18 19 - Abu Dhabi Tourism

Hotels
Islamic
Treasures: Miraj
will house pieces
sourced from all
over the Muslim
world.
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Miraj Islamic Centre
Opens In UAE Capital
Miraj, CIE Group’s second Islamic art gallery, is set
in a two-storey villa behind the upscale Abu Dhabi
Marina area. The centre features museum-like displays
of unique Islamic art pieces sourced from around the
Muslim world from places like Egypt, Syria, Iran, India
Iraq, Kashmir and Russia. Displays include meticulously
hand woven pictorial and bejewelled carpets, silk
textiles, jewellery, marble pieces, Arabic calligraphy
engraved vases, miniature paintings and experienced
staff is on hand to brief visitors on the history and origin
of the pieces and the techniques used in making them.
“Already we are projecting expansion to a bigger
Abu Dhabi venue in two years,” explained Imtiyaz
Beigh, Marketing Manager, Miraj Islamic Art Centre,
“Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to be a destination for tourism,
culture and arts are spectacular and it is the obvious
place for us to be.
“Islamic art is rich and diverse due to Islam’s
presence in the Middle East, Asia and Europe and we
are here to take visitor on a journey through this rich
heritage and educate them on the art and legacy of
Islamic societies.”
Miraj is offering visitors a complementary pick-up
and drop-off service from their hotels as well as welcome
refreshments, Arabic Qahwah (cardamom coffee) and
dates to groups of over 50 guests.
“Guests can contact us through their hotel concierge
service and we will send a luxury car within 20 minutes
to bring them to Miraj and take them back after their
visit,” explained Beigh. The centre, which also features
a rooftop café with panoramic views of Emirates Palace
and the Arabian Gulf, is open daily from 9am-7pm.
Entrance is free.
More info from Imtiyaz Beigh on +971 50 2503950
A Royal Play
Kids now get to enjoy a royal treatment while staying in
style with their parents at Emirates Palace.
‘The Palace kids Programme’ offers kids fun activities
such as ‘The Magical Journey’ house tour, special f&b
menu treats in addition to a dedicated check-in and
check-out area with welcome bags upon arrival.
A Palace Kids Ambassador is also available to assist
them during their stay.
Do Feed The Animals At Al Ain Zoo!
Giraffe feeding, camel riding and ‘Elezba’ petting zoo are
the latest interactive activities at Al Ain Zoo, the UAE’s
premier wildlife destination.
Visitors can now enjoy feeding the giraffe treats
such as carrots or lettuce five times daily in a specially
allocated area.
Designed in the style of a local farm, ‘Elezba’ petting
zoo lets families feed and play with sheep, goats, camels,
llamas, chicken and ducks, enjoy camel riding or simply
picnic in the farm’s designated area.
‘Elezba’ is open daily from 11am to 8pm, while tickets
for the giraffe feeding experience can be bought at a
designated kiosk.
Al Ain Zoo is open daily from 9am to 8pm.
Awpr.ae
Cruising To A Temporary Home
Abu Dhabi now has a specially-commissioned
cruise terminal at Mina Zayed which is capable of
accommodating 1,300 passengers at any one time.
The temporary, tented facility on the site of the
former ADTA visitor information centre and designed to
cater for the 2011 / 2012 and 2012 / 2013 cruise seasons,
spans some 2,000 square metres and comprises two
dedicated halls – one a luggage-handling facility; the
other a passenger centre complete with a waiting
lounge, security section, prayer rooms, offices, visitor
information centre, currency exchange, as well as
customs and immigration facilities.
The terminal is this season home to the luxury MSC
Lirica which is embarking from there on a schedule of
eight day/seven night cruises around the Arabian Gulf.
The MSC Lirica has a capacity for 2,199 guests in 784
cabins.
In line with its long-term cruise ambitions, ADTA,
which has an industry target of securing 300 ships
and over 600,000 passengers a year by 2030, hopes to
construct a permanent, purpose-built cruise terminal at
Mina Zayed and a technical feasibility study has been
commissioned.
Msccruises.com
Abu Dhabi’s new temporary cruise
terminal can accommodate 1,300
guests at one time.
Leisure Tourism
Dinner Time: Feeding offers visitors a
memorable experience at Al Ain Zoo.
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