Fantastic Facts About Abu Dhabi – An Emirate with Many Wonders to Discover

The capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi blends both dynamic development and rich heritage and here are some amazing facts about it.

Fastest Rollercoaster in the World

Adrenaline junkies will love getting the chance to ride Formula Rossa, the fastest rollercoaster on the planet. This exhilarating ride is among the many attractions at Ferrari World on Yas Island; Reaching heights of up to 52 metres and going from zero to 240 km/h in just 4.9 seconds, this rollercoaster will have you screaming in delight!

Pivotal in Arabian Oryx Conservation

Amongst the largest wildlife reserves in the region, the Arabian Wildlife Park on Sir Bani Yas Island has played a key part in conserving the critically endangered Arabian Oryx. The island is also home to resorts offering luxury villas in Abu Dhabi and guided drives at the park to view Arabian Oryx herds as well as countless other free-roaming animals.

Largest Hand-Knotted Carpet in the World

The magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a wonder to behold and within it, are equally impressive attractions like the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet; mostly made from wool, this hand-crafted carpet in the main prayer hall is 5,700 square metres; about 1,200 artisans were involved in making it, with the knotting taking 12 months to complete!

Largest Contiguous Sand Desert in the World

The Empty Quarter or Rub’ al-Khali is the world’s largest contiguous sand desert and spans 650,000 square km covering a part of the Arabian Peninsula including Abu Dhabi. Amongst the notable features here are the impressive dunes including the Moreeb Dune in the Liwa Oasis of Abu Dhabi which reaches a height of 300 metres!