While engines are already revving for this summer’s British F1 Grand Prix, there’s never been a better time to experience Abu Dhabi, with its stunning F1 course, year-round sunshine, excellent food and first-class nightlife
The sand is burning our feet as we walk up the dune to take some artistic photos while we wait. There is something mesmerising about the natural folds of the sand, unspoiled by footprints. Later we learn that the dunes are actually sprayed to maintain their shape.
Although November is also considered winter here, the heat gets unbearable, so we return to the pleasantly air-conditioned 4×4. The drivers fuss around the second car, trying to change the flat tyre.
“This is part of the experience,” our guide jokes, although he admits later that this has never happened before. Not on his shift, anyway.
Some half an hour later we’re off again, racing over those beautiful dunes, sometimes breaking in a near-vertical position, hanging on the edge, before making a rapid descent which those who forgot to put their seat-belt on will remember for the next few days.
After another short stop for a round of sand-surfing (in which even the Aussies fail miserably), we reach our final destination: the Arabian Nights Village. It might be broad daylight with no one around apart from a French family saying their goodbyes, but the air of Bedouin magic hangs in the air.
The traditionally-decorated huts are all equipped with their own outdoor well, even though each has a luxurious en suite inside. Alongside a stunning swimming pool there’s a mini-souq, ready for the start of the tourist season later this month; while across from the evening dining and belly-dancing area, a few empty falcon cages promise additional wildlife excitement.
We enter the daytime diner to get some respite from the heat and sample authentic Arabic cuisine from the buffet; but before we all fall into a lethargic state on the comfy cushioned benches, we are on our way again, to be back in time for the yacht party in the marina and Jay Z’s concert. A comedy element keeps us awake in the car: a camel chased by its owners along the motorway.
It might seem like a traveller’s dream: year-round sunshine, good food, wildlife and first-class nighttime entertainment. To imagine that only 50 years ago there was nothing more on these Emirati islands than a few nomad villages living off pearl trade is hard to comprehend. The pace of development can be seen with one’s own eyes, with a little help of project planning mock-ups available on the Saadiyat Island, soon to be the centre of arts and culture with a Louvre, Guggenheim and Zayed National museums in close proximity.
Following the discovery of rich oilfields off its shores, Abu Dhabi responded bang on the money to the demands of quick-paced Western and business societies: so much so that it devoted its Yas Island to all things fast and glam: Ferrari theme park, yacht marina, 360 degrees night club and, unmissable with sound and vision, the annual Formula 1 race.
But while modern facilities help attract visitors from across the globe, it’s the authentic Arabic culture that keeps them hooked, and wanting more. Unlike its sister Emirate Dubai, Abu Dhabi kept its focus as much on its future as on its past. It cherishes its economic roots in pearl trade, and offers visitors the first-hand experience to search for one’s own pearl while sipping traditional Arabic coffee on an authentic pearl-diving boat.
It also celebrates its fauna and flora. The kayaking tour around the local mangroves explains how these salt-loving forests protect the Emirate from flooding, while homing cormorants and flamingos, crabs and red foxes delight guests at nearby five-star hotels.
“We do work in different sectors: oil and gas, tourism, education and so on; but we are very attached to our cultural heritage. We embrace our heritage – it’s not part of our professions, it is part of us,” explained Sultan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri, director of Tourism Ecosystem at Tourism and Culture Authority Abu Dhabi, and proud owner of a hundred falcons.
The weekend flies by, full of modern and close-to-nature activities, and the grand prix is the climax of our stay. As dusk falls over the Yas Marina circuit, our ears get used to the roar of Formula 1 engines, allowing us to enjoy the spectacle from the Paddock Club terrace.
I could pay a quick visit to the Etihad spa, but I’m too focused on counting down the remaining laps and adjusting my camera before the podium ceremony for the best close-up shots. David Hasselhoff, sporting a Red Bull F1 T-shirt, is in for a treat, as the team looks set to scoop this one; Diego Maradona looks unimpressed, fending off pesky fans, champagne in hand and all. When the chequered flag appears, we’re all on our feet, clammed together at the edge of the balcony, united in our passion for the sport and cheering for our idols.
It feels like a dream – and one that I could relive over and over again. A dream that is called Abu Dhabi.
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THE HOLIDAY
A five-night stay during the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the five star Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi on a bed and breakfast basis costs from £2,459 per person. Return flights with British Airways from Manchester to Abu Dhabi International Airport and private transfers are included in the price. For more information or to book, visit www.westernoriental.com or call 0207 666 1234.
A one-day ticket to the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix costs from around £63 per person and includes access to the After Race Concerts and Yas Marina entertainment areas. For more information on the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix or to book tickets, please visit www.yasmarinacircuit.com
For more information on what to see and do in Abu Dhabi, visit www.visitabudhabi.ae
