We managed to leave the city of luxury, Dubai, to see the capital and largest of the seven emirates, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is located only an hour and a half from Dubai and is well worth a visit.

We hired a taxi driver and found it much more convenient than taking a bus and dealing with traffic. Taxis are run by meters in the UAE and are surprisingly cost effective. In fact, getting around is simple and cheap. There are more than enough taxis available and all cars look brand new, smell good and have great air conditioning. This was a bit surprising to us at first, but according to one of our drivers the cars have to meet certain standards and therefore, look the way they do. We paid a total of 60 USD from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and spent nearly two solid hours in the car. Not bad at all compared to similar cities.

While in Dubai, we also used the train when we were staying in Business Bay. The train station is in a central location and happened to be within walking distance from our hotel. Tickets are cheap and all trains and connecting trams lead to all major attractions throughout the city. We spent three days traveling from Mall to Mall on the train. The UAE is without question, a shopper’s paradise. Visiting the malls is definitely among the top tourist attractions both in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. From ice-skating rinks, aquariums, indoor ski center, indoor soccer, theme parks and every store imaginable, each mall provides a unique and different experience. Among our favorites were the Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi and the largest mall in the world, Dubai Mall, which can take up to four days to see it entirely. Truthfully, it was even a bit overwhelming.

It was interesting to see the difference between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Some argue that although Abu Dhabi may have grown up in Dubai’s shadow, it is considered to be better than its neighbor in many ways. However, we think they are completely different. We believe Abu Dhabi is the authentic and traditional Middle East while Dubai is the one with all the new shiny architecture and spark. The Arabian Gulf beaches are the only thing that should not be up for competition as they are equally beautiful in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The water is perfect and the views are stunning no matter where you look. Regardless, Abu Dhabi’s current attractions and projects that have yet to be finalized are entertaining the attention of more and more people and in our opinion, will continue to impress and perhaps prove to be the true middle eastern gem it claims to be.

During our two-day getaway, the following sights we visited stand out as symbols of Abu Dhabi’s difference to Dubai:

The Grand Mosque- Exquisite and traditional, this mosque is among one of the largest in the world and was definitely our highlight in Abu Dhabi. From the incredible Middle Eastern designs to the world’s largest Persian carpet, it is no surprise why this sacred place of worship is attracting people from around the world.

Ferrari World- The world’s first Ferrari theme park and largest indoor theme park in the world. Did you expect anything less? This was a fun day drooling over cars. The complex itself is quite impressive and displays many classic cars throughout the grounds. There are over 20 rides for both children and adults and most people rush to the most popular attraction, the driving simulator, to get their name on a waiting list. I happened to try this in a Formula-1 car that resulted in a terrible migraine due to my wonderful race driving skills.

The Emirates Palace- You can’t help but feel important walking into a hotel like this one. Surrounded by such elegance and glamour, Enoc and I walked throughout the hotel and did some serious people and car watching. This one tops Dubai’s Burj Al Arab (seven star hotel) in our opinion.

Ultimately, whether in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, one of the many experiences we loved while visiting the UAE was listening to the multiple calls to prayer throughout the day. Below you will find an audio clip of a call to prayer while we were at the mall.

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