The Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates...
Fifty years ago, Abu Dhabi was an expanse of sand with the occasional Bedouin settlement.
Now it has become a sprawling mass of shiny skyscrapers, resorts and Western shopping malls.Abu Dhabi's pot of cash seems endless, as does its ambition. But what about imagination?
The five- star hotels are undoubtedly plush. The Shangri-La Hotel, a short drive from the bustling centre, has an impressive lobby with an equally impressive cocktail menu. Its jaw-droppingly stunning swimming pool terrace overlooks the huge Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
The Shangri-La has a subtlety that the Emirates Palace, with its 1,000 chandeliers, lacks. The Emirates Palace is supposed to be the city's showpiece, where the royal family can entertain world leaders.
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