Travel Destinations
Emergency Services
Ambulance: 998
Police: 999
Fire Service: 997
Night Pharmacies
New Noor: 02 6264264
Al Razi: 02 6326671
Central Ahliya: 02 6269545
Reema: 02 6744214
New Medical Centre: 02 6341134
Mussafah: 02 5546674
Dar Al Shifa: 02 6411299
Hospitals
Al Mafraq Hospital: 02 5823100
Abu Dhabi Hospital: 02 6214666
Al Jazeera Hospital: 02 6214800
Shaikh Khalifa Medical City: 02 6102000
Embassies & Consulates
US Embassy: PO Box 4009, tel: 00971 2 436691
United Kingdom Embassy: PO Box 248, tel: 00971 2 326600
Australian Embassy: PO Box 32711, tel: 97126346100
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi - both capital city and largest of the seven United Arab Emirates - lies on the central western coast of the Persian Gulf, as it has for some five thousand years, but it was not until the mid-1960s that it rose to international recognition with the transfer of power from one brother to the other and the consequent release of the oil revenues once so cautiously banked. Development was nothing short of spectacular with the crowning glory the construction of the Emirates Palace, perhaps the most expensive hotel built to date, costing a cool three billion US dollars. The past 40 years has seen the growth of a modern metropolis: high-rise building, broad streets, modern commerce - and renowned for the splashes of greenery in its many parks and gardens.
Visit Abu Dhabi the Easy Way with Search and Go
- Abu Dhabi flight bookings
- Abu Dhabi package holidays
- Abu Dhabi hotel accommodation
Abu Dhabi Business Travel
Business tourism is now taken very seriously in Abu Dhabi. A three year initiative is now undergoing development with a view to increasing tourists from the current 1.4 million to 3 millions by 2015. The new Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center illustrates the Emirate's recognition of the importance of business travel and commercial visitors.
The Center will offer 55,000 square meters of exhibition space and a multi-storey car park. To complement the initiative, additional hospitality suites will be made available across the Emirate, as will meeting and conference facilities.
Quite apart from redeveloping its commercial and cultural heritage, Abu Dhabi will play host to a Formula One race in 2009, a natural extension to its emerging presence in the international sporting arena. It already hosts the Abu Dhabi Golf Championships, the Race of Champions cycling event, and is world renown for producing some of the hottest competitors in power boat racing, the national teams of the United Arab Emirates achieving world prominence.
To cater to the high visibility of international sporting events and the general commercial attractiveness of Abu Dhabi, business hotels in Abu Dhabi are luxury properties - many sporting unique qualities and all are situated in an ideal location in Abu Dhabi for a business meeting or conference.
Abu Dhabi Vacation / Holiday Travel
The slump in oil prices in the late '90s saw the emirate rethink and diversify, especially since 80 per cent of the federal budget came from oil revenue; tourism came to the table. The decision was taken to redevelop Lulu Island, a large man-made island jutting out into the Arabian Gulf. An admixture of both residential and commercial properties, along with hotels, restaurants, gardens, animal reserves and fun-parks is swiftly transforming the island into one of the Middle-East's most engaging tourist destinations.
There are in fact over 200 islands along the Gulf coastline, many of which are privately owned but which nevertheless are now becoming open to tourism.
And tourism has become big business, reflected in the 1.4 million visitors and 84.4 per cent annual hotel occupancy for 2006 and contributing nearly 3 per cent to the Emirate's domestic income.
Ships of the Abu Dhabi Desert
In the summer months the climate in and around Abu Dhabi can prove challenging for many Westerners, given extremes of temperature and high humidity. That said, all buildings in Abu Dhabi are air-conditioned and the abundance of greenery lessens the impact. October thru May are considered the better months to enjoy a stay in the Emirate. Rainfall is negligible throughout the year but the occasional sandstorm can suddenly reduce visibility to meters.