With its awe-inspiring views, the Corniche is the heart of Abu Dhabi. One of the oldest landmarks in the city, and regularly being renovated by the government, it’s a meeting ground for all sorts of active people, as well as those simply looking to get outdoors and soak up the long stretch of scenic seaside trail.
Measuring an impressive 8km, the Corniche extends from near the Hiltonia Beach Club all the way past the Sheraton on the Corniche Road East down to Zayed port. Its design has remained untouched for years and includes a biking and jogging trail that runs alongside the pavement.
Near the Hiltonia Beach Club is a little shop with hundreds of bikes stacked. Known as the Fun Ride Sport shop, this venue has three outlets accross the Corniche. They offer a vast range of different types of bikes including tandems and even special ones for ladies wearing Abayas.
A snip at just Dhs20 per hour for an adult and Dhs15 for children, you can also purchase vouchers for 15 hours of cycling for Dhs200.
Renting one out is easy, however you will need some valid UAE ID to leave behind or a Dhs100 deposit. Unfortunately, one of the bikes we hired had faulty brakes. The staff are very helpful though, and immediately switched it for one in better condition.
Alternatively, for those whose bike skills aren’t what they used to be you can always plump for one of the four-wheelers on offer. In addition to all their bicycles, Fun Ride Sport also stock two-person pedal cars. While these might seem very appealing, we did note that the pedals were rather stiff and required a lot of effort to move. For more information email info@funridesports.com (02 556 6113).
Another intriguing option is to go biking with a guide. If something along those lines tickles your fancy we suggest trying the Noukhada Adventure Company’s city cycle Corniche tour. Organised every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 10.00am, the group sets out with an assigned guide, who provides interesting facts about the city of Abu Dhabi as you cycle. If you prefer a different time of day, and you can gather together a group of six or more, you can call to reserve a special private session.
The tour takes about two hours and covers an area of 9km, starting from the port side where the local fishermen moor their boats, and takes in the full length of the Corniche all the way up to Marina Mall. The tour company provides the bikes and helmets and it’ll only set you back Dhs150 per person. To learn more about the city cycle tour, visit the Noukhada Adventure Company website www.noukhada.ae (02 650 3600).
Biking along the Corniche is a wonderfully therapeutic, relaxing and pleasant experience – and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg either. One bit of advice we’d offer though is to stock up on loose dirhams. Although there are numeous coffee shops and refreshment stands along the Corniche, there’s always the danger you may have to stop at one of the many vending machines to stock up on water and they only accept the exact change. Even in the cooler months there’s always a risk of dehydration.
So, what are you waiting for? Saddle up and get pedaling!
