Explore Abu Dhabi from home through its new virtual platform, Stay Curious

Though your travel plans are on hold, you can still daydream about your next holiday destination. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has recently launched a new campaign called Stay Curious, which highlights the incredible attractions the city has to offer international visitors. The online hub also gives travellers an opportunity to explore the city virtually, long before they even arrive. Let’s take a look…

The Stay Adventurous section of the hub takes you on 360-degree virtual tours of the city’s exciting attractions from the comfort of your home. You can visit Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, one of the world’s largest theme parks with numerous high-adrenaline rides, including the world’s fastest roller coaster, the Formula Rossa. Or sit back and enjoy Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, a huge waterpark spanning 20 acres with over 40 rides, slides, and attractions including the Bandit Bomber, the Middle East‘s longest suspended roller coaster, and Bubbles’ Barrell, the world’s largest surfable sheet wave.

You can also tour Yas Island, the city’s main entertainment district and home to the architecturally-stunning Yas Marina Circuit, which hosts the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Or go ‘dune bashing’ in a 4×4 across the city’s huge surrounding desert dunes. 

More natural wonders can be found at Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island, a wildlife reserve home to over 17,000 free-roaming animals and millions of plants and trees. You can visit Mangrove National Park, one of Abu Dhabi’s most notable natural wonders and home to 60 species of birds including herons and flamingos.

In the hub’s Stay Indulgent section, Abu Dhabi‘s best resident chefs, including MasterChef India judge Kunal Kapur and British Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens, reveal what goes into making their restaurant’s signature dishes. You can also create some of the city’s finest meals and drinks yourself with a series of video masterclasses. 

The Stay Enlightened section invites you to expand your knowledge and learn new skills through a number of free virtual courses from Grow with Google, Coursera and History of the Emirates. There’s also a series of videos sharing absorbing stories about the Emirati people and major events from the last few centuries of Abu Dhabi‘s fascinating history.

The Stay Creative section immerses you in Abu Dhabi’s art world and lets you explore its cultural highlights. This part of the hub hosts the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi’s s newly launched CulturAll platform, which has virtual exhibition tours and interviews with some of the city’s top creatives, giving you a chance to make new connections in the world of art and culture.

On the CulturAll platform, you can also take a tour of Qasr Al Hosn, considered the symbolic birthplace of Abu Dhabi and arguably the city’s most captivating site. Dating back to 1790, it’s the city’s oldest standing structure and now serves  as a memorial to Abu Dhabi’s rich history following extensive restoration.

The Stay Entertained section will keep you engaged while you’re stuck at home. There’s virtual comedy, workouts, storytelling, concerts, and much more, available to watch either live or on-demand. 

Fantastic Golf Courses

Let’s not forget the golf courses! Pop these incredible courses on your golf bucket list for when flights are open and it’s safe to travel again. The National course at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club provides one of the best golf experiences in the Middle East and hosts the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship on the European Tour. Yas Links Abu Dhabi is ranked by All Square as one of the world’s top 100 golf courses and the best in the Middle East. 

There’s also Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, designed by legendary golfer Gary Player. Finally, right in the heart of the city, Abu Dhabi City Golf Club offers night-time floodlit golf at one of the world’s best urban courses.

So, even though you can’t travel to Abu Dhabi right now, you can still enjoy its many sights and attractions virtually and plan your future trip to the city.