Hot hotel deals
Emirates Palace: GCC residents can take this chance to stay in the most luxurious (and usually most expensive) hotel in the capital. Pay a special nightly rate of Dhs900 for rooms, Dhs2,658 for suites, and you will also receive a 30 per cent discount off your bill at Sayad restaurant and Anantara Spa. Kids up to 12 years dine for free and all this lasts up to September 9 (T&Cs apply).
02 690 9000; www.emiratespalace.com
Yas Hotel: For a summer break with a difference, head to the Yas Hotel and you and your friends can take part in a murder mystery party. You will also enjoy a three-course dinner, half a bottle of wine per person and an overnight stay at the impressive hotel, with breakfast. The cost of all this is just Dhs640 per person for a double, Dhs880 for a single.
02 656 0600; www.theyashotel.com
Shangri-La Hotel: The beautiful Shangri-La, Qaryat Al-Beri, is offering GCC residents a huge 50 per cent off its published rates, inclusive of breakfast, from now until September 30, 2010.
02 509 8630; www.shangri-la.com
Anantara Qasr al Sarab: Stay at this jaw-dropping desert escape before September 8 2010 and receive a Dhs300 voucher to spend on the resort’s restaurants, pool bars or the Anantara Spa.
02 886 2088; qasralsarab.anantara.com
Five must dos
1 Take tea at Emirates Palace: If you decided not to go for the summer deal at the palace, you can still have a nose around and enjoy tea and cakes among its grandeur.
+971 2690 9000; www.emiratespalace.com
2 Tour a mosque: Take the Grand Mosque tour for a valuable insight into Islam and the culture you live in. Guided tours are free.
Every day at 10am except Fri. Booking isn’t necessary
3 Get an aerial view: Forget the open-top bus tours, the only way to see the capital is from the comfort of a Eurocopter EC-130. Flights start from Dhs490 per person with Falcon Aviation
+971 2444 0008; www.falconaviation.ae
4 Scale the dunes: The capital’s proximity to the Empty Quarter is well worth taking advantage of. Drive two hours in the direction of the Saudi border, and in Liwa town you’ll find desert serenity.
5 Befriend a falcon: Bizarrely, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is a major tourist attraction, possibly because it’s the only one in existence. Falconry displays and chances to pet these birds of prey abound.
Khalifa City (+971 2575 5155; www.falconhospital.com). Tours must be booked in advance
