Corniche
Before the discovery of oil, the Corniche was a natural beach of storm-beaten sand, where fishermen unloaded their catch from dhows. Since then, it has undergone several modifications. In 1988, a 4.2 km² seawall called Lulu Island was built, then in 1998, 800,000 m² were reclaimed from the sea to enlarge it. In 2008, a 2 km-long beach was created along the shore to provide a bathing area for local residents. Over the years, it has remained a place of gathering and communion.
If you're looking to enjoy Abu Dhabi's year-round sunshine, the pristine beaches of the Corniche are one of the best places to do so. Not only are they home to turquoise waters and soft white sandy shores, they also boast a seafront promenade, with well-kept walkways housing gardens and benches overlooking the Persian Gulf.
The 2 km main beach is divided into three sections: Al Sahil (gate 4, free entrance) is perfect for singles and large groups; gate 2 is ideal for families and has its own quiet area; gate 3 is particularly suitable for families and children. The last two beaches are protected from view by a fence. Showers, changing rooms and cabanas are available. Sun loungers and parasols can be hired at an additional cost. Lifeguards are on duty from sunrise to sunset.
There are over 1,100 free parking spaces within a five-minute walk of the beach. Entrance to the family and singles sections of private beaches costs AED 10. Admission to the public beach is free. A fun and healthy way to visit the Corniche is to rent a bike.
The most beautiful districts are to the west: Ras Al Akhdar, Breakwater, Khubeirah, east of Khalidiya, Mushrif and above all Al Bateen, home of the princes. This wealth of toponymy leads us to refer to the whole area as Corniche Road West, since this six-lane road crosses most of these districts.
The Emirates Palace, now opposite the new Etihad Towers (luxury hotel and mall) and close to the gigantic new presidential palace, the memorial monument to Sheikh Zayed, Father of the Nation, the Marina and Khalidiya malls, the public beach and the private beaches, which can be accessed free of charge if you stay in certain nearby palaces. As with the city's foundations, this western part of the city, bathed by the lagoon waters of the Khor Al Bateen and the more marine waters of the Breakwater, is a residential area planted with a few rare towers and criss-crossed by majestic thoroughfares. These lead to palaces, villas, flower-filled parks and the sea. Here, the pedestrians of the city center are replaced by a ballet of smoked-window 4x4s in the breath of a V8 engine.
Center
The center of Abu Dhabi is no longer in the center! Such is the cruel fate of the former "new world" districts. While the city now runs towards the airport and Yas Island, across the bridges, that's no reason to forget what was the beating heart of oil-boom Abu Dhabi, close to its natural harbor lung. Mina, Markaziyah, Madinat Zayed, Tourist Club, Dhafrah, Wahda, Nahyan, Muroor, East Khalidiyah: streets, gardens and buildings familiar to every Emirati. In those days, there was no paved Corniche; you stopped your car on the sandy seafront. Boosted by exponential development, architects built an American-style "downtown", planted with buildings and then towers. Gradually, shopkeepers gave way to more airy areas with more parking spaces, and so the center ceased to be one.
A major facelift is underway: the center is gradually becoming the Abu Dhabi of businessmen (banks, import-export, international agencies), but also and above all that of shopkeepers, kebab shops and families from the Indian subcontinent. Urban planners even built the first giant shopping mall: the Abu Dhabi Mall. Ten thousand cars later, everything came to a standstill, as the two-lane roads of the 1980s just weren't enough. The lanes of the main arteries multiplied. At night and during the day, people move around in complete safety, enjoying the taste of this joyful disorder, which is all the more relative given its rarity in the realm of flowery avenues, palm-fringed parks and giant malls.
In this part of Abu Dhabi, you'll discover the ancient Qasr al Hosn fort, just next door to the gigantic cultural foundation established on the 14-hectare site of the old fort and boasting magnificent exhibition spaces. It houses the National Archives, the Institute of Culture and Art, the National Library, a gigantic children's library and various artists' residences. It's the ideal place to learn calligraphy. Take the time to discover the artisans' house adjacent to the palace, which showcases local and traditional skills such as coffee-making and tasting, weaving and pottery. You'll also find a selection of gifts and souvenirs. You can also stroll through the various souks. The only drawback to this popular district is the noise, which can quickly become a nuisance. But if you choose to sleep at the top of a grand palace like the Crowne Plaza, from the top of its tower, comfortably installed by the pool, sipping a good cocktail, no need for earplugs but rather a good pair of sunglasses!
Al Mushrif, Massignon, Palm Oasis, Bloom Gardens... this district of Abu Dhabi is bounded at the top by Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street and at the bottom by the first bridges.
Around the bridges
If you want to be close to the Waterfront and have a chance to see the Great Mosque from your hotel window, this area "around the bridges" is the place to stay. You'll find a wide range of prices in the area: from very affordable Ibis or Novotel hotels to very luxurious establishments with magnificent views.
We recommend taking half a day before sunset and hiring a kayak to row through the mangroves to the east of Abu Dhabi and admire the thousands of nesting birds.
If there are many bridges in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, only the three structures in The Bridges district link Abu Dhabi Island to the mainland, spanning the 250-metre-wide Khor al-Maqta inlet: from north to south, here's the desert dune-shaped Sheikh Zayed Bridge, by the famous Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, the historic and metallic Al Maqta Bridge and the concrete Mussafah Bridge.
Sheikh Zayed Bridge. Created in 2010 and designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, this is one of Abu Dhabi's most beautiful bridges, 842 metres long. Opened to the public in November 2010, it was named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the former President of the United Arab Emirates. It features two four-lane roads capable of carrying 16,000 vehicles per hour. It also features a pedestrian walkway and emergency lanes in both directions. Making the journey even smoother at night, the lighting system with which it has been equipped features 200 automated lights.
Al Maqta Bridge. Al Maqta, built in 1067 and 300 metres long, is the first historic bridge to link the mainland to the island of Abu Dhabi. Previously, the crossing was made on foot at low tide. It has four lanes and a 90 m steel arch bridge. It is also known for offering spectacular views of the famous historic fort, Al Maqta. The bridge is often used by people traveling from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. "The Maqta causeway, built in 1952, was the only road linking the city to the coast until 1961," explains Mohamed al-Fahim(From Poverty to Wealth, ed. Gulf Book Centre). "Made of stone and mud, it was raised two feet above the water level, allowing cars and camels to use it easily to cross the canal."
Mussafah Bridge. Built in the late 1970s, this bridge was opened to traffic in 1977. It was originally a six-lane bridge with concrete roads and 9 pairs of Y-shaped pillars. Today, the bridge has a total of 10 lanes, with five lanes on each side for better traffic management. It is located near the Shangri-La Hotel.
