Abu Dhabi is the wealthiest city in the United Arab Emirates that means business.
This sleek, modern city has always been overshadowed by its neighbor Dubai. Abu
Dhabi
Is one of seven emirates that is part of the United Arab Emirates and growing at a
very rapid pace. Abu Dhabi has a number of the world’s largest financial
institutions and a large amount of oil so it is an amazing place to do business.
Here developments worth 100 billion over the next 5 years will be built. Not only
will there be a new airport, but a racetrack, a new museum rivaling the Guggenheim
and up to 50 hotels. Because it’s not as touristy it’s easier to get around because
there is no traffic or construction and mobs of people everywhere. Here you will
find a mix of liberalism and Islamic tradition. Drinking out in public is a major
offence with strict penalties and when it comes to drunk driving there is zero
tolerance here. Revealing movies are censored or sex scenes are removed. Abu Dhabi
is an extremely traditional place. Here are some very important rules to follow.
Avoid showing soles or your feet or the palm of your left hand to Emirates, both
are considered rude. You can inquire about a man’s family but never about his wife,
be careful how you dress here as well. Though plenty of tourists expose flesh, its
still frowned upon, especially when doing business here. If you are a woman you
won’t be treated any differently than a man and out of respect, never display forms
of affection in public. And lastly, Fridays is their most religious day, most shops
close at 4 pm and most business are closed all day on this holy day. When booking
hotel rooms you need to book early because of the overflow demand for rooms. The
top hotel for business in this city is the Le Royal Meridien. It’s perfect for
business meetings because it has great conference and meeting rooms, a dedicated
business center and a revolving restaurant on the top floor. The most expensive and
elaborate place to stay and one of the finest hotels in the middle east is the
Presidential Suite at the Emirates Palace. This room even comes with its own
personal butler. Other places worth checking out are the Beach Rotena Hotel,
Towers, the Hilton Abu Dhabi, and the Sheraton. When it comes to restaurants there
are plenty of Indian and Lebanese restaurants. But please note that the countries
licensing laws restrict service of alcohol to outlets located in hotels. For the
best seafood Finz in the Beach Rotena Hotel is where you go for their hammour
tikka. For the best Italian Food go to the Mezzaluna at the Emirates Palace. For
Middle Eastern foods go to Al Mawal in the Hilton. To relax and unwind go to the
busiest club in town, the Jazz Bar where you will find a talented in-house band.