With branches of the Louvre and the Guggenheim in progress, Abu Dhabi is destined to become a Middle Eastern cultural capital. This month the Abu Dhabi Art fair helps pave the way, attracting collectors and galleries from around the world.

GO

ABU DHABI ART
WHEN: November 16–19
WHERE: The reconstructed UAE Pavilion, designed for World Expo 2010 by Foster + Partners on Saadiyat Island.
HIGHLIGHTS: Several blue-chip galleries — including New York’s David Zwirner; the multinational Gagosian; London's White Cube; and Lisson, of London and Milan — will be among more than 50 international exhibitors participating in the fair’s third edition. Also on hand will be the Ayyam Gallery, which has locations in Beirut, Damascus, and Dubai; and the city’s own Salwa Zeidan Gallery. Visitors will be able to size up works by such artists as Samia Halaby, Zhang Huan, Liza Lou, and Nja Mahdaoui.
abudhabiartfair.ae

STAY

ST. REGIS SAADIYAT ISLAND RESORT
Located on the same island as Abu Dhabi Art, this recently opened property offers luxury accommodations in majestic Mediterranean architecture. Practice your swing at the Saadiyat Beach Golf Course, designed by Gary Player, or stroll on the island’s pristine white beach.
SAADIYAT ISLAND
WEST COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE 786-279
971-2-498-8888
RATES: From $449
stregissaadiyatisland.com

EMIRATES PALACE
This waterfront hotel’s 394 rooms combine lavish interiors adorned with gold leaf, marble, and silk with the latest in technology, like in-room entertainment systems with hand-held touch-screen controls.
WEST CORNICHE ROAD
971-2-690-9000
RATES: FROM $381
emiratespalace.com

SHANGRI-LA HOTEL

Situated on a private beach, the Shangri-La provides guests with the finest in contemporary Arabian style. Every room has a balcony or terrace affording fine city views.
BETWEEN THE BRIDGES
971-2-509-8888
RATES: From $386
shangri-la.com

DESERT ISLANDS RESORT & SPA BY ANANTARA
Each of the hotel’s 64 rooms boasts plush Middle Eastern decor. Sign up for a wildlife trek, fly above shimmering waters in a seaplane, or take a dip in the Desert Islands’ infinity-edge pool beside the Persian Gulf.
DESERT ISLANDS
971-2-801-5400
RATES: FROM $354
desertislands.anantara.com

YAS HOTEL
The Yas’s futuristic exterior, with its LED shell shifting through a spectrum of colors, foreshadows the rooms’ sleek modern interiors and all-glass bathrooms. Through their windows, guests might spy race cars speeding around the Formula One track at ground level.
971-2-656-0000
RATES: FROM $180
theyashotel.com

EAT

HAKKASAN
French design firm Gilles & Boissier created an interior of dark wood hand-carved in ancient Chinese and Arabian motifs and embroidery-covered furniture for the Abu Dhabi outpost of the Michelin-starred London eatery. Chef Lee Kok Hua reinterprets traditional Asian dishes in offerings like the kung po roasted duck and rib-eye Wagyu beef.
EMIRATES PALACE
WEST CORNICHE ROAD
971-2-690-7999
hakkasan.com/abu-dhabi

PEARLS & CAVIAR
Have a cocktail at the Pearls rooftop bar while admiring views of the Grand Mosque, then head downstairs to Caviar, which offers a wide selection of the eponymous delicacy, including beluga and Iranian, as well as Mediterranean- and Arabian-inspired entrées like slow-cooked king fish and lamb rump.
SHANGRI-LA HOTEL
BETWEEN THE BRIDGES
971-2-509-8777
pearlsandcaviar.com

ETOILES
Abu Dhabi’s elite frequent this sophisticated establishment, which combines style, fine dining, and nightlife. Patrons sip cocktails or enjoy grilled chateaubriand followed by pistachio crème brûlée while admiring the gulf’s moonlit waters.
EMIRATES PALACE
WEST CORNICHE ROAD
971-2-690-7999
etoilesuae.com

MAWAL
Undulating belly dancers accompany this eatery’s Lebanese cuisine. Start with hot or cold mezes, like fresh hummus, and move on to kebabs or, if you’re feeling adventurous, grilled sparrows in season. Finish with a silky milk pudding topped with pistachios.
HILTON ABU DHABI
AL KHUBEIRAH
971-2-681-1900
hilton.com

AL FANAR
Aside from the food, the star attraction of this revolving restaurant on the 26th floor of Le Royal Méridien is the breathtaking view.
LE ROYAL MERIDIEN
AL MARKAZIYAH
971-2-695-0490
www.starwoodhotels.com

NAUTILUS
Chef Rene Guttzeit, who earned his chops under Gordon Ramsay and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, runs the kitchen at Nautilus, serving up some of the city’s best seafood. Chow down on Gulf shrimp, Omani lobster, or freshly shucked oysters on the terrace overlooking the marina.
YAS HOTEL
971-2-656-0000
theyashotel.com

SEE

EMIRATI EXPRESSIONS
American photographer Stephen Shore worked with Emirati counterparts this past summer to create picture narratives. The fruits of their labor will be displayed in this special exhibition, on view through January 2012.
MANARAT AL SAADIYAT
SAADIYAT ISLAND
971-2-657-5800
artsabudhabi.ae

BARAKAT GALLERY
The gallery’s permanent collection contains ancient African, Chinese, Classical, Egyptian, Islamic, Near Eastern, pre-Columbian, and Russian artifacts, as well as ancient coins and jewelry.
EMIRATES PALACE
971-2-690-8950
www.barakatgalleryuae.com

SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE
This 80-domed architectural wonder, located on a huge, 73,530-square-foot site, accommodates 40,960 worshippers. Meant to “unite the world,” it is open to non-Muslims and decorated with materials from around the globe, including marble panels adorned with semi-precious stones, chandeliers of Swarovski crystals, and a carpet woven by 1,300 Iranian artisans.
971-2-244-1644
szgmc.ae

SHOP

GOLD SOUK
In this marketplace more than a hundred shops sell jewelry, both contemporary and traditional, from the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, made not only with gold but also diamonds, opals, and emeralds. Leave your camera at the hotel — no photos allowed.
EAST ROAD
971-2-444-0444

YAS PERFUMES
Named after the Bani Yas tribe, this house creates scents like Piedra and Purple Rose from traditional ingredients and bottles them in elegant flasks.
971-2-666-5877
ABU DHABI MALL
MARINA MALL
yasperfumes.com