Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital

The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is one of the top attractions in Abu Dhabi – Trip Advisor has it at #5 out of #112 things to do in Abu Dhabi, and if you visit you will appreciate why.

This is a unique and very interesting place to visit; where else could you get to watch whilst vets attend to falcons?  Our guide Hassan is affable, knowledgeable and multilingual (Arabic, English, German, French, Italian); his talk as he guides us through the complex is both entertaining and informative.

We start in the reception room which has posters, books and artefacts showing you the history of falconry in the UAE; we then move on to the treatment area where we watch as a falcon has it’s talons and beak trimmed; passing by the intensive care and theatre unit, we head out to see some beautiful falcons held in a massive semi-outdoor cage/room, stopping to see some owls before arriving at the conference area where we are offered complimentary refreshments.

The entry cost might seem pricey compared to most attractions here which are typically 15-50aed per visitor, however the tour is two hours long and the guides are excellent, so we considered it good value for money.

Cost per visitor – 170aed, cost per visitor with lunch – 300aed (minimum 20 persons).

All tours should be booked in advance on their website or by calling +971 2 5755155. Tours are conducted at 10am and 2pm from Saturday to Thursday; closed Fridays.  The timings during the Holy month of Ramadan may vary.

Location – just off the E20 eastbound, near Abu Dhabi airport – N24 24.780 E54 42.433.

Some interesting facts about falcons

#1  The falcon is the emblem of the UAE.  The emblem comprises a golden falcon with a disc in the centre, which is the UAE National Flag.  There are also seven stars round the disc, one for each Emirate (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaima, Fujairah, Umm al Quwain, Ajman). It’s talons are holding a red scroll which bears the name of the UAE in arabic.

#2  There are many different varieties of falcons worldwide, but the three most popular here are the saker, the peregrine and the gyr.

#3  Female falcons are larger than male, so they are mainly used for falconry since a falcon can carry two times (or more) its weight.

#4   In the wild falcons beaks and talons are naturally worn down by contact with stones and rocks, however those in captivity need a “manicure” every 2-3 months.

#5   Falcons are expensive – from around 5000aed to over 500,000aed

#6   It is illegal to trap and keep a wild falcon – if you find an injured one you must notify the falcon hospital (or take it in to them) where they will treat it and release it once recovered

#7  There are two seasons in the falcon world – hunting, from September to March, and moulting, from April to August.

#8  Each falcon has a passport (no photo since they change appearance with every moult) which they need to fly on Etihad Airways, which allows each passengers to take at least two falcons into the passenger compartment!

#9  Broken feathers are bad news for a falcon, as they cannot fly properly with damaged feathers.  The falcon hospital keep any moulted feathers to repair broken feathers, splicing them with needles or bamboo skewers then setting them with superglue or epoxy glue!

#10  The peregrine falcon can fly at over 200kph on the horizontal and when diving can reach 300kph!

Start by paying your dosh at reception

a patient waiting patiently

broken bones chart

somebody’s beak is too long!

anaesthetic

small bird with massive wingspan

if the talons get too long they can cut into the soft pads and hurt

if a talon is damaged the centre puts on temporary shoes on the falcon

pedicure falcon side

buff and polish

all captive falcons are ringed and chipped

showing us new feathers growing in

how to repair a damaged feather with a needle and glue

this one was lower down so it needed a bamboo bbq skewer and epoxy glue to sort

all falcons have radio beacons when training so they can be located if they fly off

a falcon’s ear

polishing the beak!

spare feathers

expensive bird….

dinner time

looking owlish

the wonderful guide, Mr Hassan

Falcon Passport

some of the many awards received by the Falcon Hospital

I highly recommend a visit to the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital – and if you can get here before the ADIHEX exhibition – held this year between 9th and 12th September – then you will get so much more out of the falcon section at the show!

Cultural District, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

I’m bashing away on the keyboard as part of my homework for my Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Guides course.  You don’t have to write umpteen words, all you need do to pass is speak on 6 different subjects (choice of 40, not sure who makes the choice) for a minimum of 3 minutes, and pass a 100 question multiple choice test.  Which would be easy, if I could just get the info into my head to start with….it was so much easier to pick up facts and figures when I was 20!

So, to help my middle aged brain, and hopefully educate and entertain my readers, here’s the lowdown on Saadiyat Island, in arabic “Island of Happiness”.  You can see it on the Google Earth screen capture below outlined by the pink triangle.

First of all, it’s natural and not man made, and is situated just 500 metres to the North of Abu Dhabi Island.  The wonderful Sheikh Khalifa Highway (E12) runs through it – and this road IS wonderful as you can travel from the outskirts of the city right down to the North End of the Corniche in a short time.

Saadiyat Island is currently being developed by TDIC (Tourism Development and Investment Company) and when complete in around 2020, will offer upmarket residential accommodation, boutique hotels, a whole host of leisure facilities and most importantly, the Saadiyat Cultural District.

This is already partially open and last year my husband and I had a most enjoyable visit to the Manarat Al Saadiyat (translation “Place of Enlightenment”), a 15,400 square metre visitor centre which has been designed to host international exhibitions from around the world.  We explored the travelling exhibition  “Around the world in 100 objects” which was displayed in its calm and spacious exhibition areas.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi, due to open later this year is a stunning building designed by Pritzker Prize Winner Jean Nouvel.  The design has some links to the past – individual buildings, some haphazardly placed like the souqs of long ago, are linked by walkways; all are covered with a huge dome inspired by the Islamic architecture for which Abu Dhabi is so well known.  The 180 metre diameter dome has an irregular pattern of openings, inspired by the palm fronds traditionally used to create roofs of the barasti huts which were common in the capital city 100 years ago.

The next attraction due to open is the Zayed National Museum which is also housed in an amazing building, designed by British Firm Foster and Partners. It is inspired by the feathers of the UAE’s National Bird, the falcon and each steel feather will contain gallery space dedicated to explaining the history and culture of the UAE, organised into 7 categories – Sheikh Zayed Life and Times, Falconry and Conservation, Land and Water, People and Heritage, History and Society, Science and Learning and Faith and Islam.

The museum will tell the story of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan who was the first President of the UAE from 1971 until his death in 2004. To quote the ZNM website – “Central to the stories told in the Museum are Sheikh Zayed’s strongly held values. These encompassed a passionate belief in education, conservation, environmental sustainability, heritage and culture, all underpinned by his humanitarianism and strong faith.  The Zayed National Museum has been founded in the spirit of Sheikh Zayed’s work on behalf of Emiratis and people everywhere”.

Unlike some of the other Cultural District attractions which are next to, or sometimes even over the sea, this one is set in an elevated position, and since the tallest steel feather is 125 metres, this is set to be the centrepiece of the area. I am looking forward to being among the first visitors in 2016!

When completed in a few years’ time, the Guggenheim Museum will be housed in a landmark structure, designed by Pritzker Prize winner Frank Gehry,  Inspired by piles of open gallery boxes and with ten additional iconic cone like structures will afford a total of 31,000 square metres of exhibition space.

The Guggenheim network of museums is visited by nearly 3 million visitors each year; others are in New York (opened 1959), Venice, Italy (opened 1979), and Bilbao, Spain (opened 1997).  The Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation was founded in 1937 to promote the understanding and appreciation of art and visual culture.

The UAE Pavillion, originally displayed for 6 months at Expo2010 Shanghai has its permanent home close to Manarat Al Saadiyat, where it is set to be an exhibition and events venue.  Inspired by the sand dunes of Abu Dhabi, the structure, which reaches 20 metres at its highest point,  welcomed almost 2 million visitors at the expo who learned of the culture and history of the UAE by watching this presentation.

All the buildings in the Cultural district of Saadiyat are at the cutting edge of modern architecture, many inspired by UAE geography and the next building we will look at is the Performing Arts Centre.  Designed by Iraqi/British architect Zaha Hadid, who incidentally also created the iconic Sheikh Zayed bridge which links AD Island to the mainland, there are references to natural shapes such as leaves and stems, buds and branches.  As a side note, Zaha Hadid was ranked in 2008 as 69th on the Forbes list of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” – a cultural icon.

One of the last buildings due to be completed in the area will be the Maritime Museum, designed by another Pritzker Prize winner, Tadao Ando.  Born in Japan, this self-taught architect as created a dramatic building which will house exhibitions telling the story of the UAE’s rich and long sea-faring tradition. The structure which will straddle the Arabian Sea will combine space, light and water both inside and outside and will be a suitable monument to Abu Dhabi’s maritime heritage.

Saadiyat Island – well worth a visit now with follow up visits over the next few years!

Visit Abu Dhabi!

There is never a dull moment in the UAE, or at least not in my life here – I am currently training to be an Abu Dhabi Tour Guide in preparation for item 3 on this blog.

We were shown this video as part of our first workshop – hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Buying a 4×4 in Abu Dhabi Emirate

This blog has specific information on buying an offroad vehicle in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.  However if you are purchasing a 2WD car in any emirate of the UAE you might find some useful info here.

A long time ago now – the day I took delivery of my SWB patrol!

Can I buy a car the day I arrive?

It is possible to rent a vehicle upon arrival in the UAE and many nationalities are able to drive it on their own home licence until they have the residency visa stamped in their passport. Once the visa is stamped you MUST NOT drive on your home licence as your car insurance will be invalid if you do. Instead “exchange” your home country licence for a UAE one (not all nationalities are eligible for this – check that your country is on the list here.) The validity is 10 years and is “tied” to your residency visa.

Once you have your driving licence (which also requires an Emirates ID – part of the residency process) you can register a vehicle in your own name.  If you are sponsoring your family then they can also register cars in their names.

Finding your car

I heard of someone who went out and bought a brand new Toyota Sequoia to take to the desert.  Unfortunately, many clubs, including Oasis Offroad, will not accept these on their trips as they are a) too low b) too heavy c) ideal for camping but not for dune bashing.  So if you plan taking up dune bashing during your time in the UAE or Oman, please try to go out with a club as a passenger so you can see what their drivers have and to see how they perform in the sand.  This will help you make an informed choice which you are more likely to enjoy owning!  (If you’re interested in my favourite offroad cars, have a look here).

Most dealers have large stocks of new cars and in most cases you can take delivery pretty quickly.

There are many second hand dealers around and we have bought cars this way, negotiate hard on the price though and do not hand over the cash balance until they have had the vehicle tested at the registration centre. (see below).

Dubizzle is worth a look for second hand cars – if you are a western expat then try to buy from one!  Many expats leave the gulf in June so there are many great cars up for sale in April-June, and prices are generally lower at this time of year as supply exceeds demand.

New car vs second hand car

New cars carry a premium price worldwide – if you can find a good second hand model then you may save a lot of cash.  However, bank loans are cheaper for new cars, so if you are borrowing to fund your purchase then it might be time to get out the calculator!

Second hand cars may be in immaculate condition or they may have been thrashed to death. As in any country, CAVEAT EMPTOR (buyer beware).  If you know what you are looking for then it is possible to find a very good vehicle, and it’s a good idea to have it checked over by a trustworthy mechanic before committing.

If people advertise “only used offroad once” then ask yourself why – did some of the family get carsick, did the car under-perform in the desert or did they have an offroad accident with it?  That being said, Dubai is an image conscious city and it is often possible to pick up a good offroading car from there which has never seen the desert!

Old car vs newer second hand car

The main benefit of buying an old vehicle is initial outlay, however they will require more maintenance than newer models.  For the offroader, older cars can be very good – some models such as the Nissan Pathfinder and Jeep Cherokee have morphed into “softroaders” over the years and lack the clearance, chunky build and simple mechanics of the old models. (Simple mechanics and lack of electronics can be a good thing when you’re in the desert!)

Tyres

The best type and make of tyre leads to many heated debates – there is not one tyre that is perfect for every car, driving style and terrain.  Make sure the tyres on your second hand purchase are newer than 2  years old as they will fail the next registration if they are older.  You can tell the date of manufacture by a four digit code on the sidewall – read more about tyre markings here.

There are two distinctly different tyre types commonly used for offroading.  M/S refers to mud and snow and these have a deep aggressive tread which is ideal for wadis and wet sabkhas but dig into the sand particularly if the driver has a “heavy foot”.  The other category are ATR – all terrains – and these generally “float” over the sand, however many have relatively soft sidewalls so they have a short life if you do a lot of rock crawling and wadis.  We run Pirelli Scorpion ATRs on both our Patrols, deflating them to 12.5psi on the sand- they are quiet and hold well on the road too.

Checking for accidents

The UAE and Oman have a very high accident rate – not all are serious though, many are fender benders from people not keeping enough distance or not paying adequate attention.  Get the chassis number of the car of your desires and check out if it’s been in an accident here.

Offroad driving causes more damage than road driving and it’s worth checking under the car to ensure that there the engine, axles, transmission are in good condition externally.  Wise owners have a “bash plate” fitted to their vehicles before they take it offroad and thus the engine and radiator are protected.

Diesel cars

Diesel is widely available throughout the Emirates, however to draw diesel in AD Emirate you must have a special pre-paid card.  This can be bought and topped up from ADNOC – the website says the e-diesel card may be purchased from any service station but I have heard that you must visit one of the ADNOC distribution offices, which are in AD and Al Ain.  There is a limit on how much you may buy – currently 800aed per month which equates to around 450 litres and with a diesel car this should be enough for most consumers (if I drove a diesel i would need more.)  With the price of petrol at 1.76aed (0.29GBP) fuel economy is not a big issue here, which is possibly why 99% of the cars on the road are petrol driven – many think diesel cars are not worth the hassle!

Financing your purchase

If you are buying your car from a dealer then they will be only too happy to arrange finance – however you should check the rate and the total amount to be paid against the deals you get from banks.

You can finance a car through a bank, dependent on earnings and status, with either a car loan (mortgage) or a personal loan.  Personal loans are more expensive but the benefit is that the vehicle is completely yours from day one – if the car is mortgaged then this is mentioned on the registration card.

If you are buying from a private buyer or a small garage, the bank will require the car to be inspected and valued at a garage of their choice before granting the loan.  This will cost you around 250aed.

If your employment comes to an unexpected end, any loans will have to be cleared before you are allowed to exit the country.  If your end of service benefit is sufficient, the bank will take the money from that.  If not, then you have a problem – google “uae debt, loan etc” so you can understand the situation before you commit.

Insuring your car

See here

Buying a car with outstanding finance

As mentioned above, the vehicle registration card will mention (in arabic) if a loan is outstanding.  If your seller owes money on the car then it cannot be transferred until the loan is cleared, and how this happens is a matter of trust between you and the seller.  I have heard of buyers paying off the loan, which allows the car owner to get a clearance certificate from the bank, which must be taken along to the registration centre at the time of transfer.  To avoid being ripped off, you should ask for a current dated cheque made payable to yourself for the amount of the loan.  If the seller – and the car – disappears then you can bank the cheque.  If it bounces you can raise a Police case against them – assuming they are still in the country, that is.

Buying a car from another emirate

This adds another stage to the process but it is not too daunting if you know what you are doing.  Either

a) go to Dubai with the cash.  Meet the seller at the registration station, have the car “tested for export” and once completed the seller deregisters the car and removes the numberplates.  Then hire a recovery truck (there are often some standing by at the testing station) and they will transport it to a testing station in AD emirate.  You then need to have it tested and registered (see below). OR

b) have the seller bring the car to a testing station in AD emirate.  You get the car tested/registered in your name, pay him, then he gets the old number plates which he then takes to a testing station in his emirate, and de-registers the car there.

Registering your car

All vehicles have to have a visual/brake/suspension/emissions test prior to registration.  This is required annually for vehicles 3 years old or more and takes place at one of the Licensing centres.  A few years back there were only one or two located in major population centres which meant long queues but now a few large ADNOC petrol stations have them attached which has speeded up the process considerably.

The seller pays the fee of 120aed, drives his/your car in, and the tester will check it and he will collect it at the other end of the line.  A test certificate will be issued, stamped with “pass” or “fail”; if it’s a fail then the items needing attention will be detailed.  Note – the certificate is valid for 28 days so sometimes a seller will go and have the vehicle tested in advance of the transfer, which means they can take care of any work before the changeover day.

Sometimes vehicles will pass as far as mechanics and safety is concerned but will fail for certain modifications.  Aftermarket performance mods are illegal here and the car will almost certainly fail the test.  Metal bumpers, unless original specification (jeep TJ etc) will likely fail as well as winches protruding from the front of the vehicle, driving lights, stickers and many more items which may change from time to time.

Once the seller has the vehicle successfully tested, then you both go to the office where you hand over your ID card or your driving licence, your insurance certificate and sometimes an NOC from your employer.  The car will then be registered in your name and your next task is to go to the (attached) licence plate office where they will fit the plates to your car.

Mabrook!  You’re a car owner, safe journey!

Al Dhafra Camel Festival 2013

Each year since 2008 Abu Dhabi Western Region Municipality has held a unique and very special festival dedicated to the ship of the desert. located just south of Madinat Zayed.  It’s held at the end of December which coincides with the winter break/Christmas and it’s well worth a visit if you have time.

This is the third time I’ve been and although the other two have been good, this was one was exceptional.  It’s a good 3 hour drive from Al Ain to get here so I ran a camping trip for Oasis Offroad combining some very easy offroading, camels and a night under the stars. We found a great spot to camp, about 8kms into the desert, set up our tents then headed to the Camel Festival to be in time for the Arabian Horse Race due to start at 3pm.  We knew we were in the right place when we saw this sign

When we got to the advertised location there were a few expats milling around, but no sign of any action and it turned out that there definitely was an arabian horse race, just not at the festival track.  Some young Emirati men convoyed about 20 cars up to the actual location which was in the north of Madinat Zayed and once there a local gentlemen invited us to follow him to “a good spot to watch” and we had a grand view of the action while we enjoyed his hospitality – a truck came up with plastic chairs, water and fruit juice, all of which were very welcome.

There were three races and the travelling entourage of trainers, tv cameras and support crew kept our interest while we the horse assembled on the start line.

It wasn’t possible to get right up to the rails during the race as there were around 20 vehicles driving alongside the track, but once over, when the horses returned slowly to the start we had the chance for a close look and to grab some great photos

Cyndi had her binoculars and our “host’s” young relatives enjoyed the chance to follow the race closely

Sadly, the last race of the day saw a few riders fall from their horses – all the horses got up and ran away but 3 riders were taken to hospital by ambulance, I do hope they all make a quick recovery.

With the sun having dipped below the horizon we went back to our campsite where we had a great campfire and bbq.  Oasis Offroad is comprised of expats (which make up about 90% of the UAE population) and always has an eclectic mix of nationalities on our drives, but this time with the help of a couple of visitors we surpassed ourselves – we had attendees from USA, Bolivia, Germany, France, Italy, China and of course Scotland! Despite its remote location, our campsite wasn’t as quiet as I had hoped –  at 1am about a dozen local cars came along the gatch, some making a terrible racket.  Then about 3am, a shamal wind blew in from the north and we were engulfed in a sandstorm.  All the tents were still there in the morning, thankfully!

Once packed up we headed down a new gatch – having driven on the part-built road back in July and August, I wanted to see where it finished up.  We saw our first camels close up and stopped for photos; the orange truck on the photo had stopped to let us past only 300 metres prior and once more we were behind him, though thankfully he let us past again.  Next stop was an old Landcruiser FJ40 wreck in a bowl.

Our orange truck must have passed us when we were out of sight  in a bowl taking pictures of the truck wreck so I wonder if he was surprised to see me in his rear view mirror once more.  He let us past again, smiling but I did wonder if he was muttering “damned offroaders” under his breath.   The final stop was for a photoshoot with my favourite digger, and yes, our friend in the orange truck sailed by once more – luckily for him he was almost at his destination and we were “at the end of the road” with no option but to turn back and retrace our steps.

On our return journey Cam took this fabulous camel photo.  This was their response when we asked them to turn round and smile for the camera – maybe they had been talking to the orange truck driver…..

We had some time to meander a little bit into the sand dunes, which were amazingly wet and firm, so much so that we were driving at 26-28psi, including Oasis Offroad’s newest member, Renaud, who was a sand rookie before this weekend!

All too soon we were back on the blacktop, but we had a saluki race to go to at 12 noon.  Except it was delayed for three hours, so instead we visited the souq areas.  How about some lovely colourful tassels for your camel?

If I had a camel, I would be buying her some nice bling….

Next stop was the camel arena, some 5kms from the souq/racetrack areas.  To get the most out of this festival you need to have access to a car to drive between the sites, which are well signposted.  Just keep a lookout for camels crossing!

The UAE is the only country in the world to hold camel beauty contest; the very mention of beauty contest will have many of you conjuring up visions of  bikinis and evening dresses.  But no, the screenshot below lists the criteria for those judging the beauty of the Asayel, or brown/beige camel. (The Majahim, or black Saudi camel, have mainly the same criteria except under general shape and fitness points are awarded for “beauty display”, “length of the lip” “size of the mount” as well as physical health and hair shininess)

So now you know!  The most beautiful camels win large cash prizes or luxury cars, and when the winners are announced there is much rejoicing.  It’s traditional to anoint the heads of the  winners with a liquid made from saffron and water, a process just as messy as “blackening” the bride and groom before their wedding in Scotland! Being down in the arena while this was happening, with the melee of cameras, press, owners and contests was one of the highlights of my weekend.

We finished our weekend at the camel festival with a wander round the pens holding the Saudi camels

Looking forward to Al Dhafra Festiva (8) in December 2014!

Ramadan Escape

Image from Feedio.net

In a matter of weeks, around the 10th July,  the Holy month of Ramadan will be upon us.  During Ramadan, Muslims must fast completely during the hours of daylight; it’s a hard call for them when the Holy Month falls at the height of summer as it means their fast lasts from approx 4.15am until sunset at approx 7pm.  
 
The non-muslim expats have to adjust their daily routines too – governmental departments and the private sector all work reduced hours and most shops and malls are shut during the day and come to life after Iftar in the evening.  So what can one do all day?  You cannot be seen drinking or eating in public, and this applies even in your car.  Go for a walk?  Forget that one – with temps of 45C+ crossing to the other side of the road is a challenge.  Staying at home for prolonged periods can lead to cabin fever so it’s worth considering a weekend escape to make the most of the extra special offers available to GCC residents at this time of year. 

The idea for this blog post came around after a recent stay in the luxurious 4* Crowne Plaza in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. 

 

Prices for a two night stay in a double club room during Ramadan 18th-20th July –  from 934aed plus tax or 1016aed plus tax inclusive of breakfast – on the advance saver rate which should be booked a minimum of 10 days in advance.  

 

Now here’s the best bit: club rooms offer access to the Club Lounge, where they will serve you afternoon tea and evening drinks with a view of the Arabian Gulf.  It’s open all day from 12noon to 10pm during Ramadan for complimentary tea and coffee *this is what I was told on 26th June, check with hotel at time of booking.

Image from http://www.booking.com

All rooms in the hotel are lovely, good sized and beautifully furnished with comfortable beds, luxury percale bedlinen, tv, ipod player, complimentary tea and coffee and a minibar.  The glass fronted bathrooms have a huge tub and overbath shower, hairdryer, illuminated vanity mirror and complimentary toiletries.

 

Deluxe rooms come with a balcony and a view over the islands of Abu Dhabi.

 

The staff are very efficient and pleasant and nothing is too much trouble; one tip is to put your do not disturb sign on the door if you are relaxing or having a bath as housekeeping do tend to knock on the door to check you have everything you need.

 

 

 

 

There are a variety of hotels clustered together on Yas Island beside the F1 track, all with their own restaurants and bars, though we normally remain in the Crowne Plaza as we love the restaurant.

 

You can stop by Stills Bar for a good selection of drinks and snacks; it has the longest bar counter in Abu Dhabi.  There’s seating both inside and out though it will probably be closed during daylight hours during Ramadan.

 

 

Image from http://www.booking.com

 Jing Asia – one of our favourite buffet restaurants in the UAE, with dinner starting from 140aed++ per person.  If you have an entertainer coupon book why not use one to buy one get one free.  Although more expensive, the Wednesday Surf and Turf night is exceptionally good, with a huge range of sushi as well as steak and fish cooked to order. 

 

image from http://www.booking.com

 

If you do venture outside, then a morning visit to Sheikh Zayed Mosque is highly recommended.  During Ramadan it is usually open to the public in the morning only and last year’s tours were at 9 and 10am.

 

Recently opened Yas Waterworld might be worth a look if you want something more energetic than lying round the hotel pool all day.  At the moment the opening hours are 10am-7/8pm but these are likely to change during the Holy Month so do check with their website. The standard adult price is 225aed but use one of your entertainer coupons to buy one and get one free.

Yas Island is being developed as the main centre for leisure in Abu Dhabi; there is a huge mall under development which will link with two massive stores already established – Ikea and Ace Hardware.  Using the Sheikh Khalifa Highway it’s an easy drive down to the northern end of the Corniche on Abu Dhabi island.

This is an independent review, the Crowne Plaza aren’t paying me to write this nor did they give me a free room in return for this blog.

You can book this hotel direct on their website,  or via booking.com. 

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