Abu Dhabi lifestyle

If you're into designer and brand-label shopping, welcome to paradise! Abu Dhabi heaves with sophisticated shopping malls and modern souks offering international chains like IKEA, Benetton and Mango, as well as shops stacked with gold, pearls, electronic goods, cosmetics and glitzy Arabian ornaments. For more traditional Arab artefacts head for Khalifa Old Souk to pick up fabrics, rugs, antique jewellery and handicrafts, and don't miss the Gold Centre at the Madinat Zayed mall, where dozens of shops drip with glittering gold jewellery, watches and other luxury items.

Most dining in Abu Dhabi centres on its lavish hotels, which offer top-class international restaurants serving everything from Arabian feasts like mezes, hummous and aromatic rice dishes to gourmet French, Italian, Chinese and Asian cuisine. Fresh fish from the Gulf is a must-try, with scrumptious grilled or fried red snapper, tuna and kingfish particularly popular. You'll also find loads of fast-food outlets, pizzerias and sushi diners sprinkled around, together with smart beachside restaurants, but remember that when it comes to alcohol, the vast majority of licensed bars and eateries are hotel-based. For a more authentic culinary experience, try the city's many Indian restaurants - the food's delicious and inexpensive.

As with eating out, most of Abu Dhabi's evening action takes place at its international hotels - generally the only places able to serve alcohol. For pre-dinner drinks, most hotels offer glamorous bars, plush cocktail lounges or English-style pubs and there's a handful of outdoor bar terraces where you can sip aperitifs overlooking the ocean. And when you want to get down on the dancefloor, many bigger hotels have swish nightclubs where you can boogie to the latest sounds till late.