Qasr Al Sarab—Just 90 minutes south of the city by car and 50 by helicopter, amid the rolling dunes of Rub‘ al Khali—the world’s largest uninterrupted desert, also known as the Empty Quarter—stands a luxury resort commissioned by Abu Dhabi’s ruling families. The aptly named Qasr Al Sarab, which translates to “Mirage Palace,” opened in 2009 and was designed to resemble an ancient Arabian fortress. With an aesthetic that pays homage to the UAE’s Bedouin heritage and a setting that is almost lunar in its otherworldly allure, this unique destination is not to be missed.
Rub' Al Khali Desert—Discovering Abu Dhabi’s vast dunes often involves engaging with the remarkable creatures that have withstood their beguiling yet harsh terrain. The robust camel, for example, has maintained its hold on Emirati culture with its lanky legs and smiling snout. Once essential for transportation, sustenance and trade activity, these dromedaries are now used in activities including racing, riding and beauty contests. The camel’s fellow desert survivor is the revered falcon—the official symbol of the nation, and a bird employed by Bedouins as a hunting tool for millennia. Today, hunting is banned in most of the UAE, but falconry remains an important tradition, and efforts to preserve and care for the birds are widespread.
Arabian Hospitality—The Rub' al Khali desert is a popular destination for a range of recreational activities including dune bashing, hot air ballooning and camping out under its endless awning of stars. It is also where locals and visitors alike seek refuge from urban living, spoiled for choice with sprawling resorts offering everything from uninterrupted desert vistas enjoyed poolside to plush Middle Eastern fabrics and spa experiences shaped by ancient rituals and indigenous ingredients.
Liwa Oasis—Located in the southeastern part of the UAE and less than a three-hour drive from the capital, the scenic Liwa Oasis is the birthplace of the ruling families of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Once home to date-cultivating settlers during the 15th and 16th centuries, archaeologists believe, it is where Bedouin tribes continue to practice their traditional way of life today. Nearby, oil and gas discoveries forever changed the trajectory of the nation. At the same time, these surroundings have become a covetable destination for awe-seeking tourists and the site of major Hollywood productions, including “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and parts one and two of “Dune.”
Sir Bani Yas Island—Located on one of the over 200 islands in Abu Dhabi’s archipelago, about 100 miles southwest of the capital, is a nature reserve accessible only by boat where 17,000 native and non-native animals, including the Barbary sheep, roam the rugged terrain. A passion project for the nation’s late ruler and founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Arabian Wildlife Park was first established in 1971 to ensure the survival of the region’s endangered indigenous species, most notably the Arabian oryx, which was once considered extinct in the wild. The reserve now hosts one of the largest existing herds of the distinctive white antelope while a conservation team works to breed and transfer them for repopulation.
Louvre Abu Dhabi—Designed by Jean Nouvel, the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s impressive structure—topped with a massive kaleidoscopic dome inspired by desert palm leaves—is something to behold. Just as arresting are the hundreds of masterpieces within the museum’s walls, many on loan from other institutions, namely its Parisian counterpart. Since opening in 2017, the Louvre Abu Dhabi has been a hallmark of the emirate’s multiyear megaproject to develop its cultural district on Saadiyat Island and comprises interconnected galleries and promenades that appear to float on the Arabian Gulf.
Jebel Hafeet Beehive Tombs—Only 90 minutes from the capital lies Jebel Hafeet, Abu Dhabi’s tallest peak. The limestone mountain towers over Al Ain, also known as the Garden City because of its remarkable greenery in the heart of the desert. Dotted across the mountain’s foothills are hundreds of circular tombs fashioned from natural stone. The 5,000-year-old beehive-like structures date back to the Hafeet period, which is named after the burial site and marks the beginning of the Bronze Age in what is today the UAE and Oman. To wander through this UNESCO World Heritage Site is to look through a lens into the life and rituals of the region’s early inhabitants.
Qasr Al Muwaiji—For a historic fort with a modern twist, venture over to Qasr Al Muwaiji in the center of Al Ain. The square enclosure was built in the early 20th century and is a relic of the period’s sun-dried mud-brick architecture. The building served as a diwan, or a place of governance and community gathering, and then as the residence and administrative base for Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in1946, before eventually becoming a museum in 2015. Exhibitions are housed in a glass-walled space within the courtyard, lending a contemporary feel to a locale that pays homage to the past.
Al Jahili Fort—Built in Al Ain in the 1890s by Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, the grandfather of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, this fort is one of the largest in the UAE, initially constructed to house the ruling family and protect the oasis city. The simple, ochre-hued exterior is a remarkable departure from the shiny new development projects going up elsewhere in Abu Dhabi, exemplifying the traditional and resilient desert architecture that has both defined and defended the emirate’s heritage. From the fort’s tall watchtowers, soldiers monitored activity and potential threats while its thick walls stood strong against harsh desert storms. The space has since been transformed into a cultural center with permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Al Ain Oasis—Also in the Garden City is its namesake oasis, one of seven in Al Ain. A UNESCO-listed destination, it’s home to 1,200 hectares of nature situated beneath a shady canopy of more than 140,000 date palms, which farmers still climb to harvest their crop. These grow alongside mango, orange, fig and other fruit trees. Among a scattering of historical structures, such as forts and watchtowers, is a historic aflaj irrigation system—the same that has been used to cultivate this part of the Rub' al Khali desert for thousands of years.
(Above and below) TeamLab Phenomena—A more recent addition to the Saadiyat skyline is an undulating building housing the immersive artworks of the Tokyo-based, interdisciplinary collective TeamLab. Appearing like a ski slope that has lost its way against the sun-drenched and sandy horizon, it was designed by the group in collaboration with local firm MZ Architects. Stark white and low to the ground, the organic structure is reflective of the ever-evolving installation within: a reactive meeting place for art, architecture and nature that changes as visitors make their way through it.
(Above and below) Abrahamic Family House—The number three has long been considered as the number of harmony and wisdom, making it the perfect fit for the Abrahamic Family House on Saadiyat Island. Inaugurated in 2023, this interfaith complex is a testament to peaceful coexistence, bringing together a mosque, a church and a synagogue. Each house of faith was built identical in scale as a 30-meter minimalist concrete cube accommodating more than 200 congregants. What distinguishes them are their facade patterns and orientation: the mosque, featuring Islamic arches and latticework, faces Mecca; the church stands in an eastward direction so that the morning light pours through its towering columns to illuminate the altar; and the synagogue, inspired by the symbolism of the sukkah—a temporary shelter for sharing meals and prayer—is oriented towards its traditional direction of worship.