Geographical

Abu Dhabi city is on an island located less than a quarter-kilometer from the mainland and is joined to the mainland by the Maqta and Musaffah Bridges. A third bridge, designed by Zaha Hadid, is currently under construction. Bridges connecting to Reem Island and Saadiyat Island are also under construction.

Most of Abu Dhabi is located on the island itself, but it has many suburbs on the mainland for example: The Khalifa Cities, Between Two Bridges, Mussafah Residential and more.

Social Conventions: Muslim religious laws should be observed. Women are expected to dress modestly and men should dress formally for most occasions. Alcohol is tolerated, with non-Muslims allowed to drink alcohol in the city’s bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels. Smoking is the same as in Europe and in most cases it is obvious where not to smoke, except during Ramadan when it is illegal to eat, drink or smoke in public.

Electricity: 220 volts, 50 Hrz

Banking Hours: Sat-Wed 08:00-13:00, Thurs 0800-1200. Some also open Sat-Wed 16:30-18:00.

Nightlife

There are several nightclubs located in major centers and entertainment ranges from Arabic singers and dancers to international pop stars. Bars are found in all top hotels and range from sophisticated cocktail lounges to English-style pubs. Some hotels also have discos. Traditional dances are performed on public holidays. Most large towns have cinemas showing English-language films.

Shopping: Daily 09:00-13:00 and 16:00-21:00, but many shops are open all day. Shops close for prayers Fri 11:30-13:30.

Food

National specialties:

• Hummus (chickpea and sesame paste).
• Tabbouleh (bulghur wheat with mint and parsley).
• Ghuzi (roast lamb with rice and nuts).
• Warak enab (stuffed vine leaves).
• Koussa mashi (stuffed courgettes).
• Makbous (spicy lamb with rice).
• Seafood with spicy rice are also popular.

National drinks:

• Ayran (a refreshing yogurt drink).
• Strong black coffee.

Top Things to See During Your Stay in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi

A predominantly modern city, Abu Dhabi nevertheless retains some of its ancient past. The Diwan Amiri (White Fort) was built in 1793 and still survives. There are many mosques, from the massive blue mosque on the corner of the Corniche to the tiny one in the center of Khalifa Street Roundabout, surrounded by trees. There is also a museum. The oldest part of the town is the Batin area, served daily by the fishing dhows bringing their catch of Gulf prawns and other fish to the small harbors. The old building yards demonstrate craftspeople’s skills that have remained unchanged for centuries. The city has ancient burial mounds at Um al Nar.

Overview on Abu Dhabi Economy:

As the wealthiest Emirate, Abu Dhabi is also considered the richest city in the world. Each of Abu Dhabi's 420,000 citizens is worth $17 million (AED 62 million), and more than $1 trillion is invested worldwide in this city alone. Yet according to CNN, "guest workers," who constitute the majority of the population, "do not share the wealth." The Gross Domestic Product per capita also reached $63,000, which is far above the average income of the United Arab Emirates and which ranks third in the world after Luxembourg and Norway. Abu Dhabi is also planning many future projects sharing with the GCC and taking 29% of all the GCC future plannings. The United Arab Emirates is a fast-growing economy: in 2006 the per capita income grew by 9%, providing a GDP per capita of $49,700 and ranking third in the world at PPP.

Sources:

You can find more useful information on:
http://www.passionasia.com/united-arab-emirates/abu-dhabi-hotels.html
www.abudhabi.ae
http://www.timeoutabudhabi.com/