Ok, so I will be traveling to visit the beautiful city of Abu Dhabi in August inshAllah. And I will be staying at Al Raha Beach Resort. I have never been there but I hear it is nice and I can’t wait to come visit. It will take me 17 hours by airplane to get to there from America, uggghhh!!
But I am excited!
So for all the people who have traveled to Abu Dhabi or for those who live in Abu Dhabi I have some basic questions:
1) Where is a good place to go to exchange American dollars for UAE Dirhams? Is it better to exchange at the airport, a hotel, a bank? Who gives the better and most honest/fair exchange?
2) What taxis are the best to take? Do certain colored taxis charge different rates to locals and non locals? I don’t want to get ripped off because I am an American tourist! LOL.
3) Also, I will be going to some place called The Golf Club and also to a place called Al Raha Hospital. What should be the average going rate from Al Raha Beach Resort to these places? And do you know how long it should take to get there?
4) Does anyone know what service is good to use if I want to make a day trip from Al Raha Beach Resort to Dubai? How much should that cost? I only want to go to Dubai for maybe one day. I plan to spend most of, if not all of, my time in Abu Dhabi. I think maybe it will be too hot for me to even go to Dubai during the day! LOL.
5) Is the bus service easy to use to get around Abu Dhabi? Is it expensive?
6) What restaurants in Abu Dhabi can I go to were I can meet locals and eat nice food. Remember now, I speak English and no Arabic *inshAllah I will learn Arabic one day* but what local restaurant will be good for an American boy who wants to meet locals?
7) What mosques do you recommend I go pray in when I visit Abu Dhabi? I don’t need a big fancy mosque. I kinda like smaller and modest style mosques. But I hear Abu Dhabi has a nice big mosque that I should visit. Where is it?
AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: I am coming to Abu Dhabi to meet a young woman to discuss marriage. Her mother recommended that I fly to Abu Dhabi and go see her daughter and to talk to her to see if we are a good match. Please tell me some place public where I can take her to eat or talk where not a lot of locals will be. We want a nice, comfortable place to talk without locals staring at us, wondering why she is talking to a foreigner, LOL!
9) And finally, if you would like, please give me your own personal tips and advice on what your favorite thing is in Abu Dhabi that you think I should see or do, or take a potential marriage partner.
Thank you all for your help. Sorry for asking so many questions. But again, Jazakallah in advance, LOL.
May Allah bless you all.
Salaam