A popular place for expats to live, Khalifa City is a sprawling area that actually encompasses a few neighbourhoods. The main area we’ll concentrate on is what was once known as Khalifa City A (you can drop the A these days), but there was once a Khalifa City B (now known as Shakhbout City) and a New Khalifa City (now known as Zayed City).
Why so popular? Well, its location plays a part. It’s right along the main road into the capital coming from Dubai, around 25km from Downtown Abu Dhabi and around 50 minutes from Dubai’s Marina and 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Within a few minutes you can also be at the Al Raha area (complete with McGettigan’s) and Yas Island (with plenty of nightlife and activities on offer).
However, you don’t have to go that far for a drink and fancy meal out. Abu Dhabi Golf Club has a few places to eat (see more on the next page) and sits next door to The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, home of the popular Bubbalicious brunch, Italian restaurant Sacci and a rather nice pool. Also in the area is the Al Forsan International Sports Resort, which is home to all manner of sporting pursuits. Next door to that is the Marriott Al Forsan Hotel, which has a super steakhouse and sports bar inside, as well as a spa.
It’s a great area for kids, too, with a few nurseries and schools as well as playgrounds.
Shopping is decent, with some small community malls and supermarkets selling imported items from the UK and other countries. There are cafés such as La Brioche to be found and a licensed branch of Jones the Grocer.
All in all, there’s a lot to love about Khalifa City, which is why people tend to stay in the area for the long-term.
Golfing
There are plenty of places for a game of golf in the capital but Troon Golf’s Abu Dhabi Golf Club is where the international tournaments head. As well as the course there’s The Grill steakhouse, a café and The Championship Lounge sports bar within the falcon-shaped clubhouse and a pool, gym and squash courts.
Abu Dhabi Golf Club (02 885 3555).
Shopping
For those in the know, Khalifa City A Market is the one-stop shop for the weekly shop (at the huge International Hypermarket), as well as all the gadgets and repairs you could ever need. There are also places for a bite to eat and sweet treats to take home, too. You can also find Souq Planet in Etihad Plaza, with loads of imported items you won’t find anywhere else in the city.
Good for kids
The area is a hit with families, with schools and nurseries dotted around, as well as universities. The sizeable villas (some up to six bedrooms) also go a long way to making parents with a few kids welcome. There’s also a cute play area behind ‘the pink shops’ in Khalifa City A that are very popular and have a super ice cream shop amongst them. It’s worth checking out.
Adrenaline sports centre
Want to go shooting? How about horse riding? Or maybe you want to give archery a try? Maybe wakeboarding is your thing? Well, you can try all of these and more at Al Forsan, a complex devoted to all kinds of sports thrill-seekers will love. There are things for kids to do, too.
Al Forsan Internarional Sports Report, www.alforsan.com (800 9900).
Healthy food
People who live in Khalifa City flock to Wheatfields at the weekend. Not only is it a supermarket (well, gourmet grocery store), it has an excellent café and deli counter inside. Catering to vegan and vegetarian diets as well as meat-eaters, it’s well worth checking out for breakfast and a fresh juice.
Wheatfields, Al Rayanna Complex (02 550 0971)
