London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Aug 01, 2025

The UAE: Discover thrilling adventure and eye-opening culture

The UAE: Discover thrilling adventure and eye-opening culture

Abu Dhabi is a mix of magnificent architecture, stunning beaches, traditional and cultural monuments, adventure sports and other inspiring locations which are off the beaten track. 

This Emirate has not only its traditional ethos but also contemporary culture, making it a tourist's paradise.

Yas Waterworld is one of Yas Island’s most famous attractions for families and has just been recognised at The World Travel Awards as the ‘Middle East’s Leading Water Park 2022’. It has more than 40 rides and attractions with six of them being unique, and not found anywhere else in the Middle East.



The park is divided into four thrill levels, each catering to different ages and adrenaline junkies. It’s home to the world’s largest hydromagnetic-powered, six-person tornado water slide. A family favourite is the 550 metre-long 'Bandit Bomber', which is the world's only suspended waterpark rollercoaster.

Inspired by the traditions of the UAE, Yas Waterworld has its own Pearl Diving Experience. Thanks to the Gulf’s warm waters pearl diving was the basis for the founding of cities like Abu Dhabi.

Louvre Abu Dhabi is the first universal museum in the Arab World, and the institution firmly places Abu Dhabi on the international cultural map. It showcases artwork from across the globe and its ethos was to enable cultural exchange between local and international artists and communities, with a rotating permanent collection sitting alongside contemporary and historical works.

“I think tourists come here because of the iconic masterpiece, which is The Dome, which is designed by a French architect, Jean Nouvel," explained Raisa Al Fahim, Senior External Affairs Officer at Louvre Abu Dhabi. "The first thing that tourists should see is definitely the permanent galleries. So we have 23 galleries in total, that goes from prehistory to contemporary art,” he added.


The Dome, at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by French architect, Jean Nouvel.

It’s easy to forget that Abu Dhabi is a city in the midst of a giant desert. If you want to get away from it all, take a short drive to the Liwa desert to be surrounded by sweeping sand dunes as far as the eye can see. The area may be familiar to film buffs as it was also the setting for multiple Hollywood movies including Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Dune.

Hans Fraikin, the Abu Dhabi Film & Television Commissioner, told Euronews why it is such a unique filming location. 

“You can put a camera in the middle of the Liwa desert and you will see nothing in the background, no telephone wires, no planes, no cars, no streets, nothing," Fraikin said. "And so, if you're filming you can imagine an alien landscape like Arrakis in Dune, or like the planet in Star Wars."

The Liwa desert in the United Arab Emirates


For those who like to be close to nature, the Liwa Desert also offers glamping experiences. Enjoy 360-degree desert views at Liwa Nights. This dune-side retreat has ten luxury tents, each with a king-size bed, air-conditioning, and attached bathrooms. You can also add a camel ride or dune-bashing excursions to your stay, which are a must for any thrill seeker.

“The idea is to come and try our culture," said Salem Almazrouei, Managing Director, of Liwa Nights Glamping Retreat. "We make it a local experience and we teach them [tourists] who we are and where we came from.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
×