Explore the underwater world

Word to the wise: Visitors with the time should book a scuba or snorkelling tour to the nearby emirate of Fujairah, or to Musandam in Oman, a coastal area rich in coral.

As you might expect from a city surrounded by ocean, snorkelling and diving are big business in Abu Dhabi. Surprisingly for a desert metropolis, there’s quite an array of underwater life. Divers and snorkelers have been known to spot everything from clown fish and Moray eels, to whale sharks and devil rays. For more experienced divers, there are a couple of wrecks dating back to the 1960s not far off the coast.

There are a number of dive operators in the city that offer tours, though Al Mahara is one of the most reliable. They also offer PADI courses for the inexperienced.