Ravi Shinde

The Dhow monument located at the crossroads at Marina breakwater tells us the history of UAE's heritage, traditions and early occupation of ancestors when majority of the inhabitants settled on the shores of Arabian gulf were engaged in fishing and pearl diving as their primary occupation for their livelihood.
Those were the days when technology was in it's premature era and discovery of oil was not struck.
During those days, boats for fishing and pearl diving were made from wood by talented craftsmen and was an herculean task which took months to build a boat.
The dhow (wooden boat) reminds us of the times and hardships our ancestors have gone through and also throws light on the evolution of modern day transportation.
In the neighbourhood of the dhow monument are other places of interest such as pearl monument, heritage village, marina mall, marina breakwaters, UAE flagpole and Abu Dhabi theatre.

The marina breakwater area has several places of interest located along the road from Radisson upto the land's end.
The view of Abu Dhabi skyline from the tip of the breakwater is spectacular. It has it's own beauty at different times of the day from morning till night.
The walk from Radisson towards marina mall along the water line is simply great and relaxing.
There is a separate cycling track as well.
The dhow monument and big water fountain square are good places to take pictures with marina mall and Fairmont hotel in the backdrop.
There is a sailing and yatch club further to it.
The heritage village next to it is worth visiting. It showcases UAE culture, traditions and UAE life before the discovery of oil.
The 8th tallest flagpole in the world stands tall on the marina breakwater. It was the tallest in the world when it was built in 2001.
Next to it is a dome shaped structure which is the Abu Dhabi theatre.
There is a small beach at the end of the breakwater.
The place is very quite and serene. You can spend time just sitting or meditating to calm your mind and soul.
Early morning and evening visits to this place is recommended.
This place is normally crowded on weekend evenings and difficult to get parking.
If you are looking for peace of mind, avoid weekend evenings.

Waitrose is s huge supermarket on the ground floor of Boutik mall. It has it's own bakery and butchery.
The fruits and vegetables are fresh and premium quality which explains why they are priced higher than outside with options available from all over the world.
Breads, pastries, cookies and cakes are freshly baked and you have lot of options to select from.
You have choice of meat cuts and chicken parts.
It's a one stop shop not only for your food needs but also for other household items, kitchenware, toileteries, etc.

Dolphin park situated on the salam street near the pineapple towers is a very big open lush green space along the Al gurm corniche mangroves. The long stretch of water front and mangroves in the background adds to the beauty of the park.
The park has a very big fountain pond with four dolphins spurting out high pressure water jets from their mouth. The park is named after this dolphin fountain.
There is a kids play area and a basket ball court.
Concrete stands are installed at several places for barbeque.
Separate rest rooms for gents and ladies are located at the extreme end of the park opposite to the pineapple towers.
There are food trucks serving pizza and other food items.
The park is crowded by families and groups who spent evenings in nature and some do barbeque while others bring food from home.
As the park has natural grass, suggest to carry mats, chairs and tables to sit.
The park is open to public 24X7 and has security round the clock.
The beauty of this park is the long walking and cycling track along the mangroves which has stunning views as you walk along during the morning and evenings.
It is a perfect place to unwind and relax with your family and friends.
Ample parking space is available in the park.
A morning walk in the park is so blissful and calming for your mind and soul.
It's an ideal place to get peace of mind and serenity.

Nation towers mall is a comparatively small shopping mall but exhibiting premium brands. It has many international cafes and restaurants. It has health care salons and kids learning centre. It also has VOX cinema with multiple screens for premium viewing.
The shops are quite unique and on a high scale.
There is no much crowd unlike other malls and is an ideal place if you want to spend quite time moving around.