Abu Dhabi

It may sound like something out of One Thousand and One Nights, but Abu Dhabi has rapidly transformed from a modest pearl and fishing village into a pulsating modern metropolis marked by a contrasting landscape composed of golden palaces, towering skyscrapers and a picturesque coastline. In stark contrast to the numerous upscale megamalls and ATMs that dispense bars of gold — we’re not exaggerating, some really do — you’ll see quaint souks packed with Arabian perfumes and antiques, as well as traditional fishing dhows motoring in from the Persian Gulf to deliver their daily catch at the port.