Pope Francis' Visit Highlights Why Abu Dhabi Should Be On Your Radar
Destination & Tourism Mia Taylor February 05, 2019

On Monday, Pope Francis kicked off a historic, three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates.
It’s the first time the pontiff has visited the Gulf state and his presence represents a groundbreaking meeting between two of the world’s towering religions: Islam and Catholicism.
Though the Pope’s visit will be focused on such weighty topics as cooperation, peace and human rights, it will also serve to highlight the destination as a whole, particularly its capital, Abu Dhabi, which has transformed from Dubai’s boring sidekick into a city of global appeal in recent years and has become a place that by some accounts, is open to all cultures.
While Abu Dhabi does not offer all the glitz and over-the-top entertainment of Dubai, the capital excels in the categories of history, culture and even natural beauty with its rolling sand dunes, beaches, and mountains.

Abu Dhabi has also invested in a variety of new attractions in recent years, designed to appeal to globetrotters. With all of these factors in mind, here is a look at some of the city’s top offerings, both old and new.
The Second Louvre
Debuting a little over a year ago, the Louvre Abu Dhabi has established itself as a pillar of arts in the Middle East.
The museum is a massive 260,000-square-foot complex housing hundreds of displays that touch on both culture from around the world and the Emirates, underlining global culture but never losing sight of its Arabian origins.
The building itself is also a design feat, covered with a white lattice dome and resting on a marble outcropping over the Persian Gulf. Current exhibits include Rembrandt, Vermeer & The Dutch Golden Age and also Roads of Arabia: Archaeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia.
The Grand Mosque

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a breathtaking sight to behold. A religious epicenter, the structure is a formation of white marble domes and pillars topped with gold decorations and surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens.
As one of the largest mosques in the world, the architectural marvel boasts a capacity for 40,000 worshippers and visitors. It’s also one of the few mosques open to non-Muslim visitors, distinguishing Abu Dhabi as a forward-facing, progressive city.
Qasr Al Hosn
Following renovations, this cultural landmark debuted as a museum late 2018. Qasr Al Hosn is the oldest and most significant building in Abu Dhabi, holding the city’s first permanent structure: the watchtower, built in the 1790s.
This museum and monument encapsulate the development of Abu Dhabi from a small fishing village into the international destination that is it today. Visitors can explore both the tangible and intangible history of the Emirate and how outside influence help shape modern day Abu Dhabi.
History and Al Ain Oasis
The UAE’s first curated UNESCO site, Al Ain Oasis is a tranquil haven of gardens, date palms and birdsong outside of bustling Abu Dhabi.
It provides a serene escape and unrivaled opportunity for travelers to dive into the UAE’s rich history as an early site of Abu Dhabi civilization, with early records indicating human activity in the oasis for over 4,000 years.
The oasis is shaped by a complex shared water supply based on wells and the traditional UAE irrigation ‘falaj’ – visitors can learn more at the on-site Eco-Center, highlighting the preservation measures involved with this delicate ecosystem.
For more information on Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Dubai
For more Destination & Tourism News
More by Mia Taylor
Comments
You may use your Facebook account to add a comment, subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook information, including your name, photo & any other personal data you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment, and may be used on TravelPulse.com. Click here to learn more.
LOAD FACEBOOK COMMENTS