Tourism and local society combines tradition and modernism.

Cultural Renaissance

Abu Dhabi is fast becoming a beacon of culture in the Middle East, North Africa and Central and Western Asia. Recent developments include a campus of the Sorbonne, a future New York University Campus, branches of Sotheby’s and Christies and a satellite of the New York Film Academy. In addition, plans have been finalised for the Saadiyat Island Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, inlcuding the first branch of the Louvre outside of Paris and the world’s largest Guggenheim Museum.

Major governmental initiatives in Abu Dhabi are instrumental in supporting this trend, particularly the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage. Key investments in culture will continue to be in the areas of reading and literacy. With culture comes tolerance – and Abu Dhabi is known throughout the region for its commitment to progressive laws, non-censorship and open-minded intellectual exchange.

Local Society

The attitude toward clothing in Abu Dhabi is relaxed, but visitors (men as well as women) should show due deference in public places to local customs by avoiding excessively revealing attire. Discretion and polite elegance are the watchwords.

Women play a full and active part in the life of the country, and experience no special restrictions of dress or behaviour in day-to-day life. The United Arab Emirates are also exceptionally safe for women travelling on their own. Whatever time of day or night, moving about town is never a problem.

Local service personnel have a fluent command of English and other major international languages, so when you have something to say, you will be readily understood.