Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, but that’s not all. It is also the capital of fun in summer this year. It promises visitors and tourists a never-ending experience filled with excitement and joy.

This year, summer in Abu Dhabi will start on July 7 and will last until Sept.11. Following the same concept as last year, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Cultural Authority (TCA) will partner with a number of local and regional entertainment and production companies to bring a variety of shows to Abu Dhabi’s summer created especially for locals and visitors.

In a press conference held by TCA and lead by Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau director, Mubarak Al-Shamsi, it was announced that this year’s summer is set to feature more than 80 events held in different venues and shopping centers, with restaurants and hotels offering special promotions and deal for tourists and guests.

“Summer Season 2015 witnessed a 21 percent increase in guest arrivals into the emirate, compared to 2014 with 951,979 guests checking in into Abu Dhabi’s 157 hotels and hotel apartments,” said Al-Shamsi.

The largest increase in visitor numbers was from India, rising around 30 percent, giving the TCA reason to celebrate their Independence day with a number of entertainment events such as live concerts of Bollywood’s sensational singing icons, Shaan, Shankar, Ehsan and Loy, Farhan Akhtar, Vishal and Shekhar as well as a live stage program ‘The Kapil Sharma Comedy Show live’.

Saudi comedy will be also celebrated this summer in Abu Dhabi. Participating in the Arab Comedy Festival are standup comedy stars Fahad Al-Butairi, Darin Al-Bayed, Fadi Al-Shehri, Ibrahim Saleh, Ibrahim Khairallah and Badr Saleh, along with a stellar lineup of local and regional comedians.

This summer, children will get to have the cake and eat it too. TCA is offering the little ones an array of entertainment options, from Hello Kitty Live — Fashion & Friends to SpongeBob SquarePants mini show, Shaun the Sheep, Alvin And The Chipmunks musical and the Dinosaur Zoo Live.

This might be overwhelming, but Abu Dhabi offers way more than just festivals and events. Below are a list of places to visit in Abu Dhabi this summer:

Ferrari World:

Abu Dhabi is proud to be the hub of the first and only Ferrari-branded theme park and largest indoor theme park in the world; this amusement park is located in Yas Island. Ferrari World is the place for those who are looking for adventure and amusement for both children and adults. You can easily locate the building from the Ferrari logo on the roof.

The 86,000 sq. m park offers more than 20 exceptional rides and attractions for visitors of all ages and interests — from speed thrill rides to the truly advanced simulators and family-friendly attractions — in addition to some Italian restaurants, shopping experiences and arcades. This park is family-friendly, it offers different activities for children, your child can have a proper driving education at Junior GT or Junior Grand Prix, where they can learn racing skills taught by professionals.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center:

You will fall in love with the beautiful architecture in white marble. The craftsmanship is impeccable with fine carvings on the domes, and in the main hall the chandeliers and hand-woven carpets are a must-see. It is considered one of the largest mosques in the world, topped with 82 white domes of varying sizes.

It is recommend to visit the mosque just before sunset and after sunset. Make sure to bring your camera for the view is just perfect.

Yas Marina Circuit:

This is where the annual Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is held. It is the region’s most dynamic and technologically advanced facility. It is the perfect destination for those who want to experience the thrill of karting, driving an Aston Martin GT4 over 200 km an hour on an F1 circuit, work toward their racing license at the Yas Racing School, get fit at Train Yas, or simply catch up with friends over burgers and shakes at Yas Central, there’s something for everyone at Yas Marina Circuit.

Yas Marina Circuit offers a racing school that provides a variety of driver and passenger experiences as well as driving courses, all managed by expert motorsport instructors. It also regularly hosts both amateur and professional events that include Track Nights and Open Drift Nights for members of the public and the Yas Racing Series for professionals. Go Yas is the UAE’s only training event that offers free women’s only indoor and outdoor training. A fun fact about this property is that in 2008, Christina Aguilera performed at the venue during her Back to Basics World Tour with more than 15,000 audiences enjoying the show. It also makes an appearance in the latest Fast and Furious 7 movie that was released in 2015.

Emirates Palace:

This majestic castle landmark is inspired by Arabian culture and the Emirati tradition of luxurious hospitality. It is located on 1.3 km of private beach land and surrounded by 85 hectares of gardens and lawns, with 114 domes that are 80 meters high.

Yas Waterworld:

It was named the “second best waterpark in the world” by the Los Angeles Times — Global Ranking of the World’s Top 20 Waterparks feature in May 2013. This is an iconic Emirati themed water park; it is the largest in Abu Dhabi.

The waterpark has 43 rides, slides and other attractions, five one-of-a-kind rides that are sure to give you a strong adrenaline rush. It also features other adventurous activities for children such as the Unique PearlMasters adventure. It is the very first treasure-hunt style interactive adventure game to make an appearance in a waterpark. Parents can enjoy their time with their children or head to the traditional souk at the park and shop for Arabic spices, calligraphy items, pearl accessories or souvenirs and candies.

Yas Marina Saturday market:

Shop till you drop on Saturday mornings at the many pop-up shops in this popular market and at Abu Dhabi’s first public car boot sale. As for children, there are a variety of water activities and option to have lots of fun under the sun.

Foodies will also enjoy culinary adventures by sampling food from restaurants, food stalls and food trucks.

Yas Links:

It is an 18-hole championship links golf course located in the heart of Yas Island. This award-winning golf course is a place to see and be seen at; it offers a golf club, golf shop and a pool area as well as a restaurant that offers breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.

Aside from the 18-hole championship golf course, Yas Links also offers floodlit nine-hole Par 3 Academy course and floodlit practice facilities. There is also a beautiful outdoor space built especially for private events and weddings. Yas Links offers golf courses for amateur as well as professional golf players to take their game to the next level. Children also can enjoy a day at the course for an early lesson of golf.

Observation Deck at 300

Looking for the best panoramic view of Abu Dhabi’s city scape and surrounding island? Visit Jumeirah at Etihad Towers and head to the top floor through what seems like the fastest elevator in the world. This unforgettable experience must be captured on a camera.

Zaya Nurai Island:

A 15-minute boat ride from Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat beach is the Zaya Nurai Island. It is a place where you go to when you want to escape the city’s noise. The island offers endless water activities and land sports. Water activities such as snorkeling, diving, paddling, kayaking, fishing, kite surfing, water ski, wakeboard, jet skiing, banana rides and many more are on offer.

Guests head to this island for a quick lunch to enjoy an unmatched culinary experience with a good view in one of their five restaurants. One of the best things to attend are the Arabian night dinners where you can satisfy your Arabic food craving in a traditional Arabian ambiance, complete with decor, music and other activities.

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