Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi

Located on the 74th floor of Tower 2 at the Etihad Towers complex, the Observation Deck at 300 offers unbeatable views of Abu Dhabi’s cityscape and surrounding islands. It is the highest point in Abu Dhabi, at 300 metres in the air. Entrance for visitors is AED 75, with AED 50 redeemable as F&B vouchers at the venue. The Observation Deck is a 5 minute drive from Emirates Palace.

Tee off with Abu Dhabi’s soaring skyline as a backdrop, or lengthen your day by booking a twilight round under the city’s night sky. The Abu Dhabi City Golf Club is the UAE capital’s first nine-hole facility, also known as ‘The People’s Golf Course.’ The course offers golfers a playing environment unlike any other in the emirate. Abu Dhabi City Golf Club offers 9 hole plays and has the only two-tiered driving range in Abu Dhabi. Clubs are available for rental. Shoes are not available for rental. Abu Dhabi City Golf Club is only a 20 minute drive from Emirates Palace.

Run by the Emirates Heritage Club, this reconstruction of a traditional oasis village provides an interesting glimpse into the emirate’s past. Traditional aspects of the desert way of life, including a campfire with coffee pots, a goats’ hair tent, and a falaj irrigation system, are attractively displayed in the open museum. There are workshops where craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills, such as metal work and pottery, while women sit weaving and spinning. The craftsmen are happy to share their skills, and may occasionally give you the chance to try them out. The little spice shop is a treat – you can get a range of dried herbs, handmade soap and plenty of chatter. The Heritage Village is a short 5 minute drive from Emirates Palace.

The Galleria is Abu Dhabi’s latest mall, conveniently located on Al Mariah Island. The mall boasts two floors of boutique stores and entertainment, with a total of 130 outlets. Anchored by Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Prada, Gucci, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Bulgari, the mall also features some of the hippest and trendiest restaurants and cafés in the city, including Zuma, Armani Café, Magnolia Bakery and Carlucci. The Galleria is a short 25 minute drive from Emirates Palace.

Marina Mall, one of the most distinctive landmarks of the capital, opened in 2001. Geographically located in one of the city’s most prominent areas, the Marina Mall comprises of 122,000 square meter of retail space featuring a unique choice of fashion, leisure and entertainment. Marina Mall boasts big name entertainment and shopping facilities, including Carrefour, Fun City, Zara, Marks & Spencer, Paris Gallery, VOX Cinemas, Plugins, and Emirates Bowling Village. Marina Mall is a short 5 minute drive from Emirates Palace.

This purpose built visitor’s centre on Saadiyat Island, Manarat Al Saadiyat, is home to the annual Abu Dhabi Art. A popular art fair serving as a modern and contemporary art platform with public programmes, the event brings to the UAE capital leading art galleries from across the world. Manarat al Saadiyat is also the location of the future The Louvre Abu Dhabi, The Guggenheim Museum, and The Zayed National Museum. Manarat al Saadiyat is a 25 minute drive from Emirates Palace.

One of the oldest sites in Abu Dhabi, the Central Market is where the city began. Abu Dhabi’s commerce emanates from this historic site, and over the years, the city has brought a renewed focus to this iconic business and cultural district. The Central Market represents the harmony between the old and new shopping experience in Abu Dhabi. The Central Market is a short 10 minute drive from Emirates Palace.

This architectural work of art is one the world’s largest mosques, with a capacity for an astonishing 40,000 worshippers. It features 82 domes, over 1,000 columns, 24 carat gold gilded chandeliers and the world’s largest hand knitted carpet. The mosque’s first ceremony was the funeral of its namesake, HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is buried at the site. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a 30 minute drive away from the Emirates Palace.