48 HOURS IN: Abu Dhabi
DAY ONE
5.40AM – My Etihad long-haul flight from Australia into Abu Dhabi arrives super early in the morning which means my day begins with a drive through the still slumbering city as the blazing desert sun rises; my driver takes me past the mammoth Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, its marble edifice taking on an ethereal golden glow in the morning light.
6.30AM – Abu Dhabi is made up of a collection of islands, linked by a series of bridges; my accommodation is on an island 15 minutes’ speed boat ride from the city. Zaya Nurai Island is a tropical paradise, with lush gardens and a laid-back barefoot luxe aesthetic: my beach-front room is kitted out in white-washed wood and a cool blue palette. There’s a gigantic marble bathroom drenched in sunshine from
