 The capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is the name of not only the largest city in the UAE, but also its largest emirate. Located on the Persian Gulf in the middle of the UAE’s northern coast, Abu Dhabi is an important political, commercial and tourism hub for the region. While Abu Dhabi’s wealth is chiefly derived from oil revenues, an increasingly larger percentage is coming from the tourism sector, with Abu Dhabi, in addition to nearby Dubai, steadily improving its international reputation as a rewarding holiday and business travel destination.
 Situated on its own island and thereby separated from the mainland, Abu Dhabi is well laid out, with plenty of expanses of greenery, clean modern buildings and historic sites. Despite the Middle East region’s security issues for Western travellers in particular, the city is regarded as being very safe. An added bonus for visitors to Abu Dhabi is its reliable sunny weather, meaning that no matter what time of year you visit, you can be assured of blue skies, although during the summer months the sun can be unrelentingly hot.
 Far from being a barren desert wasteland, Abu Dhabi has a wide range of enthralling attractions. Choose from historic sites such as Qasr Al-Hosn or the oasis towns of Al Ain and Liwa, modern edutainment venues such as the Culture Foundation and Heritage Village, or participate in thrilling adventure sports such as wadi-bashing or scuba diving. Many of Abu Dhabi’s attractions are located near the city’s Corniche and Breakwater district, which is itself a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. Nature lovers can go on four-wheel drive safaris or island cruises to observe some of the region’s endangered wildlife such as Arabian oryx and many species of birds.
Abu Dhabi is a shopper’s delight, with dozens of air-conditioned shopping malls mixing it with traditional souk markets. Goods range from the latest in designer labels and electronics to antiques and textiles. Best buys include carpets, tapestries, jewellery and handicrafts. Both local and international cuisine can easily be found in Abu Dhabi, with hotels offering unsurpassed service and quality, while souk vendors provide unmatched price and quantity.
Abu Dhabi has a great range of accommodation, with all of the world’s major hotel chains having properties conveniently located in the city. Each hotel is a virtual traveller’s oasis, offering services and facilities often unattainable elsewhere and including licensed dining and late night entertainment. In keeping with the city’s desire to accommodate business travellers, most lodgings feature the latest in telecommunications, with broadband internet connections in every room and up-to-date business centres and conference facilities.
An intriguing mix of Bedouin nomadic traditions and Islamic cultures, the people of Abu Dhabi are proud of their heritage and expect visitors to show sensitivity to their customs and beliefs, particularly when in public. Despite this, the Arabs of Abu Dhabi go to great lengths to make their guests feel at home, which is why hotels are allowed to cater to Western comforts.
The women of Abu Dhabi are free from certain restrictions that are placed on women in more conservative Arab states, so women visitors can dress as they would do at home, although modestly. Islamic culture doesn’t permit the wearing of bikinis and other revealing clothing, so care should be taken not to cause offence when doing outdoor activities. Friday is the Islamic holy day of the week, therefore Thursday and Friday are considered as making up the weekend.
History
While there is evidence of ancient habitation of the island on which Abu Dhabi city is located, permanent settlement did not occur until after 1760, when a reliable fresh water source was discovered by nomads. Soon after, a fishing village was established and, as the region became strategically important to both the British Navy and local Bedouin tribes, the prominence of Abu Dhabi grew in stature.
 It was only in recent times, however, that Abu Dhabi was placed firmly on the world map. Vast oil reserves were discovered in 1958 and since then, Abu Dhabi has enjoyed a prominent place on the world stage, particularly after the British abandoned its colonial presence in the region in 1971, soon after which the UAE was founded with Abu Dhabi as its capital. In recent times, Abu Dhabi has invested huge sums of capital to diversify its economy, concentrating on the tourism and international business sectors to reduce its reliance on oil revenues.
Weather
 With a predominantly dry and arid climate, Abu Dhabi enjoys almost perennially sunny skies. The temperature and humidity fluctuate widely throughout the year.
Summer and autumn (June through October) are the hottest months, with temperatures soaring well above 40°C and 100 per cent humidity day and night. Winter and spring (November through April) are much less humid, in fact, quite dry and pleasant with daytime temperatures ranging from 18-24°C, dropping to around 10°C at night on average. Most tourists visit Abu Dhabi in the winter (November through March), when the cool temperatures and sea breezes make conditions more comfortable. The city becomes practically deserted during the summer when most residents head to cooler climates. The positive side of visiting in the summer is that accommodation rates are cut in half and all buildings are air-conditioned. Rain only occurs every few years or so and only during the winter months. Even then, light showers usually last a short time and are very rare.
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