| Think of Abu Dhabi and endless deserts comes to | | | | Island offers a unique experience: originally the private |
| mind. That and a goldmine of oil fields. What comes as | | | | sanctuary of the late ruler and founder of Abu Dhabi, |
| an unexpected yet welcome surprise is in fact the | | | | Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the island now |
| Emirate's booming hospitality industry, cultural | | | | offers those in search of the novel the chance to |
| development and rich wildlife. With nearly 200 islands | | | | explore, with game drives, guided walks and mountain |
| lying off its shores, Abu Dhabi is the latest and certainly | | | | biking through the desert hinterlands. |
| most glamorous destination for island hopping - without | | | | With over half the island devoted to a wildlife reserve |
| the monotonous cliché of just sand, sun and | | | | as well as a bird sanctuary, visitors will encounter a |
| sea at every stop. | | | | myriad of free-roaming animals - different sub-species |
| Take Yas Island, home to the new Formula 1 Etihad | | | | of rare gazelles and antelope, herds of spotted deer, |
| Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In true Emirati style, this | | | | the strange Barbary sheep (a species of |
| circuit is destined to be the Monaco of the Middle East, | | | | goat-antelope native to Africa), mesmerizing flocks of |
| with everything bigger, better and oh-so-decadent. The | | | | white flamingos at sunrise and the prized Arabian oryx, |
| island also offers numerous adrenaline rushes, with a | | | | found only on Sir Bani Yas. |
| Ferrari Theme Park, a water park, several world-class | | | | With the Emirate's latest project - the massive, |
| golf courses and polo grounds. | | | | multi-billion dollar development on Saadiyat Island - |
| About 130km west of Abu Dhabi lies Bu Tinah, part of | | | | already underway, Abu Dhabi is set to become the art |
| the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve, the first in | | | | centre of the East, with a planned Louvre and |
| the region to be recognized by UNESCO and a | | | | Guggenheim Museum, again the masterpiece of Frank |
| contender for the 'New 7 Wonders of Nature'. With a | | | | Gehry. With so many gems to offer, a relatively |
| rich marine ecosystem and towering mangroves, Bu | | | | untouched archipelagic haven surrounded by turquoise |
| Tinah is home to a number of rare species, including | | | | waters and unrivaled in decadence and luxury, Abu |
| the endangered hawksbill sea turtle, over 800 dugongs | | | | Dhabi is well on its way to becoming the destination - |
| and the occasional Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. | | | | the new playground of the adventurous elite. |
| For those in search of safari adventures, Sir Bani Yas | | | | |