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A Cultural Day Out
For an inspiring day soaking up fascinating culture and art, and finding some time to reflect, Abu Dhabi showcases a trio of must-visit destinations in the A Cultural Day Out tour.
Start the day with an awe-inspiring visit to the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a welcoming space that encourages open dialogue and understanding in one of the biggest and most beautiful places of worship in the world.
After, discover the thought-provoking Wahat Al Karama, a beautiful permanent tribute to the UAE's brave soldiers and other Emiratis − recognised as martyrs in the country − who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their nation.
Finally, take a tour of the stunning Louvre Abu Dhabi, a universal museum that celebrates world cultures and connections and houses hundreds of the globe’s most priceless works of art in a breathtaking building. Don’t forget your camera; you’ll want to capture the structure’s enormous dome, composed of 7,850 stars that filter light through their perforations, creating a dazzling display known as the ‘rain of light’.
Highlights
1 Day
Walking, Bus, Car
26 KMs
Abu Dhabi Golf Club - Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque
Highlights
1 Day
Walking, Bus, Car
26 KMs
Abu Dhabi Golf Club - Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque
What to expect
Day 1 highlights
Number of stops
3
Transport
Walking, Bus, Car
Total Distance
26 KMs
Duration
7 Hrs
Soak up the rich culture and take beautiful photographs at the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, find time to reflect at the thought-provoking Wahat Al Karama tribute, and celebrate world culture and priceless art at the stunning Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Stop 1
Recommended Time: 1 hours
When you enter Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, you will understand why it is such a special place. Here, people from all walks of life come together to take in the architecture's beauty and gain a deeper understanding of religion and culture in the United Arab Emirates. The mosque is one of the world's largest and was the vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan - the Founding Father of the UAE. He envisaged the creation of a welcoming and cultural haven that inspires people from all backgrounds.
Even the construction was a cultural collaboration. The grand structure was designed and built by skilled teams from all over the world, including 1,300 Iranian artisans who hand-knotted the main prayer hall's carpet - the world's largest.
On your journey through the marbled halls, you'll see one-of-a-kind treasures, including gold-plated Swarovski chandeliers, the courtyard's vast marble mosaic artwork and reflective pools that mirror some of the many amethyst-and-jasper-embedded columns. When you're outside, look up to see the mosque's four stunning minarets that proudly stand at 106 metres.
Wahat Al Karama
Stop 2
Recommended Time: 1 hour
Spanning 46,000 square metres and located directly opposite Abu Dhabi's world-famous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Wahat Al Karama is a timeless tribute that honours the Emirati martyrs who sacrificed their lives in service of their country. Wahat Al Karama is home to a permanent memorial commemorating the United Arab Emirates' heroes, including soldiers, police, diplomats and civilians, since 1971.
Following an intensive construction programme, Wahat Al Karama was officially inaugurated on Commemoration Day in 2016. The Memorial, designed by British artist Idris Khan, is the centerpiece. An imposing public art structure made up of 31 massive leaning tablets clad in aluminium, the symbolism behind the Memorial is clear: each tablet leans against the other, portraying the unity, solidarity and mutual support that bind the leadership of the UAE with its citizens, residents and the servicemen and women who protect them. If you look closely, you'll notice poems and quotations engraved into the tablets' surfaces in simple script, with the long spine at the base of the Memorial bearing the Armed Forces' pledge of allegiance. Visitors can witness a daily Honour Guard march at the Memorial before sunset.
The Memorial Plaza is an open space surrounded by amphitheatre-style seating paved using travertine stone. The area can seat up to 1,200 people, with the plaza itself containing a spectacular shallow pool that offers visitors a breathtaking reflection of both the Memorial and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Beyond the Memorial Plaza and the Memorial is the Pavilion of Honour. The Pavilion offers a quiet and contemplative space in which visitors can reflect. Its circular internal walls bear the names of the UAE's heroes, each engraved on individual panels cast from metal reclaimed from the UAE's Armed Forces' vehicles. The names surround a central sculpture that consists of seven glass panels, each representing one of the UAE's seven emirates. The glass panels feature the UAE's Pledge of Allegiance, printed multiple times on both sides.
The visitor centre offers an interactive experience and gives guests an opportunity to learn more about the inspirational foundations and noble values that the UAE's heroic martyrs embodied. It comprises four different galleries, each home to a unique activity, and an electronic guestbook that records all official visits from international dignitaries. The souvenir shop offers visitors a way to remember this touching experience.
Wahat Al Karama is open to the public daily from 9am to 10pm and is free of charge. Guided tours are available in English and Arabic, with the last tour being at 6pm daily. Regular shuttle buses to and from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, as well as a connection via a pedestrian bridge, offer visitors easy access to this ceremonious site.
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Stop 3
Recommended Time: 2-3 hours
<p>Step inside the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi, the first universal museum in the Arab World, translating and fostering the spirit of openness between cultures. As one of the premier cultural institutions in the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District on <a href="https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/where-to-go/islands/saadiyat-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Saadiyat Island</a>, this art lovers’ dream displays works of historical, cultural and sociological significance from ancient times to the contemporary era.</p>
<p>From the moment this iconic museum opened its doors in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi art scene elevated to a global scale, implanting a strong sense of pride in locals and residents alike.</p>
Stop 1
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Recommended Time: 1 hours
When you enter Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, you will understand why it is such a special place. Here, people from all walks of life come together to take in the architecture's beauty and gain a deeper understanding of religion and culture in the United Arab Emirates. The mosque is one of the world's largest and was the vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan - the Founding Father of the UAE. He envisaged the creation of a welcoming and cultural haven that inspires people from all backgrounds.
Even the construction was a cultural collaboration. The grand structure was designed and built by skilled teams from all over the world, including 1,300 Iranian artisans who hand-knotted the main prayer hall's carpet - the world's largest.
On your journey through the marbled halls, you'll see one-of-a-kind treasures, including gold-plated Swarovski chandeliers, the courtyard's vast marble mosaic artwork and reflective pools that mirror some of the many amethyst-and-jasper-embedded columns. When you're outside, look up to see the mosque's four stunning minarets that proudly stand at 106 metres.
