Once regarded as strictly for business, the capital of the United Arab Emirates is campaigning hard to become a premier destination for luxury-class nomads and art aficionados. While waiting for the Louvre and the Guggenheim to finish pitching their tents on the hot desert grounds (both institutions open satellites here in 2013), the city will feed its denizens’ growing appetite for culture with the debut this month of the Abu Dhabi Art fair. The event should give visitors a vision of the metropolis on the horizon: an ultramodern oasis with its own rich contemporary art and fascinating history.

Go:

Abu Dhabi Art
WHAT: The debut of this modern- and contemporary-art and design fair has attracted 40 galleries from around the globe, including New York’s Gagosian and Cairo’s Townhouse, many of which will be exhibiting in the Middle East for the first time. Conceived to promote Abu Dhabi as a cultural destination, it features programs focusing on Emirati and other Middle Eastern artists that were developed with such partners as Anne Baldassari, the director of the Musée National Picasso, in Paris; Jack Persekian, the artistic director of the Sharjah Biennial; and Richard Armstrong, the director of the Guggenheim Museum.
WHEN: November 19-22
WHERE: Emirates Palace Hotel
HIGHLIGHTS: Walk through the grounds of the Emirates Palace to see "Beyond," an outdoor exhibition of sculptures and site-specific installations, then stop by the Emirati Expressions booth for "Signature," a show of up-and-coming Emirati artists curated by Anne Baldassari. Trek over to the cultural district on Saadiyat Island to take in an exhibition, conceived by Jack Persekian, in which Middle Eastern artists grapple with the theme of unity and division in their native lands. This is the first show to be held at Manarat Al Saadiyat, the island’s new exhibition center. Thirsting for truly cutting-edge design? Three rising stars in the field — Max Lamb, Maarten Baas, and Sevil Peach — will lead daylong workshops, and "Design Moment" will invite visitors to watch five young Emirati designers create objects in their studios right before their eyes.

Stay:

Emirates Palace
The Emirates Palace is to Abu Dhabi what the Plaza is to New York. "When I come to Abu Dhabi, I spend most of my time here," says curator Anne Baldassari, who organized the Middle East’s first Picasso exhibit in this city last summer. Vida de Diego Arozamena, managing partner of the Acento Gallery, which concentrates on art from Mexico and Spain, checks in "just to admire its splendor." He recommends "the great restaurant and nightclub Etoile, which is owned by a friend of mine." At the Anantara Spa, guests can indulge in the rituals of the hammam and aromatic massages.
West End Corniche
971-2/690-9000
Rates: $486-$885
emiratespalace.com

Shangri-La
With its spectacular view of the sumptuous Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque (also known as the Grand Mosque) across the water, Shangri-La is truly magical. It’s also more manageable than the Emirates Palace but no less luxurious. Venetian mirrors mingle with traditional Arabian flourishes, like latticed archways, mosaics, and heavy wood doors. Highlights include five outdoor swimming pools, the chi spa, offering treatments from the Far East; and the Sofra bld restaurant, serving "the best Moroccan grill I’ve ever tasted," says tour guide Michelle Sabti.
Sheikh Zayed Road
971-2/509-8888
Rates: $347-$408
shangri-la.com

Desert Islands
Located on Sir Bani Yas Island, just off the Abu Dhabi coast, this resort appeals to sybarites and adventure lovers alike. (It was once the personal eco-retreat of late UAE president Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.) "You arrive by seaplane, and everything is nature-based," says Abu Dhabi native Hend Al Otaiba, of the Tourism Development and Investment Company. "There are game drives, snorkeling, kayaking, and 4x4 guided tours."
Sir Bani Yas Island
971-2/801-5400
Rates: $545-$3,322
desertislands.anantara.com