Just off the main island, spanning the land between Mussafah Bridge and Al Maqtaa Bridge, this area is noted for a cluster of grand hotels and nearby Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The Arabic name is Bain Al Jessrain but, to just about everybody now, it’s known as ‘Between the Bridges’. A new development 'The Gateway' is currently being planned, and will boost the area's facilities with a large complex on the mainland just by Sheikh Zayed Bridge.

Leisure
The area is defined by the Shangri-La, Traders Hotel and Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, which provide the main entertainment focus. Sharing the same stretch of creek and beachfront, the hotels have some of the UAE’s best restaurants, plus a wide range of facilities including spas, gymnasiums and more swimming pools than you can shake a lilo at. The former two hotels are part of the larger Souk at Qaryat Al Beri development, a Disney-esque recreation of a traditional souk in a modern setting. It offers a variety of shops and restaurants under one roof, connected by a waterway on which Arabic gondolas, or abras, slowly meander through the unique architecture, under arches and past restaurant terraces.Just across the water, looking back from the island side, is the new Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal hotel, which adds signature restaurants, a couple of bars and other poolside dining options to the area’s attractions.

Culture
The whole complex overlooks Abu Dhabi’s architectural piece de resistance, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which sits across the creek – a stunning masterpiece reminiscent of a sultan’s palace, the mosque is one of the very few in the country that allows tours. For more traditional architecture, look across the road from Qaryat Al Beri to one of the most ornate Persian-influenced mosques in the city. This small turquoise blue gem is not open for tours but you can admire the craftsmanship from outside.