A Friday morning. My friends and I are out on my speedboat. We glide across water as smooth as glass, through channels that wind around nearly 200 islands.
One minute the city skyline is on the horizon, the next we're surrounded by mangroves. The stress of the working week melts away, and we reconnect with nature.
Before the world stood still, this was a typical way to kick off the weekend in my home city of Abu Dhabi, whenever I wasn't away on assignment covering stories across the Middle East and Europe.
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The global pandemic shattered our sense of normalcy and put many activities and pastimes on hold, but it also forced us to rethink our relationship with our immediate surroundings.
For me, it brought a deeper appreciation for everything I love about Abu Dhabi. It's a place that keeps surprising you with fresh adventures and experiences. It's also a place of natural beauty, with a landscape that offers both thrilling physical challenges and sensory wonders.
As we slowly emerge from lockdowns and travel restrictions, I'm already itching to dive back into the charms of Abu Dhabi: its captivating greenery, boundless desert sands, jagged mountains, mirror-like seas and its whole pantheon of cultural treasures.
And while we wait, my mind keeps wandering back to my favorite spots: the places and venues that not only make Abu Dhabi endlessly appealing to us residents, but that we can't wait to share with future visitors to the emirate.
Island Life
If you know the city of Abu Dhabi only in passing, it's easy to forget that it's built on an island. You'll recognize the main island by its towering skyscrapers, glamorous hotels and the world-famous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. But there's plenty of fun and adventure to be found on the many smaller islands scattered around it too.
Our usual destination on these Friday speedboat outings is Zaya Nurai Island. This private resort is our tropical oasis, far from the bustle of the city. It's like the Maldives of Arabia. Tidy villas line the curving shoreline of the tiny island. Instagram-perfect beaches of powder-soft sand dissolve into endless turquoise seas. Sunsets bring unobstructed views of fiery pink and purple skies.
The island is the perfect place for a lazy day lounging on the shore, relaxing by the pool and savoring wonderful Arabic seafood mezze prepared by chef Marc and his team. Prawn fatteh and grilled hammour are flavors I can't wait to taste again.
Reaching New Heights
Other times, we head for Yas Island. Perhaps the best known of Abu Dhabi's islands, it's home to more high-energy attractions, such as the Formula 1-hosting Yas Marina Circuit, splashes of fun at Yas Waterworld, and the recently opened indoor theme park Warner Bros Abu Dhabi.
All of these make for excellent days out, but there's a new adventure on Yas calling to me right now: Clymb. In contrast to the many options for relaxation, Abu Dhabi is also becoming a place where more and more physical and adrenaline-fueled sports are possible. I've certainly never been in better shape than I have since moving here.
Clymb is a new indoor climbing arena that houses the world's tallest indoor climbing wall and, if that's not extreme enough, the world's largest indoor skydiving chamber.
I haven't yet worked up the courage to tackle Summyt (this angular giant, 43 meters high, stands just a little shorter than the Statue of Liberty), but luckily there are four other, less intimidating walls where I've been able to practice.
Some people treat Summyt as just a workout. Avid climber Mohammed Al Zaabi, who runs the island's developer Miral when he isn't scaling the heights, says Clymb was inspired by "the mountains of the UAE." To explore those real-life sources of inspiration, you have to leave Yas and the other islands behind and head inland.
Jebel Hafit: The Summit of Abu Dhabi
Sometimes the journey is the destination. That's true of Jebel Hafit, the highest peak in Abu Dhabi. To get there, you drive the Jebel Hafit mountain road, one of my favorite drives in the emirate. It carries you to the top of the mountain, 1,220 meters above sea level, through a zigzag of steep switchbacks.
Along the way there are viewpoints where, on clear days, you can pull over and take in the unique Arabian landscape spreading out below you, all the way to the sea and the horizon. At sunset, shadows stretch for kilometers ahead of the melting sun, and then the lights of the towns and estates below begin to shimmer across the cooling plains.
For the truly fit, the smooth Jebel Hafit road offers a wonderful route for cyclists. Its challenging 7% average gradient is a magnet for riders who love a challenge. This grueling uphill battle tests endurance and resilience and has quickly become a favorite feature of the six-stage UAE Tour, part of the global circuit of elite road racing.
At the foot of the mountain, the scorched terrain of its foothills hides historical treasures. The recently opened Jebel Hafit Desert Park is one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the UAE, with remains from the Neolithic period and Bronze Age tombs 5,000 years old. It's a wonderful spot to spend a night glamping in a Bedouin-style tent and stargazing under the desert night.
Past, Present and Future
Just a few minutes' drive away lies another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of my favorite places in the entire country. So much so that I filmed parts of my latest promo here.
Al Ain Oasis is a lush forest of tall palms that stretches into the very heart of Abu Dhabi's historic second city, a green sprout amid the modern world.
The UAE's founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, once said: "He who does not know his past cannot make the best of his present and future, for it is from the past that we learn."
For me, that quote sums up perfectly how I see Al Ain Oasis. Strolling among the tall palms, you're instantly transported into the past. Its unique falaj irrigation system (a maze of channels through which streams of babbling water can be directed to wherever they're needed most) and the neatly organized farms tell the story of people who managed to tame the harsh desert through hard work and ingenuity.
In its cool shade, you come to understand where this place came from, how it reached where it is now, and why it strives for success in the future. The oasis was almost lost to the advancing city a few years ago, but the desire to preserve its heritage instead led it to blossom into the enchanting place it is today.
I love history, and fortunately, Abu Dhabi is rich in it.
High on my list of places I want to return to when it becomes possible is the recently restored Qasr Al Hosn, an ancient fortress in the capital.
The city's oldest stone building has foundations dating back to the 18th century, and it was once the home of the ruling family and the seat of government.
The brilliantly restored structure, with its dazzlingly white buildings, now tells the full story of Abu Dhabi. It reveals how a tiny fishing and pearling settlement transformed into a global cosmopolitan powerhouse.
Surrounded by skyscrapers on a wide open plaza, it feels like the true heart of this ever-evolving destination. And as an added bonus, there are a few stylish cafes nearby to enjoy a well-earned break, ideally over a cup of gahwa, the Arabic coffee that is yet another unforgettable taste of Abu Dhabi.
A Universal Message
Another relative newcomer to the city that has quickly become an old friend is the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
It's hard, if not impossible, to get enough of this place. Inspired by Al Ain Oasis, the building itself is an architectural marvel. You can easily lose yourself in the beauty of its dome or in the mesmerizing way its galleries seem to float effortlessly above the water.
Inside the museum, there are, of course, world-class art exhibitions, but I'm just as intrigued by the universal message of the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Rather than sorting art and history into neat historical or regional boxes, the Louvre Abu Dhabi invites us to see the common thread of humanity and how we're all driven by the same passions and ideals.
It's a powerful reminder during a global pandemic that has proven once again just how alike we all are, despite all our differences.
And that, for me, is the essence of Abu Dhabi. Behind all the amazing sights and unique experiences lies a commitment to tolerance and diversity that sets the city apart. It's a melting pot of people and cultures that pushes visitors and residents alike to broaden their horizons and embrace the diversity that comes with being a truly global hub.
Sooner or later this pandemic will end, and we'll gradually go back to exploring our world. I hope those explorations will include Abu Dhabi, the city I'm proud to call home.
