trade.