What's to see in Abu Dhabi

If Dubai is the young dizzying heart of the UAE, Abu Dhabi has all the maturity and the charisma of a wise man. Ever since the Emirati branch of the Louvre was open I was tempted to go there. I did not suspect the Grand Mosque to be this Grand and thankfully managed to visit. There are oh so many amazing places to see and fun adventures to have on YAS island, from the amazing formula one tracks to Ferrari world to the incredible adventure park, one could easily spend a week; I on the other hand had barely 2 days and good friends to see.

A sharp contrast with Dubai is that here you meet the locals, the Emiratis, at the cafes, in the streets; they are very humble, and although they have Lanborghinis and Maseratis in their garages, they drive low profile cars and keep those for the weekend trips to Dubai.

Allow at least a full morning to visit the Mosque. Don't forget to dress appropriately. Women should wear loose clothing that covers their shoulders and feet and can manage with a shawl (unless you prefer to rent a abaya). The place is amazing and best seen when the sun is not at its highest.

The sober and modernist architecture of the Louvre is somewhat impressive. At the end of the visit, the way out to the "terrace" - it's huge I wouldn't know what else to call it - is not obvious. I had to ask how to get outside instead of the usual route that takes you to the exit. 

Tips: If you have extra money to spend in good company, don't miss having a sumptuous meal at Zuma, top-end Japanese-style restaurant - the Abu Dhabi venue is much cosier than the Dubai one.