Old Airport Road in the capital has everything one needs for a contended existence without ever needing to venture too far.
Starting from the iconic Shaikh Zayed Mosque, the road meanders through the heart of Abu Dhabi city and reaches the Corniche area at the far end of the island. On the way, it incorporates everything — from residential areas with their own distinctive appeal to mosques, hospitals, schools, shopping areas, universities and even a wedding hall.
And although nearly every other district in Abu Dhabi city branches off from it, the Old Airport Road has a feel all its own.
Residents say it is the peace and the accessibility of the area that most appeals to them.
Saeed Qusaif Al Gassani, a businessman from Oman, said: "I have been using the old Airport Road daily for the past 35 years."
Thaha Aumar, 48, from India, said: "I have easy access to every other point in the city, and despite the huge volumes of traffic that use this road, I would say I live in one of the most peaceful residential areas in Abu Dhabi."
Aumar lives in a 16-storey building in the Airport Road district close to the Wahda Mall, which is one of the busiest points along the road. "Still, I don't feel that the traffic is ever overwhelming. Instead, I can always find parking rather easily, everything is conveniently accessible, and I have been able to raise my three children in a well-maintained area. I love living here," he added.
And, indeed, while the road is one of the most important thoroughfares within the city, it incorporates a range of amenities to attract residents from all over town. There is the landmark Shaikh Zayed Mosque right at the start of the road, where visitors and tourists flock for prayers throughout the year, especially on important occasions like Eid. The mosque's intricate interiors are designed based on descriptions of paradise in the Quran, and the mosque itself is a sanctuary for worshippers.
"I love the Grand Mosque on Old Airport Road. It is one of my favourite landmarks," said Ahmad Abdul Karim Abdul Fattah, a hairdresser from Lebanon.
Family haunt
Just beyond the mosque lies the Old Airport Garden, one of the most popular outdoor parks in the capital. During weekends and holidays, nearly every available spot in the park is taken up by families, and children of all ages enjoy playing on the swings and slides placed all over the park.
But on weekday mornings, the park also provides an area of quiet respite for residents. Aurelia Marinescu, 42, from Romania, who was at the park on a Sunday morning, said she preferred to bring her five-year-old son to the park in the morning.
"I work in shifts, so when my son is not at school, I bring him over. He enjoys playing around while I sit in the shadows and enjoy the quiet," she said.
The nearby Carrefour also serves the shopping needs of residents of Old Airport Road. A variety of small shops are also open around the main store providing everything from abayas for special occasions to miscellaneous beauty products.
Heidi Murray, 28, from New Zealand who was leaving the store with her daughter, said she frequented the place once a week to shop for daily supplies.
"I love the range of items here, and since I live in Mussaffah, it is easy for me to drive here," Murray said.
Within the city, the Wahda Mall located just off Airport Road is a favourite shopping destination. A new mall on Old Airport Road, called Mushrif Mall, is also under construction. Past the Carrefour and just before one enters the city centre, a creamy white building with tent-like canopies draws motorists' attention.
This is the Mushrif Wedding Hall, which opened in 2000, and in which about 200 weddings are held annually. The hall provides an opulent setting for all the ceremonies surrounding a wedding, and can be seen lit up from the main road when festivities are in progress.
Al Nahda National School for Girls is located just next door to the wedding venue. "We've been open since 1983, and 3,500 students from 48 different nationalities are enrolled at the school at present," Amy Simmons, school director, told Gulf News.
Up until this point along the road, most of the houses are residential villas occupied by families. But beyond the school, the shady, tree-lined avenues of the Old Airport Road give in to more open areas and taller buildings. This is especially the case after one crosses the Mushrif Bridge.
Just before the high-rise buildings which line the road, an array of small shops housed in five-storey buildings line both sides of the road. Rented by used car dealers and car rental companies, the pavements in front of the shops are lined with hundreds of gleaming cars of all colours and sizes.
Perla Rebancos, an accountant at Al Raed Rent-A-Car which is located in the area, said the shop owns nearly a hundred cars of all kinds. "We only keep about five or six nearby the shop however, while the rest are either rented out or parked elsewhere," she said, adding that the area was definitely good for business, as the business had been growing since it opened up in the area in 2008.
A number of university campuses also line the district, most notably the Khalifa University, Al Ain University for Science and Technology and Al Hosn University. Traffic is there all through the day and into the wee hours of the night.
Despite this, the road retains its charm as a residential district of choice, with its variety of housing options, ease of access and range of amenities.
Kennis Howie, a homemaker from from Hong Kong, said: "You can get just about anywhere using the Old Airport Road."
The Old Airport Road or 2nd Street is one of the first roads to be built in the capital and it stretches through the length of the main island of Abu Dhabi. It is known for the choice it offers by way of housing options. Despite the heavy traffic on the road, it also provides easy access to all areas of the city. It is also lined with many business establishments, including banks, furniture stores and restaurants.
Top picks
1. Restaurants: In addition to numerous small eateries, there are many fast food outlets along Old Airport Road, especially on the stretch in the vicinity of Wahda Mall. These include KFC, Pizza Hut, Hardees and Baskin Robbins. In addition, some international restaurants also occupy pride of place, like the Foodlands Restaurant specialising in Indian cuisine and the Italian Il Forno.
2. Hospitals: While the Shaikh Khalifa Medical City is simply yards away from the road, Al Noor Hospital caters to residents in the suburbs as well as patients coming from within the city. Other smaller clinics also dot the length of the road.
3. Malls: While the Carrefour outlet serves most residents and commuters outside the city centre, Al Wahda Mall located between the Old Airport Road and Muroor Road is a favourite shopping destination for all residents. Designer brands, clothing stores, accessories, a bookstore and a food court that offers lots of variety are some of the main features of the mall.
4. Hotels: Being a largely residential district, not too many hotels are located on the road. The Ramee Garden Hotel Apartments is one of the few exceptions, in addition to the recently-opened Holiday Inn.
5. Grocery Stores: Small grocery stores can be found all over the district, whereas the two malls serve most residents' large-scale grocery needs.
