Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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Emirates Palace

Top choice in Marina Breakwater

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What the Burj Khalifa in Dubai is to the vertical, the Emirates Palace is to the horizontal, with audacious domed gatehouses and flying ramps to the foyer, 114 domes and a 1.3km private beach. Built for Dhs11 billion, this is the big hotel in the Gulf, with 1002 crystal chandeliers and 392 luxury rooms and suites. You don't have to check-in to check out the Emirates Palace, as it doubles as a cultural hub of the city.

Hosting opera and renowned orchestras during the Abu Dhabi Classics concert season, the Emirates Palace has played its part in the cultural expansion of the capital. Other reasons to pop in include ever-popular afternoon high tea in the foyer (from Dhs387 for two people), cocktails at the trendy Hakkasan, fine seafood at Sayad and upmarket Emirati cuisine at Mezlai.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Performing Islamic prayer

    Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

    10.43 MILES

    Rising majestically from manicured gardens and visible from the bridges joining Abu Dhabi Island to the mainland, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is an…

  • Louvre Abu Dhabi

    Louvre Abu Dhabi

    7.13 MILES

    Designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Jean Nouvel, the highly anticipated Louvre Abu Dhabi finally arrived in late 2017. Through 12 galleries, the…

  • ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 03: A falcon is placed on a bench at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, on February 3, 2015 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital (ADFH) is located just outside Abu Dhabi. It is the largest of its kind in the world attracting customers from all over the UAE and the wider Gulf region including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. Around 9,000 birds are treated each year for a wide range of ailments. The centre which has a an ophthalmology department, and intensive care unit is equipped to deal with everything from X-Rays, cases of Avian Flu, Falcon Pox, repairing of feathers, and general health checks and provides a 24 hour service. The centre also has two large air conditioned aviaries where falcons can rest while they are moulting, or changing their feathers. Traditionally a way of obtaining food, Falconry today has become more of a national sport and a rite of passage for many young Emirati men, who take their time to train their Falcons, developing a relationship and deep bond with the birds. Groups of friends regularly come together in the evenings to meet and train their birds where the practice becomes more about camaraderie and sharing knowledge than subsistence. The practice of Falconry was recognized by UNESCO in 2012 under the 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity' list. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

    Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital

    24.33 MILES

    Standing outside Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, watching anxious owners from across the region delivering their hooded 'patients' in person, you will quickly…

  • Founder's Memorial

    Founder's Memorial

    0.43 MILES

    After six years of planning and construction, this memorial celebrating the life and achievements of Sheikh Zayed, the founder of the United Arab Emirates…

  • Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

    Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

    18.31 MILES

    If you want bragging rights to having 'done' Formula Rossa, the world's fastest roller coaster, visit this indoor (perfect in summer) temple of torque and…

  • Umm Al Emarat Park

    Umm Al Emarat Park

    4.08 MILES

    You almost walk away from this five-star urban park feeling like you've visited a museum. Manicured to perfection and full of design-forward and…

  • Corniche

    Corniche

    3.04 MILES

    The waterfront Corniche, with its white sandy beaches and generous promenade, stretches the entire length of the northwest shore of the city. Giving…

  • Mangrove National Park

    Mangrove National Park

    7.76 MILES

    Abu Dhabi's Mangrove National Park covers 19 sq km of protected coastal mangrove forests. A critical link in the coastal ecosystem, mangroves protect…

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