Beautiful mosques city-wide, relentless hospitality & rich history. It’s no wonder Abu Dhabi has been singled out by travellers as one of the most cultural cities in the world.
Coming in at number two (after Florence and before Mexico City), the UAE capital was named in a recent Skyscanner survey for being one of the Middle East’s most exciting cultural centres.
Why? Read on for enlightenment on its award-winning culture.
What unique cultural experiences does Abu Dhabi offer travellers?
Abu Dhabi showcases a plethora of cultural sights to become fully immersed in. From Qasr Al Hosn, the oldest and most significant building in Abu Dhabi to the heritage sites in Al Ain, one of the world’s oldest permanently inhabited settlements and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city is home to the beautiful Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the world’s largest mosques. The open-door policy invites guests from all around the world to witness the spectacular onion-top domes, the reflective pools that engulf the courtyard and the iconic prayer hall, which not only overflows with blissful sunlight but also houses the world’s biggest chandelier.
Skyscanner also highlighted the addition of Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2017, with the museum having been designed by Pritzker-winning French architect Jean Nouvel.
The website added to a description of the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s significance as the Arab world’s first universal museum with further information about the emirate’s outstanding dining scene, describing it as being “as diverse as its multicultural population”.
The fascinating growth of interest in electronic music in the city was also highlighted, adding a modern element to the cultural appeal of the emirate.
“For Abu Dhabi to have been named as one of the most cultural cities in the world reflects positively on the work the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has done to position the emirate at the very forefront of people’s minds.”
HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
What other destinations were on the list?
The online list also included the aforementioned Florence, which was singled out for being ‘the birthplace of the Renaissance’. Other cities of culture, included Mexico City, Austin in Texas, USA, and finally Kyoto in Japan.
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