This historic waterway separates Abu Dhabi from the mainland, guarded by the now somewhat hidden Al Maqta Fort and a small watchtower, on a rocky promontory in the middle of the khor (creek). The mainland bank is home to a cluster of luxury resort-hotels and the Souk Qaryat Al Beri mall, all with restaurants and bars that have outdoor terraces with views of the snowy-white Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque across the water.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
0.85 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…
9.83 MILES
Designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Jean Nouvel, the highly anticipated Louvre Abu Dhabi finally arrived in late 2017. Through 12 galleries, the…
13.38 MILES
Standing outside Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, watching anxious owners from across the region delivering their hooded 'patients' in person, you will quickly…
10.77 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…
8.89 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…
7.11 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…
9.93 MILES
The waterfront Corniche, with its white sandy beaches and generous promenade, stretches the entire length of the northwest shore of the city. Giving…
11.12 MILES
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…
Nearby attractions
0.18 MILES
A day spent beach-side at the Fairmont is sandy relaxation with the best views across the khor (creek) to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to boot. There's a…
0.35 MILES
Despite being one of the oldest sights in Abu Dhabi, this 200-year-old guardian of the city was restored and then more or less abandoned after the…
0.55 MILES
Said to symbolise the flow of energy into the capital, this 842m-long modern bridge designed by the late Zaha Hadid is one of three gateways to Abu Dhabi…
0.58 MILES
This memorial, opposite the eastern side of the Grand Mosque, was inaugurated in 2016 in memory of Emiratis who have given their lives in service to the…
0.74 MILES
The Shangri La Hotel's palm-tree-dappled pool area and sweep of white sand out front is open for nonguest day access. There's a great poolside restaurant…
6. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre Library
0.74 MILES
Though it houses a few rare collections of Arabic calligraphy and copies of the Quran dating from the 16th century, this collection of manuscripts is…
0.85 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…
1.23 MILES
This large and leafy park, not far from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, has a number of attractions, including a football playing area, fountains, ponds…