Capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is a well-ordered, industrious city with a pretty waterside location. First inhabited by the nomadic Bani Yas tribe in 1760, the settlement remained a small fishing village until oil was discovered. The revenues transformed Abu Dhabi into the modern city of today a bustling center of government and business. With a coastline rimmed by beaches, Abu Dhabi is one of the best places to visit in the UAE to combine sun and sand with a city break. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Louvre Abu Dhabi are the major tourist attractions, though, with kayaking trips amid the Eastern Mangroves and the desert dune landscapes of Liwa Oasis within day-tripping distance, there are plenty of adventures and things to do on the city's doorstep.