A Day 2. Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace, Qasr Al Watan… and Skiing?

Day two in the United Arab Emirates was definitely not about relaxing – this time we skipped the morning hotel pool and traded swimming for a proper mission. The goal? To see more than just Dubai. So we jumped on a plan: take the bus to the city where Formula 1 races are held. You probably guessed it – we’re heading to Abu Dhabi! After all, when people hear UAE, these are the two cities that come to mind: Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

But it wasn’t just the F1 circuit that lured me there – I was after something entirely different: the spot where that iconic scene from Fast & Furious 7 was filmed. Yes, the one where the car jumps from one skyscraper to another. And since we didn’t rent a car, we set out like true adventurers – by public transport.

How to get to Abu Dhabi?

Mission number one: get to the bus station, which is located right next to the massive Ibn Battuta Mall. Luckily, the metro takes you straight there – it’s all the way on the edge of Dubai, but nothing we couldn’t handle.

And here’s something for future planners: there’s no metro between Dubai and Abu Dhabi yet, but for years they’ve been talking about a hyper-speed rail project between the two cities. So maybe one day we’ll hop in a capsule and zoom from Dubai to Abu Dhabi in minutes – like straight out of sci-fi.

As soon as you arrive at the bus station, just under the bridge you’ll spot those familiar “airport-style” lanes – the zigzag queue lines where people wait for the Abu Dhabi bus. No chaos here – everything is as organized as at an airport, and the direction is clear: to the capital of the Emirates. Buses from here go all over, but this route is one of the busiest – line E101 runs every 20 to 30 minutes throughout the day, so no need to stress.

Once you hop into the air-conditioned bus (which honestly feels like a gift from heaven in that heat), you’ve got about a 1 hour and 45 minute ride ahead of you. The bus drops you off at the central station in Abu Dhabi, and that’s where our little adventure begins: finding our way to Emirates Palace.

Emirates Palace and Etihad Towers

For fans of Fast & Furious 7 – yes, this is the place where the suited-up heroes crashed a hypercar through the windows of the Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, flying from one skyscraper to another.

And how do you get there? First, you need to buy a rechargeable transport card (it works similarly to the one in Dubai, but it looks different). More about the Dubai card HERE. Without it, you won’t be able to use public transport. We actually ended up giving our card to some Slovaks we randomly bumped into on the metro – believe it or not, they were on the same flight as us before. The card still had plenty of credit left, so hopefully it served them well. 🫡

So, once you take bus line 34 and get off right in front of Emirates Palace, you’ve made it to the right spot. I’ll include a photo of the stop below. This majestic building isn’t just any palace – it’s a luxury five-star hotel, though honestly, it deserves ten stars. It was originally built as a government building, but today you can stay there… if you’ve got a few hundred to a few thousand euros to spare. Everything is gold – literally.

The interior features over 1000 crystal chandeliers, and the walls are covered with gold, mother-of-pearl, and marble. Oh, and yes – that Fast & Furious scene was filmed right here, so for a movie geek like me, it took the experience up a notch.

And of course, we couldn’t resist going inside. And guess what? It’s completely free! Since it’s still a hotel, you’re only allowed into certain zones – but honestly, that’s enough. Gold everywhere, marble floors, crystal accents, even the bathrooms looked better than my entire bedroom back home. I genuinely felt like royalty – minus the crown. 😄

Next Stop? – Qasr Al Watan

Our next stop of the day was a place that, based on the photos, looked like it came from another planet – Qasr Al Watan. But as soon as we arrived in the area, we realized getting in wouldn’t be that easy. Google Maps did show us a route, but once we reached the eastern gates, all we found were armed guards and massive fences. We honestly felt like we were in a movie – a monumental white palace in front of us and us standing there, clueless, wondering where to go next.

So we straight-up asked one of the guards, “Hello, how do we get in?” and with a smile, he pointed us back the way we came – apparently, the main entrance for visitors is on the completely opposite side. Well, no problem – we took a nice long detour on foot around the fences and eventually found the right entrance. So, if you plan to go – don’t blindly follow Google Maps, but head directly for the official main entrance (I’ll include a photo of the gate below to save you the wandering we did).

Entrance cost us around €15 per person, which is fair, especially since that includes a shuttle bus – it’ll take you straight to the palace entrance, because the whole complex is so massive, walking would cook you alive in the heat.

So what is Qasr Al Watan, really? It’s not just some pretty palace – it’s the official seat of government for the United Arab Emirates. This is where the president, sheikhs, and top state officials meet, where foreign dignitaries are received, and where global agreements and treaties are signed.

The entire complex is huge, impressive, and so clean you’d feel guilty dropping even a breadcrumb. To give you a better idea – imagine the Bratislava Castle, double its size, wrap it in white marble, add golden detailing, surround it with fountains and palm trees, and then top it off with James Bond-level VIP energy. That’s the vibe of Qasr Al Watan. It totally engulfs you even before you step inside.

What Awaits You Inside?

And here’s where we hit a bit of a snag – entering Qasr Al Watan comes with some rules, and one of the big ones is the dress code. If you’re not wearing clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, you won’t be allowed in, even if you were the prince of Dubai himself. Naturally, I showed up in shorts like a true tourist, and they immediately offered me an alternative – gray sweatpants, handed to me straight from a bag. Honestly, I felt like a kid in school who forgot their gym clothes and got handed something from the lost and found, but hey – you’ve got to be respectful in a palace.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t hot at all – even though it was over 35°C outside. You’d expect to feel like a boiling hotdog in long pants, but the Emirates are different. The dry climate and the everywhere-you-go air conditioning really make a difference. Unlike back home in Slovakia, where people melt at 25°C, this was completely fine – I even thought maybe I could rock the sweatpants look back home too.

Now, let’s talk about the interior – WOW. The moment you step inside, your jaw drops. There’s a massive chandelierhanging from the ceiling like something straight out of 1001 Nights. It takes your breath away. We’re talking about one of the largest crystal chandeliers in the world, hanging in the palace’s main hall, the Great Hall – it weighs several tonsand is made from tens of thousands of hand-cut glass pieces. Pure golden opulence.

Inside, you’ll also find a museum displaying various Arab artifacts, ancient manuscripts, gifts from other heads of state, and precious items capturing the history and future of the Emirates. But the most important thing is – this palace isn’t just for show. It’s a fully functional seat of the president and the UAE government, where official meetings, negotiations, international summits, and ceremonies are held.

The Way Back & A Side Quest

After all those palaces and golden halls, we figured it was about time to head back to Dubai. We hopped on bus line 34, which took us straight to the Abu Dhabi central bus station, and from there it was back to the usual – a blessedly air-conditioned ride toward Ibn Battuta Mall. That’s where we got off and took a little stroll to see if we could grab a bite.

But it was already around 10 p.m., and while some shops were starting to close, the place was still buzzing with people – like it was the middle of the day. Honestly, no clue when these folks actually sleep.

We weren’t hungry anymore, but our eyes kept exploring – we stumbled upon a few shops with some seriously stylish shirts, the kind you’d expect a fashion-forward sheikh to wear. We made a mental note to come back and do some shopping later.

And then came the idea – since the metro runs until late, why not take a detour to the iconic Mall of the Emirates? And why? Because… you can ski there. Yep, actual indoor skiing, while it’s 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) outside. Totally insane – and totally Dubai. 🎿❄️

Ski Dubai at the Mall of the Emirates

Inside this massive shopping center, you’ll find Ski Dubai – the biggest indoor ski resort in the Middle East. They’ve got real snow, a ski lift, tubing lanes, and even penguins! You grab a ski pass, throw on a winter jacket, and ride the lift like you’re in the Alps – except when you step outside, you have to switch from snow mode to desert mode real quick.

We grabbed a bite first at a Chinese restaurant – soup and something light, just to refuel. Then I set off on a mission: I had to see this miracle snow. Small issue though – you don’t get a proper view of the slope unless you’re in one of the restaurants or cafés that line the giant glass wall overlooking the ski area.

So I walked into this random spot that seemed to have the best windows, and straight up asked the staff:
“Hi, can I just look at the snow? I really want to see the ski slope.”
And guess what? They were totally cool with it. “Sure, go right ahead.”

It was around 11:30 p.m., which is kind of late even for a mall, but the place was still buzzing like midday. I took a few pics, got as excited as a little kid, and ran back to my dad:
“Come on, I found the perfect spot – you can see the whole ski resort from here!”

So we went back together. And tell me – isn’t that just wild? Dubai really means it when they say anything is possible. And I took that seriously. Ever since, I do everything at 100%. And you can too – all it takes is to start. 💥

Late-night ride back to the hotel – no metro, 20 KM to go

So how did we actually get back to the hotel? Well… the plan was simple – take the metro. It’s the cheapest way to travel, especially when you’re 20 kilometers from your accommodation. And the cool thing about Dubai’s metro? It doesn’t run underground like back home – it’s above ground, so you get these awesome views of the city while you ride. There’s even a fully air-conditioned walkway connecting the mall directly to the station. Everything felt top-notch.

But… when we got there around midnight – barriers. Closed. My dad instantly bolted like a rocket, convinced we’d make it. I was just yelling behind him:
“Nooo, don’t go! It’s closed!”
And there he was – standing in front of those locked doors like a lost pilgrim at the gates of Mecca.

Well, nothing to do but accept our fate. We pulled out our phones, checked Uber and other apps, but in the end, we just grabbed a regular taxi from the mall’s taxi stand. It looked like an airport setup – designated lanes, staff organizing the flow, everything neat and orderly.

A guy pulls up and goes:
“Cash or card? Euro, dollar, dirham?”
We ask: “Euro? How much?”
“Twenty.”
And we go: “And in dirhams?”
He shrugs: “Whatever the meter says.” But as soon as we said, “Euro’s fine,” he turned off the meter and just drove off – under the table. Apparently, that’s how it works there. Okay then…

The ride was smooth. He cruised along those 7-lane highways like it was nothing. I’ve never seen so many cars at once, but everything was super organized and flowing. Cameras are everywhere, so no one dares to speed – the fines are insane. It was like driving from Lingov to Šaca, but with 7 lanes and 20 km of nonstop city lights.

Honestly, I wouldn’t dare drive there myself – at least not right away – but as a passenger? I enjoyed every second.

And the next day? We were off to explore the largest inhabited artificial peninsula in the world – you know, the one shaped like a palm tree. If you’re into crazy megaprojects, you definitely don’t want to miss this one. Follow me on Instagram and subscribe to the newsletter so you don’t miss the next adventure from the Middle East!

Cross your boundaries – that’s where the treasure you’re seeking is hidden.

Flying Easterner