Since arriving in the UAE a number of years ago, we have consistently heard great things about the Ripe Markets that take place at various locations throughout the Emirates. With the weather finally cooling down and the fact that we were yet to visit the newly renovated Mother Of The Nation Park (formally Mushrif Central Park) in Abu Dhabi - we finally decided that it was about time that we went to check it out for ourselves.
Architecture
Dubai has become synonymous with shopping and mega-malls (with The Dubai Mall currently holding the title of the worlds largest). With each new mall opening comes the promise of bigger and better things. So it was extremely refreshing to discover the newly opened BoxPark on Al Wasl Road.
Last Saturday we here at Out & About UAE were looking for somewhere new to visit on a family day out. Eventually we decided that we would head to Masdar City on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. Having heard mixed-reviews about this ‘future city’ we were not sure what to expect, but were pleasantly surprised by what we found….
Al Ain (العين) which translates literally into ‘the spring’ is also known as the Garden City and is located in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, close to the border with Oman - it’s a ninety minute journey from the capital or Dubai and is the perfect place for a weekend escape. Known for its culture and outdoors activities, it’s a must see for any visitor to the Emirates. As an expat who has lived in Al Ain for the past two years, I am hoping to give you the inside track on what to see & do whilst visiting this beautiful city.
When you think of the United Arab Emirates you generally tend to think of the glitz & glamour of Dubai & there is no greater symbol of this than the Burj Khalifa - currently the tallest building in the world, towering 828m over the desert landscape below…
…Despite this I want to explore the architectural wonders of the capital city Abu Dhabi. I think my interest in architecture stems from being driven through London as a child & marveling at the scale and scope of the man-made structures surrounding me - fast forward thirty years and here we are in the Middle East exploring Abu Dhabi! Each time that I visit the capital I am astounded by the architecture on display, and have devised a driving tour that takes in all of these amazing buildings in one simple route.