10 reasons to send your female solo travellers to Abu Dhabi
The vibrant capital of the UAE is made up of three distinct regions – Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and Al Dhafra – each offering a unique blend of rich culture, stunning nature and endless fun. It's the perfect place for women looking for an inspiring journey.
Here are 10 reasons why Abu Dhabi stands out as the ultimate solo travel hotspot for women:
1. Safety first
Abu Dhabi has ranked first on the world's safest cities list in 2025 (based on the Numbeo Safety Index) – the ninth consecutive year it has topped the list. Women can feel secure across the emirate, from bustling city markets to serene beaches.
2. Seamless connectivity and flexibility
Getting to Abu Dhabi is a breeze for international travellers, with robust flight connectivity through the state-of-the-art Zayed International airport. Once they arrive, visitors don't need to worry about getting around. With efficient public transportation, taxis and ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem, women can navigate the emirate with ease. For solo adventurers, this flexibility means they can craft their own itinerary without worrying about logistics.
3. Diverse experiences
From cultural landmarks to thrilling adventures, Abu Dhabi offers something for everyone – and visitors won't have a moment to miss having a travel buddy with them. They can dive into history at the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, experience adrenaline-pumping action at Ferrari World or relax on the pristine sands of Saadiyat Island. Whether seeking art and culture, outdoor adventure or tranquillity in nature, Abu Dhabi delivers a wide range of experiences tailored to every traveller's taste.
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Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
The reality of flying in extreme weather
Given the ever-changing patterns of tourism, airline routes tend to come and go pretty regularly. But Wizz Air's announcement last week that it will be scrapping all of its routes from Abu Dhabi (the capital of the United Arab Emirates and a bustling flight hub between Europe and Asia) may have raised more eyebrows than usual. As well as the tough commercial and geopolitical climate in the Middle East, the low-cost carrier also cited the UAE's 'hot and harsh' climate as a reason for grounding the flights, adding that the high concentration of dust in the air was causing damage to its engines. That the Gulf can be punishingly hot won't be news to anyone. But the idea that extreme temperatures can cause complications for planes seems like the sort of thing that frequent flyers might want to know more about – particularly if they plan on jetting to the region any time soon. Too hot to handle Most of the time, hotter temperatures are a matter of simple physics for pilots, says Nick Eades, a veteran captain of the legendary Boeing 747 and the author of several books. As the air heats up, it also gets lighter, which makes it tougher for a plane to get the lift it needs to take off properly. 'In days gone by, airlines had to adjust their schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day, but modern airliners are able to operate in extreme conditions,' he says. At worst, the pilot may have to make some additional calculations, like reducing the amount of fuel on board to lower the plane's weight. Once the plane has taken off, the heat is much less of a concern (although it may well add to turbulence at lower altitudes). Though planes that land in hot weather will usually experience a higher ground speed. 'To compensate, pilots will slow down much earlier and extend the flaps and landing gear earlier than normal,' he says. Where hot weather has led to flight cancellations it's usually down to issues on the ground, rather than with per se. Last year, flights were briefly grounded in Delhi, for example, when safety authorities ruled that the airport tarmac had become too hot for a safe take off. Closer to home, flights from London Luton Airport were cancelled for a day in summer 2022, after high temperatures caused parts of the runway to melt. When the dust settles In the case of Wizz Air's experiences in Abu Dhabi, though, the issue isn't necessarily the heat but the heavy concentration of sand and dust in the air – some of which gets sucked into the engine during take-off. The extreme heat of the engine then means that much of that dust will melt, leaving behind a glass-like residue which can hamper the blades. 'This isn't like volcanic ash, where there is a risk of the plane falling out of the sky,' says Dr Claire Ryder, a meteorologist at the University of Reading who has led studies into the levels of dust around different airports. However, the gradual build-up and abrasion over time will result in performance issues for the aircraft engines, meaning lower fuel efficiency and higher maintenance costs. For an ultra-low-cost carrier like Wizz Air, which relies on cutting back any possible costs to offer the cheapest tickets possible, that is a potential headache. Given the massive aviation market in the Middle East, there is a sizeable incentive to develop engines that can better handle dust. At the University of Manchester, a team of researchers is working with Rolls Royce to conduct tests using synthetic dust, with the aim of understanding exactly what happens when it gets sucked into the engine. 'We know that the dust gets smaller the further it gets into the engine, but we are also looking at how it changes in its chemical structure,' says Dr Nicholas Bojdo, who is leading the project. The issue becomes more pertinent as engines get more powerful, as the increased capacity means that the temperatures get even hotter inside – thus exceeding the melting point for more minerals. While temperature may be rising, the climate change models aren't particularly well equipped to estimate the impact on dust, says Dr Claire Ryder. Though some studies show a correlation between rising temperatures and dust storms – the latter having led to flight cancellations (particularly in India) due to poor visibility. Snowed under Hot weather and dust are one issue, but what about the other end of the spectrum, when planes have to operate in harsh cold snaps? For all the disruption caused by snow storms and arctic blasts, the impact on the planes themselves is nowhere near as dramatic. The typical cruising altitude of passenger jets means that they are already built to handle some seriously sub-zero temperatures. If anything, colder ground temperatures can make the engines more efficient. The wings can also be treated with a special anti-freeze to ensure they aren't affected by the outside temperatures. If cold weather is going to cause problems it's likely to be on the ground. For example, snow blizzards can compromise air traffic control's visibility. In those circumstances, it's common for controllers to impose stricter safety limits, increasing the spacing between take-offs and arrivals. This usually means that some flights will inevitably be cancelled entirely. Extreme cold weather may also cause runways to be closed off, as happened at four UK airports (Bristol, Newcastle, Birmingham and Manchester) back in January, when much of the country was under an amber warning for snow and ice. As a rule of thumb, aviation authorities warn against attempting take-off when the surface is more than 25 per cent ice or snow. Perhaps Wizz Air won't be rushing to launch a Greenland or Alaska service any time soon, then. But it's good to know that, for those airlines prepared to splash the cash, the marvels of modern engineering can deal with extreme weather conditions – even if the airports themselves may not be so lucky.
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Reuters
Wizz Air to resume Israeli flights next month as it quits Abu Dhabi
LONDON, July 24 (Reuters) - Budget carrier Wizz Air (WIZZ.L), opens new tab plans to return to full-capacity in Israel by September as it positions itself as the largest inbound carrier into the country, Chief Executive Jozsef Varadi told Reuters on Thursday. The Hungary-founded airline earlier announced first quarter profit below expectations as a result of plane groundings, and instability in the Middle East that forced frequent airspace closures and hit travel demand. Wizz Air suspended Israeli flights in June during the Israel-Iran war. It now plans to resume flights on August 8, although competitor Ryanair (RYA.I), opens new tab has said it will not return to Israel until October 25 at the earliest, and British carrier easyJet (EZJ.L), opens new tab will not return to the region until March next year. "Operations are totally safe and secured right now. The situation can change, and it has changed a few times before, but we have a very robust system to monitor this from a safety and security perspective," Varadi said in an interview. He acknowledged that European carriers were cautious about their return and that Wizz Air's presence in Israel would be "larger than all European airlines combined." Wizz Air pilots and staff had earlier complained about being asked to fly over the region given the turmoil of the last two years. The airline announced in July it would close the loss-making Abu Dhabi base it set up six years ago to drive Middle East expansion. Only 5% of the capacity to Israel was located in Abu Dhabi, Varadi said, meaning the exit from the hub was unlikely to have a major impact on Wizz's strategy in Israel. Varadi reiterated that much of the Abu Dhabi capacity would be relocated to central and Eastern Europe.
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- The Guardian
Saudi Arabia accused of banning women's rights activists from leaving the country
Saudi Arabia is banning large numbers of its own citizens from leaving the country in a 'cruel' attempt to silence criticism, say human rights activists. High-profile women's rights campaigners, including Loujain al-Hathloul, who pushed for the right for women to drive in Saudi Arabia, and Maryam al-Otaibi, one of three sisters targeted by the authorities for their activism, appear to have been given long travel bans. These restrictions frequently extend to family members. The apparent crackdown comes at the same time as the country is encouraging international tourists to visit and its hosting of leading cultural and sporting events, including the 2034 men's Fifa World Cup. 'Saudi Arabia has really been in the spotlight over the imprisonment of political prisoners, including my sister. It was difficult to justify and brought negative PR. It is much easier for them to have travel bans to control people,' said Lina al-Hathloul, an activist and sister of Loujain. '[These travel bans] are a new tactic to not only silence critics, but to make sure the people around them that could be their voice are also silenced. It's a collective punishment on the family,' she added. After being released from prison, many political and women's rights activists are being given long travel bans. These are either publicly announced by a court or revealed when a person tries to leave the country and is barred from doing so by border officials. The human rights organisation ALQST (al-qist means 'justice' in Arabic) has published a list of 20 individuals under what it describes as 'cruel and unlawful' court-imposed travel bans, but says there are likely to be many more subject to unofficial bans. Loujain's prison sentence included a travel ban on release of two years and 10 months, which was due to expire on 12 November 2023. Since then she has remained unable to travel, said ALQST, despite having received no formal notification from the authorities of any new ban, either judicial or administrative. 'They [former prisoners] can be seen in public life, which gives the impression of freedom to the outside world. But the authorities and the former prisoner know very well that they have to live in constant self-censorship, not able to voice their opinions, concerns or prison experiences,' said Lina. In a response to UN requests for information, Saudi officials said that Loujain al-Hathloul and Maryam al-Otaibi were not subject to any restrictions 'other than those set out in the final court judgment handed down to Loujain al-Hathloul, prohibiting her from travelling abroad for the period of time stipulated in the judgment, and in the administrative decision issued by the competent authority prohibiting Maryam al-Otaibi from travelling abroad'.
