A white marble mosque and a desert-island capital
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is calmer than Dubai and built on a series of islands. Its landmark is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, clad in white marble with inlaid flowers, which is open to visitors outside prayer times. On Saadiyat Island, the Louvre Abu Dhabi sits beneath a latticed dome that filters the light, while Yas Island has theme parks and a Formula 1 circuit. The Qasr al-Hosn fort is the city's oldest building, and the Liwa Oasis dunes lie to the south.