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Desert Resorts in & Near Abu Dhabi

Crowned as the largest mosque in all of the United Arab Emirates, Grand Mosque or widely known as Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is found in the beautiful city of Abu Dhabi. Built between 1996 and 2007, the mosque is named after the first president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who died in 2004 and was buried in the mosques premise itself.The building is an enigmatic piece of architectural design with some of it's most exotic features like being decorated with the world's largest carpet (60,570 square feet) and chandelier and the ability to hold more than 40,000 devotees for prayers, makes the place an ideal destination for worshipers. The place is one of the most visited structures in the world and is occupied with visitors all year round. Masterminded by architect Yousef Abdelky, the construction of the mosque was spread across 12 years and used more than 3,000 workers and 38 other construction companies costing a whopping 2 billion dollars in overall construction cost. Its impeccable design is inspired by various regions and mosques including Alexandrian, Persian and Mughal mosques, Abu Al-Abbas Al-Muris Mosque in Egypt and Badshashi mosque in Lahore, Pakistan. The Grand Mosque is embedded with Swarovski Crystal Chandeliers moulded in 24-carat gold,96 interior columns studded with jewels, 1,096 external columns, and 82 domes carved out of white marble. Running along the arcades is a water pool.The exciting thing about the pool is the arrangement of lights around it. The company Speirs and Major Associates modelled the lights to mirror various phases of the moon making the mosque a dazzling establishment at night. This Mosque has also made its way into the Guinness book of world records with the second largest chandelier and the largest carpet in a mosque. Suggested Read: 50 Amazing Places to Visit in Abu Dhabi

The first themed amusement park in the Gulf region, Hili Al Ain Fun City opened in September 2013. This amusement park is located in Abu Dhabi's Garden City of Al Ain and is a huge favorite with children because of its thrilling rides, adventure attractions, and several attractions that parents also enjoy. There is also an ice rink at Hili Fun City, a first in the Gulf, that is similar to that used in the Olympics.Having been inaugurated by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Muhammad Al Nahyan in 1985, this amusement park has provided entertainment for the community for decades. The amusement park initially offered a limited selection of rides for all members of the family. In 2009, the theme park reopened in a new avatar with over 30 attractions filled with fun and excitement.During the month of Ramadan, Hili Fun City remains closed in order to repair and renovate the attractions. Surprisingly, Wednesdays are given exclusively to women, who enjoy having a respite in full freedom along with their children. Many dignitaries and royalty have visited Hili Fun City, as well as top celebs from around the world have enjoyed the fun-filled rides here.

Get your Clymb Abu Dhabi tickets now to experience the largest indoor skydiving chamber and the tallest indoor climbing wall in the world.In addition to its out-and-out sporting facilities, Clymb Abu Dhabi offers adventure enthusiasts the chance to mimic the experience of skydiving within an unprecedented width of 9.75 meters (32 feet) or climb an indoor wall of 43 meters (142 feet). With four different levels of difficulty to choose from, there is a climbing wall that challenges beginners as well as advanced climbers.Party space is also available, along with a variety of retailers and food and beverage outlets. In addition to being connected to Yas Mall and Ferrari World nearby, Clymb Abu Dhabi will also offer a variety of entertainment and leisure activities on Yas Island.