A view from Abu Dhabi breakwater and other United Arab Emirates Things to Do Tips

When you are in Abu Dhabi, don't miss to visit its breakwater. This is the single-most identifiable attraction of this city. All the residents of the city and cab drivers know it. From here you can have a view of Abu Dhabi skyline, visit heritage village, watch water sports, take a cruise on an Aabian boat (a Dhow) that sails along the skyline, dine in a ship shaped Al Safina Restaurant, visit a historical fort, hire a powered boat from the marina, or just walk down to the sand and sit down in awe.

Directions: While entering from Dubai, continue driving on the Old Airport Road (Al Maktoom Road) to the end at Corniche. Take left and continue driving till you see a giant picture of HH Shaikh Zayed Bib Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the uAE. Turn right before crossing and you can see that you are moving towards the Marina Mall. Drive till the next signal and turn right towards breakwater.

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This colorful scientific park in covered area is built around the theme areas of Sport World, Body World, Water World, Construction World and Traffic World. The main idea is to teach children about the biological, physical and technological worlds in a practical way. The teaching methodology about 5 senses is of particular interest.

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Directions: Approximately 20 kms from Sharjah on Sharjah-Fujeirah Highway.
Other Contact: Telephone: (06) 558-6522.

Sharjah rightfully claims to be the Cultural capital of the UAE. One must visit the Sharjah Desert Park, which consists of Museum of Natural History, Arabia's Wildlife Centre and Children's Farm.

This pix of Arabian Leopard is borrowed, because photography is not allowed anywhere. The Sharjah Desert Park is one of its kind that we have seen anywhere. One can watch all the wildlife occuring in the Arabian peninsula through air-conditioned hall. In one big hall, artificial environment of a desert has been created and the desert wildlife roams and flies freely over and around the visitors.

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Directions: Located in one big compound near the 10th interchange on Sharjah to Fujeirah Highway.

Sharjah's is the best Cornish in the UAE. It offers the beautiful views of the skyline of Sharjah at one end and of Mamzar Park of Dubai at the other. It also offers the most accessible of sandy tracks for 4 wheeling.

The Cornish is 'm' shaped with soft turns on the tips. In order to exploit its full views, its best to start from Sharjah side.

After the overhead bridge from Al Arooba Road, take right turn at the 1st roundabout to get on to the Seaview Road i.e. the rightmost leg of 'm'. After 1 km you will notice a narrow track to your right going on to a sandy island. In order to go to the island you need to negotiate a steep rise that can be chilling. Once on island, you have to weave your way through thick sand. From the far side of the island, you can see the beautiful Sharjah skyline. In winters this island becomes home to thousands of seagulls, especially at dusk.

Once you are back on the main Seaview Road, continue towards the top tip of this leg of 'm'. There is a rock dam with a view to the open sea and of a fishing village towards right corner. You can rest here or hop on the boulders for fun. In winters, this area becomes very chilly due to cold sea breeze.

While moving on the road you will notice picnickers - families and friends out on the beach and preparing for boating or jet skeying, those with 4 wheelers testing their expertise on the beach sand and on many tracks running inland. As the sun sets, people start preparing bbqs.

Moving further, you reach the last leg of 'm' facing towards Dubai's Mamzar Park, which is the most well known and most visited of Dubai parks. There is lot of water sports related activity in this area, mainly from Dubai side. Unfortunately, you cannot enter Dubai from here, because the Seaview Road is closed at the border of the two Emirates. Previously, a thrilling drive through a patch of desert, used to take us to Dubai.

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Since most tourists in the UAE will land in Dubai, so here I will only list some beaches that they can chose from a number of what we have:

1. Jumeirah Beach: At Jumeirah Road in Bur Dubai is located in a park named Jumeirah Beach Park. It is the busiest of all the beaches and can get crowded on holidays and in the evenings. Nearby attractions include Dubai Zoo and Mercatto Mall.

2. Mumzar Park and Beach: Located in Deirah Dubai, the Park offers other attractions like watersports, bbq, walkways, children playarea, roller blade ring, etc.

3. Beaches by Seaview Road, Sharjah: This is an extensive stretch of sand that offers wonderful look at the watersports, 4 wheel driving, as well as beautiful views of Sharjah skyline on one side and of Dubai's Mumzar Beach Park on the other.

4. Mina Siyahi: 25 kms from Dubai when traveling towards Abu Dhabi and in the vicinity of Burju Arab Hotel. While the construction goes on around the area in full swing, this beautiful and less crowded stretch is still available for a day off (see the picture).

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