Experience Luxury in Abu Dhabi

As one of the richest cities on earth, Abu Dhabi is the king of bling and an expert at showcasing the sublime. Picture white-domed mosques, candy-cane minarets, and sweeping romantic deserts; it is the essence of Arabia, from camel racing at dawn to burning-red sand dunes at sunset. However, alongside this storybook slice of the Gulf, the capital of the United Arab Emirates has a more indulgent, contemporary side that is anything but subtle. Combining the biggest and the brashest with the flashiest and the fastest, Abu Dhabi is home to some of the world’s most exciting new adventures. Therefore, here are some of the city’s perfect spots to live out the millionaire lifestyle for a day.

The World’s Most Expensive Mosque

It may not predate the ancient mosques of Mecca or Medina, nor can it outclass the iconic turquoise-and-gold domed prayer halls of Esfahan, but the venerable Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has a more audacious calling card. Built in the late 1990s, it has become the world’s most expensive mosque. As its outer perimeters are growing every year to house even more worshippers, no one quite knows what the final bill will tally up to.

• Inspired by both Mughal and Moorish mosque architecture.
• Paved with floral marble from 28 different countries.
• The world’s largest carpet, made by 1200 of the finest Persian carpet weavers.
• Seven gold and Swarovski-crystal chandeliers, once the largest of their kind.
• The main dome is the largest of its kind at 85 meters in height.

Want a peek inside? Regular tours run every morning except for Friday. A strict dress code is enforced, and women must cover their heads.

The World’s Fastest Rollercoaster

Here, it pays to choose your lunch carefully. Ferrari World, the world’s largest indoor theme park, is also home to the world’s fastest rollercoaster. An extreme white-knuckle ride for adrenaline junkies and petrolheads, the Formula Rossa ride reaches speeds of 240km/h in less than five seconds and recreates the Formula 1 cockpit experience in all its glory. After flying through chicanes with a maximum acceleration G-Force of 1.7Gs, you’ll end up having a face that looks like a sand-blasted desert dromedary. Go regardless; it’s worth it.

The World’s Most Expensive Hotel

Big, brash, and bold: even the cakes served at the Emirates Palace are made from gold. Like a cross between a fairy tale castle from Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin’s Cave of Wonders, the capital’s self-proclaimed seven-star Emirates Palace was the world’s most expensive hotel when it was built – to a tune of US$3 billion. Unashamedly grandiose, it epitomises the regal opulence that the world has come to expect from the Gulf.

Wander past the fountains, water features, and landscape gardens, and follow any number of gold-painted corridors to a surreal backdrop of excessive chandeliers, ballrooms, and decadent restaurants and drinking saloons, thankfully open to non-guests. For those with cash to splash, the Emirates Palace also offers the world’s most expensive tailor-made holiday at US$1 million.

If the bling becomes too much, don your sunglasses to explore the kilometres of golden beaches on its doorstep or throw moderation to the desert wind and attempt to eat your own weight in edible gold, with the hotel’s famous desserts and cakes.

Discover More in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is home to some more dubious wonders. It boasts the world’s most expensive license plate, the world’s furthest leaning manmade tower, and the largest Ferrari logo. If this isn’t enough to impress you, the glittering Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building) and Meydan Racecourse (the world’s most expensive racetrack) are nearby in Dubai. The famous Burj Al Arab also serves up what is said to be the world’s most expensive cocktail.