Landing at Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi puts you right in the middle of things, with nearby cities and attractions within easy reach. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, a city of islands, mangroves, and wide boulevards that feels more measured than its flashier neighbor up the coast. It is a place of grand mosques, serious museums, Formula One weekends, and long waterfront walks when the heat lets up.

Things to do in Abu Dhabi: - Visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, with its white domes and reflecting pools, at sunset - Spend a morning under the dome of the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island - Kayak through the Eastern Mangroves at high tide - Ride the fastest roller coaster in the world at Ferrari World on Yas Island - Walk or cycle the Corniche and swim at its public beach - Tour Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace open to visitors - Try Emirati dishes like machboos and luqaimat drizzled with date syrup - Stand on the Yas Marina Circuit, home of the season-closing Grand Prix

Abu Dhabi is the gateway to the wider emirate and beyond. Dubai, with its tallest tower and its souqs, is about 75 minutes up the coast. Al Ain, the garden city built around a UNESCO-listed oasis, is 90 minutes inland, with the winding road up Jebel Hafeet for sunset views over the desert. The dunes begin not far outside town, and a desert camp dinner under the stars is an easy evening. Visit between November and March, when the weather is perfect for the beach and the mangroves.