The city has a paid parking system called `Mawaqif`, the hours are enforced from 8:00 am until midnight from Saturday to Thursday (excludes Fridays and public holidays). Parking lots are assigned and parking along the main streets (color-coded by blue and black for standard parking and blue and white painted curbs for premium) costs around AED3 per hour or up to AED15 for 24 hours, meters are available and receipts should be displayed on the front windscreen. Do not park on yellow and grey painted curbs. For more information visit www.mawaqif.ae

Walking around Abu Dhabi is one of the best ways to see the beach areas and explore Corniche and the boardwalk where you can check out the shops, restaurants, and attractions. There are plenty of attractions situated close together on Yas Island that can be reached on foot. The heat in Abu Dhabi can be overwhelming, with temperatures exceeding 122F degrees and high humidity. Walking in the early mornings or later at night when the sun is not as intense is recommended, drink plenty of water.

The city offers ADCB Cyacle Bikeshare that offers a green option to renting bikes with 50 stations situated around the city, a few of these sharing locations include Yas Island and Al Raha Beach. You can rent bikes from the stations for AED15 a day or AED40 for 3 days and return at different stations around the city with an unlimited number of journeys during a one-hour rental period.

Abu Dhabi sits on the sparkling turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf where boats have direct access to the area. Traditional Arbra`s (wooden boats), catamarans, traditional dhow cruise ships, speedboats and luxury yachts travel the waterways taking passengers to different destinations. You can take day trips to deserted islands, fishing trips, snorkeling trips or a trip to Dalma Island, relax and enjoy the spectacular sights of the city on a sunset cruise.

Jalboot water taxi offers a sightseeing boat that runs around the Island and stops at some of the top tourist attractions including Etihad Towers Hotel, Abu Dhabi Mall and more. The cost is approximately AED195. Visit www.jalboot.ae for more information.

Abu Dhabi is said to be on the safest cities in the world, violent crimes are very rare. It is advisable to take the usual precautions when traveling to any foreign country. Keep your belonging secured and use your street smarts when walking around busy tourist areas. A woman should exercise caution if taking taxis by themselves or walking around at night. It is also recommended to drink bottled water in the UAE as the CDC considers the tap water to be potentially unsafe.

Shopping in Abu Dhabi ranges from some of the biggest shopping malls you have ever seen to traditional authentic family-owned stores on the streets; shoppers can truly find anything in the capital city. The malls are popular as they provide an air-conditioned escape from the sweltering outdoor temperatures! There are several malls featured in the city that offer high-end stores, designer brand names and large department stores along with restaurants and entertainment. Abu Dhabi Mall and Marina Mall are the popular ones to visit. The smaller independent stores and traditional souqs located around the city sell more traditional items such as tapestries, antiques, perfumes, and spices where you can get lower prices, don`t be afraid to negotiate.

The official currency in Abu Dhabi is the Dirham also referred to as the prefix AED (Arab Emirate Dirham) or abbreviation Dhs which would follow the numeric amount. The dirham and the US dollar exchange rate is fixed at US$1 = Dhs 3.67.

There is a 10% service charged added to bills in hotels, restaurants, and bars, additional tips can be left in the amount of a few dirham as most of the time the service charge goes to the restaurant and not the person who served you.

For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in the UAE by clicking here UAE

The Emarati cuisine blends many different cuisines such as Middle Eastern, Chinese and Asian and other international dishes. There is a wide variety of restaurants to choose from in Abu Dhabi with a diverse choice of food, Seafood is a main dish in the country and has been for centuries along with meat, fish, and rice, pork is prohibited on most menu`s as Muslims do not eat pork products. Lamb, mutton, goat, and beef are the main protein staples consumed in the Emirates. Restaurants and eateries come in all shapes and forms from the high-end dining experiences at luxury hotels to falafel stands on the street corner, and McDonald`s served at the food court in the mall.

Please Note: During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast during daylight hours therefore many restaurants in the city are closed by law. And it is against the law during this time to eat or drink anything in public, tourists can be arrested and given fines.