Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates and lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf.

A mix of modern and traditional, places to visit include the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village, the Cultural Foundation Museum and the Sheikh Zayed Mosque.

Please note: Abu Dhabi is an Islamic country and residents and visitors are advised to respect the Emirati culture and customs by not wearing excessively revealing clothing in public places. It is disrespectful for men and women to uncover shoulders and knees when in public. Tight or revealing tops and short skirts or dresses are not advised.

The Marina Mall, located on a scenic island overlooking The Corniche, a park lined coastal boulevard, has 300 stores whilst the Khalifa Centre, across the road from the Abu Dhabi Mall, offers lots of choice for souvenir shopping. Popular buys include linen, Bedouin silver jewellery and traditional coffee pots.

Most of the beaches are private, belonging to resort hotels and beach clubs, but a one mile long public beach, can be accessed from Al Kaleej Al Arabi Street. A small fee is payable to use the beach, but it has many facilities, including toilets, umbrellas, beach volleyball courts, children's play areas and refreshments. Car parking is provided on the Corniche, with a complimentary shuttle service to the beach.

Abu Dhabi has a wide range of choice for dining including Indian, Chinese and fast food outlets. There are lots of choices for vegetarians including vegetable and bean native dishes, lots of vegetarian Indian cuisine and fresh salads.

Ships dock at Mina Zayed, which is 3 miles from the city centre. The terminal has a tourist information office and currency exchange.

Taxis are available outside the port gates and some cruise lines may lay on shuttle buses. There is also a hop on/hop off bus service close by.