The Magnetic appeal of Abu Dhabi
In this article, I am going to take you to the wonderful city of Abu Dhabi that is fast gaining a place in the global map as a major tourist attraction and a must see for travelers and travel journalists. Abu Dhabi is the capital of United Arab Emirates .Today the UAE is known for its magnificent towering buildings and incredible hotels. Not many are aware of Abu Dhabi as a fast emerging competitor to Dubai.
It is home to one of the world’s most beautiful architectural splendors-The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque which looks like a picture straight out of the 1001 Arabian night’s tales. The Grand Mosque was built at a whopping cost of 2.27 billion dirham under the patronage of Sheikh Zayed who is no more today. He is the father of modern UAE and rests today in a mausoleum inside the mosque premises.
The mosque has created many records. It houses the single largest carpet in the world. It has the world’s largest Swarovski crystal chandelier .9, 000 people can pray at a single time. Many expats have made Abu Dhabi their home and live in harmony with people of various multi cultures. This year The Formula 1 Abu Dhabi on 1st November, 2009 is gaining world wide recognition. The newly opened 5 star hotel Yas Marina is another marvel not to be missed by tourists.
It is worthwhile to visit Abu Dhabi when making a trip to the Middle East as it is a melting pot of various cultures and is tolerable to tourists and residents equally.