We’ve all felt worn out at the end of a working week, whether that’s physically or emotionally. Do not fear, though, there are plenty of ways to switch off and chill out in the capital. From relaxing spa treatments to wandering round an art gallery, get ready to tune out the noise around you and get lost in your own world.
Take some spa time
If you need a helping hand, or two, to relax then the natural course of action is to have a massage. Across Abu Dhabi there’s a vast array of independent spas as well as high-end luxury options tucked away in the city’s myriad hotels, but to test the limits of how relaxed you can be, there’s one stand-out choice. If you’ve got the time and money, head to Jumeirah at Etihad Towers for the absurdly decadent Exceptional Ritual at the Talise Spa. Lasting an epic five hours, it includes a floral bath, green tea and sea salt exfoliation, seaweed and algae face mask, all before the massaging starts – a treatment so extensive, they serve a light lunch in the middle.
Dhs2,415. Open daily 9am-10pm. Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, West Corniche (02 811 5858).
Get zen with dolphins in the Mangroves
They look as though they’ve been part of the emirate for longer than the city, but the majority of Abu Dhabi’s mangroves were actually introduced by the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed. Today, they’ve become the home for an entire ecosystem of animals, the highlight of which is probably pods of rare humpback dolphins patrolling the shallow waters looking for fish that haven’t made it to the safety of the marine trees. Various tours are available to get out to this special habitat, but by far the most peaceful is in a kayak.
Single kayaks Dhs110 with Sea Hawk Watersports. Eastern Mangroves Promenade (02 673 6688).
Soak up culture at Louvre Abu Dhabi
The UAE’s largest arts and culture mega-project is also a surprisingly great place to relax. The walk through time, stretching from the Stone Age to this century, provides so much information that it can be overwhelming, which is why Jean Nouvel’s breath-taking design makes an effort to chill you out afterwards. Clear of the galleries you can take a seat underneath the spectacular floating dome roof, listen to the waters of the Gulf lapping nearby, and, as the organisers instruct you to, contemplate “humanity in a new light”.
Entry Dhs63. Open Sat-Wed 10am-8pm, Thu-Fri 10am-10pm. Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island (600 56 55 56).
Relax in a poolside bar
There are plenty of cool lounge bars in Abu Dhabi, some with Corniche views, others looking over the blue waters of Saadiyat Island and a few perched on rooftops with brilliant city vistas. But there can’t be many more relaxing spots than the Shangri-La’s ESS Lounge. Down by the creek in front of the long-standing hotel, it has spectacular views of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Khor Al Maqta and a top array of drinks, with some cracking deals. As the sun sets, have a drink by the water – just don’t ruin the ambiance by chatting too loudly.
Open daily 5pm-midnight. Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Khor Al Maqta (02 509 8888).
Go star gazing
The ochre landscape of the Empty Quarter is good for all kinds of high-octane adventures, from dune-bashing to fat-biking, but when the fun has been had, it’s also a great place to relax in. Qasr Al Sarab is a deeply dark place to be in the evening, making it an ideal base for getting out into the desert for some stargazing. The hotel can provide guides to point out constellations, but it’s also worth checking online to see when annual meteor showers will produce a celestial display. And if all else fails, well you can always soak up some sun by the pool the next morning.
Night discovery tour Dh240 per adult. Qasr Al Sarab, Empty Quarter (02 886 2088).
Have a round of golf
As someone once said, golf can be a “good walk spoiled” but it at least gets you out and about. Regardless of how healthy your own game is, in Abu Dhabi the golf courses are among the greenest spaces in the whole emirate; between the introduced grasses, bushes, and trees, and the artificial lakes added to the landscapes, they have also become rich with wildlife. Whether you are a dedicated twitcher, or barely even have an interest in ornithology, to play golf in Abu Dhabi comes with the rarest of things: the guarantee of birdies. Head to Saadiyat Beach Golf Club for a mix of habitats.
From Dhs702. Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Saadiyat Island (02 557 8000).
Make your own art
While the crowds head to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, there’s peace, quiet and outstanding artwork to be found in smaller galleries, too. You could choose to seek that out, but you could also create some of your own masterpiece with a soothing pottery class at the simply titled Abu Dhabi Pottery. Having been on the go since 1994, it’s one of the oldest continually running classes in the capital and gives you the chance to experience the aesthetically satisfying artform either as a one-off lesson or as part of a programme to get you at the
wheel regularly.
From Dhs205. Open Sat-Thu 9am-1pm, 4.30pm-9pm. 16th Street, Al Khalidiyah (02 666 7079).
Try some meditation
Although Abu Dhabi’s Inner Space Centre has nothing to do with shrinking Dennis Quaid in a tiny submarine (’80s movie reference for you there), it does give you a chance to contemplate what’s going on inside your body. Visitors are provided with several paths to a more relaxed lifestyle – there are lectures, courses and seminars to introduce you to mediation, mindfulness, and living life with less stress. While the lessons themselves may not be too relaxing, you’ll be well placed to calm your own inner space afterwards.
As managing director Sona Bahri says: “I can give you the tools, but you need to do the gardening yourself.”
Sessions are various prices. Inner Space Centre, Bain Al Jessrain (050 515 9646).
Lounge on a beach
Abu Dhabi is blessed with an abundance of natural coastline (as well as its fair share of man-made additions) but perhaps the best of the lot belongs to Saadiyat Island. Don’t take mankind’s word for it – each September, one section of the beach becomes the preferred nesting site for a population of endangered hawksbill turtles. That particular part of the beach is of course protected, but elsewhere, there’s an outstanding 9km stretch open to the public. As well as the clean sand and turquoise water, the management is committed to not having any motorised leisure activities, meaning you won’t have the whirring of jet-skis while you soak up the sun.
Free. Saadiyat Public Beach, Saadiyat Island (056 196 3715).
Take a stroll around a marvellous mosque
It may be one of the most popular tourist attractions in the whole of the UAE (and, according to many polls, the whole world), but catch the sublime Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque during one of its less busy periods and it’s a fine place to relax in. The cool white marble, the perfection of its architecture, and the organic design elements inside all contribute towards a serene atmosphere. Find yourself a quiet corner on the world’s largest carpet and contemplate it in all its magnificence – at least until the next tour group comes along and interrupts your quiet meditation.
Free. Open Sat-Thu 9am-10pm, Fri 4.30pm-10pm. Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street (02 419 1919).
