They do not come often but when visitors do touch down on UAE soil and take in that first breath of fresh desert air, I like to greet them with cold beer and a smile.
I was just kidding about that first part. You need a liquor license to drink alcohol in this country -- c'mon, everyone knows that -- but the smiles are free and I tend to give them out on a first-come, first-served basis.
Basically, when friends and family come to visit, my goal is to show them a good time and expose them to some of the cool things I have picked up during my short time here. I usually tell them to leave their preconceived notions about the Middle East at home and buckle up, because it's going to be a wild ride.
So if you are an expat living in Abu Dhabi and you're coming up short of things to plan for a friend visiting town (really?) then you need to read this must-do checklist carefully. If you are a tourist or someone considering a move to the UAE, these tidbits should help:
DISCLAIMER: My little brother Conor visited us for a week and we pulled all of this off despite me working four out of the seven nights he was in town. I have to chalk that up to having a cool wife, who hung out with him while I was at the office and for Conor being a cool traveler, who did not need me to hold his hand every second so he could have fun. The more trips you take with people, the more you realize that everyone travels differently. Word to the wise, my friend.
Day 1 (welcome to the desert)
- Flights from the other side of the world (Australia, America, etc.) usually arrive late at night and by that time, your weary traveling guest may be a little jetlagged so letting them sleep may be paramount.
- Pick them up at airport, take them to their hotel or to your place so you can show off your digs.
- Be sensitive to their sleeping needs.
Day 2 (start them out slowly)
- Let them lounge by the pool at your building or their hotel to get started. This will help them get acclimated to the desert heat and shake off the jetlag.
- Grab lunch at Cafe Arabia. Great local spot with a cool rooftop deck. Order the shakshuka if you are in a breakfast kind of mood.
- Show them where you work and give them a tour of your office. Introduce them to your work mates and let them see your desk. They will be curious what you are doing in the UAE for a job and of course, how much you are paid.
- Maybe a little happy hour at Captain Of Arms behind Le Meridian hotel. It's also near the Abu Dhabi Mall if they want to get some shopping in.
Day 3 (let's get this party started)
- Take them to the Grand Mosque and let them walk around and grab those obligatory Middle East photos. The GM is always a great spot to visit and should impress any visitor. Be sure to go early in the day to beat the heat and the other tourists. In a hurry? You can conquer this site in 20 minutes or just take your sweet time.
- Shoot on down to Emirates Palace, one of the grandest hotels in the world. Plenty to see as you walk around and yes, they DO have an ATM machine that dispenses gold bricks. They also have pools and beach action there if you feel like getting wet.
- Take the scenic drive down the Corniche and head to Saddiyat Island. There is golf, beach and museums there to indulge in. I always like to make a stop at FANR for some light cocktails and their famous camel burger.
- Finish it off with some drinks at the Saddiyat Beach Club, formerly the Monte Carlo Club, with some live music pool side. The beach is a very short walk away and the sunsets from there are very memorable.
Day 4 (the fun continues)
- Start day off with a beach visit to the Corniche. Sure, they may have saw the beach from the car already so now they are ready to dive right in. There are public beaches along this six-kilometer stretch and there are also private beaches where you can rent lounge chairs and umbrellas.
- Have lunch at Nova Beach Cafe. It's right on the public beach and will provide great people watching at one of the busiest spots on the Corniche. They have cafe tables outside and day beds to relax on.
- Any need for speed? Spend the afternoon at Al Forsan International Sports Resort, where you can do anything from paintball to shooting real firearms. But my favorite is the carting. If you bring a group of friends, try to reserve the track in advance. Every driver can register right there and your results are posted electronically after the 20-minute race. Not long enough? Trust me, your body will be feeling it after the checkered flag is waved.
Day 5 (time to catch your breath)
- This city is saturated with gaudy malls and they are popping up everywhere. Let your guests get overwhelmed in Marina Mall, Yas Mall or Al Wahda Mall -- a few of my favorites. Not that I am a big fan of these establishments but your visitor may want to take in some of the conspicuous consumption that has made the UAE famous.
- A few more non-established outlets could include the Iranian Souq E Meena Fish Market or the Souk Qaryat Al Beri.
- If there is any energy left after your shopping spree, then a desert safari should be in your afternoon plans. Most of the companies do a great job with this as it usually starts around 3pm and then get you back to Abu Dhabi around 11.30pm. There are plenty of companies here that offer different options -- all of them are usually great.
Day 6 (time to eat and drink)
- Friday is a day for brunch and here in Abu Dhabi, it can be done in style. Especially with guests in from out of town. Every hotel and even more restaurants offer different takes on brunch. The options are endless. I would have to devote an entire blog post to all my favorites. You get the idea.
- Brunch usually goes from noon to 4.30pm. Be sure to tell your guests to pace themselves because there are a lot of 'after-brunch' spots that offer more drink specials and live music.
- Be safe. Take cabs everywhere. Rock some Uber. The real heros last after the sun goes down but there is no fault in taking an afternoon siesta that stretches into the weekend. Cheers.
Day 7 (final stretch)
- Who said brunch is only for Fridays? One of my favorite spots in the UAE is Blue Marlin Ibiza and they offer a very chill brunch on Saturday mornings. They are located in between Dubai and Abu Dhabi so it's a great spot to meet new people.
- Lounge on the beach, take in their Mediterranean cuisine and dance your face off with the live music.
- But make sure you have a designated driver. They even offer DD's for you for an additional price.
* * *
By the time I dropped Conor off at the airport, he told me that it was one of the best trips he had ever taken and I can only attribute that to my amazing hosting abilities.
I know, so modest.
Some people think taking a vacation to the Middle East is some kind of dangerous experience. But like I've said countless times, the UAE is very different compared to what you are reading in newspapers and scoffing at on the television. Seeing it for yourself is the only way you will know.
I'm glad Conor took the chance. Just another satisfied customer.
Let it be known: My door is always open.
