Abu Dhabi: A number of Dubai residents say they have been looking at neighbouring Abu Dhabi, with its slew of new restaurants and uncrowded streets, during the Eid break.
Many Abu Dhabi residents are set to travel outside the country during the long weekend, and others will head to Dubai and the northern emirates. This means that visitors who do come to the capital will have easy access to tourist attractions and popular places like malls, hotels and resorts.
“As Dubai residents, we are often unable to go out during Eid because of the crowds that pour into the city. So Abu Dhabi is a nice change, and there are now many attractions that offer affordable prices. Moreover, hotels are not fully booked so it is not difficult to make reservations,” Ahmad Ameen, 28, an Emirati international organisation specialist, told Gulf News.
Amin usually travels to Abu Dhabi on the second day of Eid to spend time with his cousins.
“There are often new restaurants to try out in Abu Dhabi, or places to visit. We especially like exploring the attractions on Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, or other places on the outskirts, as these are just a 40-minute drive from our home,” Ameen explained.
Ameen added that his wife also has friends and family in the capital, which is an added incentive for the trip.
Kayyum Azad, a 33-year-old entrepreneur from Bangladesh who lives in Dubai, said he always visits Abu Dhabi during the Eid festivities.
“One of the primary reasons is that my wife’s family lives in Abu Dhabi. That said, the drive to Abu Dhabi is always peaceful during most of Eid because most of the traffic is headed towards Dubai,” he said.
This Eid, Azad plans to visit some of the Yas Island attractions.
“Within Abu Dhabi city itself, parking is also quite easily available since many people leave town during long weekends. In addition, we like dining out since there are very few crowds to deal with,” he added.
Meanwhile, offers abound at the various tourist attractions and resorts in the capital, making the city an ideal destination for a longer-than-usual weekend. For example, Yas Marina Circuit is offering a 50 per cent discount between September 4 and 17 for every passenger who accompanies a motorist during a driving experience around the circuit.
“There are quite a few luxury resorts and hotels with discounted prices and attractive offers. So I will head to Abu Dhabi for Eid along with my husband and his parents,” said Jasmeet Singh, 29, a Dubai resident and executive at a food packaging firm.
Singh said that many of the other emirates, like Dubai and Fujairah, see an influx of vacationers, and get quite crowded.
“If you want a serene vacation, you have to look elsewhere, and I found that Abu Dhabi works perfectly,” she said.
— With inputs from N.D. Prashant, Staff Reporter
