In the absence of any guest posts over theweekend we thought we would take a look back at various shopping guides this site has published over the past two years.

First was this guide to Christmas markets in Europe – and checking the analytics it still attracts plenty of visitors to the site on the run up to the festive break.

Then we focussed on the emerging shopping culture of United Arab Emirates – looking at Dubai Airport followed by the amazing range of luxury shops in Abu Dhabi

Finally we returned to a Christmas shopping favourite – New York and of course London in winter.

Once again we urge guest posts about destinations throughout Europe & Beyond – share with us your favourite shopping cities – from mall to market.

http://www.europe-autos.com/new-york-christmas-shopping/

Abu Dhabi – A Middle Eastern Marvel

If you’re planning a trip to the Middle East in the near future then no trip would be complete without visiting the fantastic city of Abu Dhabi. From the uppermost floors in the many beautiful apartments in Abu Dhabi, you would have a brilliant view of the T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf. Making up an area of approximately 26,000 square miles, the city has an estimated population of over 860,000.

Weather, History and Culture

With a hot, arid climate and sunny and blue skies throughout the year, Abu Dhabi is definitely a sun trap. The weather is beautiful and there are a number of amazing tourist attractions to experience.  Abu Dhabi has  a fantastically rich and varied culture; not a day will go by during your stay when there isn’t something to see or do.

Fantastic City Sights

There is so much to see and enjoy in the City, and you’ll be pleased to know that a number of attractions are free. If you enjoy strolling down the beach, lapping up the sun and taking in the cool sea breeze then the Abu Dhabi Corniche and Breakwater is the place for you. Featuring parkland, lush gardens and tasteful buildings, the deep blue water of the Persian Gulf provides the perfect backdrop for a relaxing swim.

If you enjoy history and culture, the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation (centrally situated in Khalidiya Street) is the ideal sightseeing spot. From art galleries to theatre productions, concerts to other cultural events, you’re sure to find something that is of great interest here.

Lulu Island is a manmade island located just off the Corniche breakwater. Developed as a combined residential and tourism district within the city, Lulu Island has a number of stunning beaches and is fast becoming the hub of water sports activities.

No trip to Abu Dhabi would be complete without visiting the traditional Arab markets. The Old Souk district of the city houses hundreds of outlets selling anything and everything from carpets to tapestries, jewellery to textiles. Remember, bargaining is to be expected so if want the best price you’re going to have to work for it!

Qasr Al Hosn is without doubt the most iconic location in the city. The white fort is the oldest structure in Abu Dhabi and was the home of the former rulers of the Emirate.

Living In The City

Abu Dhabi is a city that doesn’t disappoint. You never know, you might come to love the city and wish to live there in the future. Take a  look at Abu Dhabi property while you are visiting, to give you an idea of the fantastic places you could live.

Abu Dhabi International Airport

Abu Dhabi International Airport lies just 32km (20 miles) east of the heart of Abu Dhabi city. It is one of the fastest growing airports in the world, with ambitious expansion plans as the demand for flights to Abu Dhabi continue to grow, and it even boasts its own well-respected sand golf course.

The airport’s newest terminal, terminal 3, opened in January 2009, which helped to ease passenger congestion in terminal 1. Most international airlines, except Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi’s flag carrier), still use terminal 1, however, which is housed in an architecturally interesting domed building with curved, mosaic walls. Passengers seem to either love or hate the building, but either way it seems to provoke strong reactions.

General facilities

Facilities across the airport’s terminals include coffee shops and restaurants; free internet access points and a Wi-Fi network; plasma screens showing BBC World News; showers; and duty free shopping outlets.

There is seating available in all of the terminals, but for a bit more luxury you can pay AED100 (per four hour block) to use the Airport Hotel Lounge or the Ghazal Lounge facilities.  There is also a business centre with computer workstations and internet access if you want to get on with some work.

Shopping at Abu Dhabi Airport

As mentioned in an earlier post about shopping in Abu Dhabi some passengers choose to fly via Dubai rather than Abu Dhabi just for its award-winning duty free shopping, and it’s true that Abu Dhabi’s offering can’t compete. Still, there are duty free shops across all of the airport’s terminals where you can find all the usual fare, such as watches, perfume, cigarettes and alcohol, and there are multi-lingual staff on hand to help, speaking a wide range of languages ranging from English to Chinese.

Recreation

If you have quite a bit of time to kill at the airport, there is a fitness centre at the Airport Hotel, which you can pay (AED23 per person) to use if you are a non-guest. It has a jacuzzi, a sauna and a gym, and is free for those staying at the hotel.

The airport also has an 18-hole golf course that is considered to be one of the world’s best sand courses, located just 400 metres from the main terminal (two minutes by road). The Al Ghazal Golf Course has an English-style hilltop clubhouse, a swimming pool, tennis courts and a health club equipped with a gym, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.

Other Airport Facilities

The airport also has a post office and post box (terminal 1); several coffee shops and snack bars; and numerous designated smoking areas within the transit and satellite area, and in some cafés.

For more information about Abu Dhabi International Airport or visit http://www.abudhabiairport.ae/

Free things to see and do in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is one of the world’s most modern cities, and one of its richest — world-famous for its ground-breaking and extravagant architecture.

Etihad Airways recently published a guide to Abu Dhabi on their website on which they share some of their favourite sights in Abu Dhabi including guides for shopping and excursions which have both been the subject of previous Europe & Beyond features.

Abu Dhabi may not be rich in historical sights, it certainly isn’t lacking in attractions, and many of them are free.

Here are just a few of the things you can see and do in Abu Dhabi without spending a dirham.

Take a stroll along the Corniche

Abu Dhabi’s Corniche is the best place in the city for an early evening stroll, stretching 6km along the seafront and lined with lush public gardens, beaches and fountains.

Bordered by two luxury hotels, the Sheraton to the east and the Hilton to the west, the Corniche is a popular meeting place, with the city’s soaring skyscrapers as its striking backdrop. People go there to cycle, walk, roller blade, eat out, and go to the fun fair.

Experience Bedouin culture at Abu Dhabi Heritage Village

It’s also free to get into the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village, which overlooks the Corniche. This village gives visitors a peek into the lifestyle and traditions of the Bedouin, with exhibits including a replica traditional desert encampment with a goat’s hair tent, an old irrigation system, a fishing village, and a traditional mosque and souq. Workshops showcase craftspeople creating old-fashioned pottery, weaving and metal work, and there’s a small museum containing Bedouin artefacts such as weapons, tools, coffee pots and jewellery.

Set in lush gardens dotted with fountains, it’s a pleasant place to spend a few hours.

Take an evening walk to see Ali Bin Abi Taleb Mosque

As a non-Muslim, you will only be able to appreciate the outside of this simple yet impressive mosque rather than the interior, but the best view is at night when the mosque and its wind towers are lit up, outlining the building’s great domes and minaret.

Visit Abu Dhabi’s oldest building, Qasr al-Hosn

The historic Qasr Al Hosn Palace, or White Fort, is the oldest stone building in the city. It was once the only building on the island that was not made from palm fronds. Built around 1761 as a watchtower defending a freshwater well, the tower was later expanded into a small fort, and then became the palace of the ruling sheikh.

A visit to the fort offers a glimpse into the ruling family’s history, lifestyle and traditions, and entrance is free.

Note: The White Fort is closed to visitors while it undergoes restoration, but you can still see the fort from the outside or if you are very lucky it can be viewed during your flights to Abu Dhabi.

Relax in Khalifa Park

Not quite free, but still worth a mention as it only costs 5 dirhams (less than £1) to enter, Khalifa Park is widely regarded as Abu Dhabi’s best public park, its design inspired by Arabic and Islamist architecture and built at a cost of some $50 million.

It features gardens, fountains, an aquarium, a museum, an amphitheatre, a swimming pool and play parks, all linked by train, and it is a popular spot for relaxing, walking or enjoying a picnic.

See handicrafts being made at the Women’s Handicraft Centre

Abu Dhabi’s Women’s Handicraft Centre is a government-run initiative showcasing traditional local crafts such as weaving, embroidery, sewing and basketry. While it’s free to visit the centre, the items being made are on sale, so if you do have some souvenir money it’s a good place to pick up genuinely hand-made traditional goods.

It’s worth knowing before you visit that you should take off your shoes before you go in, and while it’s fine to take photographs of the handicrafts you should ask permission first and focus on the products rather than the craftswomen.

Sightseeing excursions from Abu Dhabi city

Abu Dhabi is known not only for its luxurious hotels – see the newly opend Yas Hotel, retail therapy and city sights, but also for its desert and mountain landscapes, interesting oasis cities and its wide range of unusual adventure activities. You can pick up car rental in Abu Dhabi to go off sightseeing independently, or join a tour group for organised excursions from the city.

Go sand skiing in the Liwa Oasis

The lush Liwa Oasis is too far from Abu Dhabi city to visit on a day trip as the journey takes about five hours, so you’d need an overnight stay if you plan to go sand skiing whilst visiting Abu. It’s well worth the effort, though, with camel markets, date palm plantations, freshwater pools, rugged landscapes and mountain peaks.

Sand Skiing Video

It’s also a great base from which to take desert excursions. Boasting the biggest sand dunes in the world, the Liwa Oasis is a sand skier’s dream. You can join an organised tour and they’ll provide some tuition and your sand board, so you can enjoy an exhilarating ride down the red-tinted dunes.

Embark on a desert safari adventure

Abu Dhabi is a great base from which to enjoy desert adventure activities. Most desert tours pack in a variety of activities such as camel riding; sand surfing or skiing; a trip to a camel farm; 4×4 dune buggying; and ‘wadi bashing’ — a bone-shaking romp along dry, twisting riverbeds in a four wheel drive. If you’re lucky you may glimpse animals such as gazelle (a type of goat), or local tribes, during your excursion, and the day’s activities are usually followed by supper under the stars.

Your hotel can usually arrange such trips for you, or you can book through one of the city’s travel agencies. The best time to go is between April and October, avoiding the intense heat of the summer months.

Relax on a Corniche Cruise

For a very local excursion, you can sail along the Abu Dhabi Corniche in a locally-designed dhow (boat), which you will spot anchored along the breakwater.

This gives you a chance to see the skyline from the water, with cruises to suit everyone’s pocket, ranging from brief trips on fairly basic vessels to cruises lasting several hours on luxury liners with a seafood supper included.

Experience Al Ain, an authentic Arab oasis city

Rising out of Abu Dhabi’s desert sands is the oasis city of Al Ain, a settlement which dates back to the 4th millennium BC and is home to Jebel Hafeet, the UAE’s highest mountain. It takes about 90 minutes to get there from Abu Dhabi city, and it is the closest you’ll find to an authentic Arab city in this region. It’s a pleasant destination in the mild winter months, when it’s not too hot to explore ancient archaeological sites, but it’s also a great escape from coastal humidity during the summer.

Al Ain has plenty of attractions to keep you busy, including historic forts, Al Ain Museum, and the palace museum of Sheikh Zayed. One of its most fascinating sights, however, is the busy camel market on the outskirts of town, teeming with a variety of camels from Sudan, Pakistan and Abu Dhabi, all vying for buyers’ attention.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be the first race ever held at Yas Marina Circuit and also the final race of the Formula One season. Due to be held October/Novemeber the final touches are being made to the worlds newest Formula 1 racetrack which will run across desert, sea and even through the exclusive hotel resorts.

The inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place on the newly constructed Yas Marina Circuit and promises to be an incredible experience with the race running during day and night – the first day/night formula 1 race.

Flights to Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi grand Prix is sponsored by the UAE national airline Etihad who fly to Abu Dhabi International Airport from all over the world.  The airport is 15 minutes drive from Yas Marina (the race venue) and Etihad are taking advance bookings for flights to Abu Dhabi.

Etihad operates one of youngest and most environmentally efficient fleets in the world – doing their bit for the climate and global warming. Etihad recently placed huge orders at for the latest state of the art planes at the Farnborough airshow and it is hoped these will be joining the fleet to bring visitors to the Grand Prix.

It is worth checking if there are any package deals to include your flight to Abu Dhabi, tickets to the Grand Prix and accomodation – you never know you might even get to stay in one of the most remarkable hotels to be ever built – the Yas Hotel

Yas hotel

The Yas Hotel is like no other hotel built.

Individuality and excitement are the cornerstones of everything.  No expense has been spared to make this spectacular building one of the world’s most desirable destinations for business and leisure

Within the Marina Circuit development are many luxury hotels – demostrating the long term commitment to making this one of the premier resort destinations in the middle east.  Yas hotel straddles the race track – stay in one of the 500 five star rooms and see what throwing $35 billion at a new hotel build can achieve.

Latest News on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Reports continue to be made  that neither the Yas Hotel nor the Marina Circuit will be ready in time for the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

See the progress here on Abu Dhabi webcam updates