Key Areas

Given that the city is located on an island there is more emphasis to build up rather than out at the moment but there even thought the city is no older than a few generations there are several definite areas to the city with their very own identity. The leafy district of Al Bateen to the west of the island is home to some of the city’s more lavish villas and swanky restaurants, not to mention one of the largest fully operational boat building yards in the country. Just down the road you’ll find the sleepy residential streets of Al Karama, while up the coast road you’ll find Al Khalidiyah – the posh part of town with villas of jaw-dropping dimensions.

Al Markaziyah is the central business and shopping area where most of the action takes place and Al Meena, on the northern tip of the island, east of the Corniche, is home to most of the larger souks and warehouses. Two areas that you have to visit while in Abu Dhabi are the newly reclaimed land of The Breakwater that boasts a host of malls and marinas, and of course the newly regenerated Corniche that comes alive each night.