Abu Dhabi’s Architectural Icons

The Louvre Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Zayed bridge are gleaming testaments to the very potential of modern architecture and for many Abu Dhabi residents simply commonplace lodestars on one’s commute. You can live in the capital for a long time without giving its grand buildings anything more than a passing glance, but why not take an architecture tour and learn more about your city?

It’s tempting to admire the tallest, glossiest, and newest buildings as the worthiest of interest in the city, but Yalla invites residents and visitors to take a second look at some of the older buildings and structures that dot the capital in addition to the shiny, new ones that make our jaws drop.

Here are five buildings that people who are interested in architecture might want to have look at and why.

Some city residents refer to it as the “dirham building” or “cookie building,” but no matter what you call it, Aldar HQ is one of the most attention-grabbing structures because of its circular shape. Its beauty is magnified at night when the circumference gets lit up, adding circular beauty to an otherwise linear Abu Dhabi skyline.

There are three main bridges that lead you into the mainland of Abu Dhabi, and the Maqta’a Bridge is one of the most interesting. It is the southern gate to the city and is blue in colour. Before 1968, the strait was crossed by camels rather than by automobiles, and travellers had to wait for low tide before getting to the other side. Maqta’a was the first bridge constructed and, therefore, it represents the first crossing point to many natives of Abu Dhabi. The best time to visit Maqta’a Bridge by foot is in the morning when the sun rises when there is a fresh breeze in the air.

The splendour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (SZGM) welcomes more tourists annually than any other attraction. It is the UAE’s largest mosque and a memorial to its founder, HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It is also testament to the beauty and richness of Islamic architecture. Around the mosque you’ll find examples of classic Middle Eastern flourishes with expertly executed sculpting, exquisite chandeliers, carpets and wall murals.

The best time to visit SZGM is sunset in order to see its full majesty both at day when the white façade takes on the colours of the sky, and do not miss the chance to hear the sound of the call to prayer reverberating off the Mosque.

At the entrance of the city, the Hyatt Capital Gate Hotel leans 18 degrees towards one side. The hotel is aesthetically and architecturally appealing because of its unique design in stark contrast to the smaller buildings and residential neighbourhoods adjacent to it. Drive past it westbound, and it feels as though the hotel in leaning down on you.

Just up the road from the Hyatt Capital Gate is Zayed Sports City (ZSC). The Colosseum-like ZSC Stadium is most interesting and worth a gander for its Romanesque arches and long, slanted gateways and ramps encircle the structure. ZSC was built during the early development of the city, so it has landmark status these days. Whenever a sporting event is underway, the voices are amplified and echoed out of the stadium.