“Get your motor runnin’. Head out on the highway.” Well, not a highway exactly, but get your adrenaline pumping for a day in Abu Dhabi with a visit to Ferrari World (open Tuesday through Sunday at 11 a.m.). A theme park of superlatives, including largest indoor theme park and first Ferrari theme park in the world, Ferrari World boasts Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest rollercoaster.

While your engines are still revved, take a peek at Yas Marina Circuit, home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, on your way off Yas Island, about 30 minutes’ drive from Abu Dhabi. Yas Island is also home to luxury hotels, an arena and restaurants.

Make your way to the sites along the Abu Dhabi Corniche. If you still feel a need for speed, catch a glimpse of the four-mile strip’s parks and beaches during a whirring Yellow Boat tour. To slow things down a bit, leisurely meander the Corniche at your own pace, enjoying the parks, fountains and passersby.

The morning’s been a blur of excitement. Settle in for a lunch of international fare at Emirates Palace’s Le Vendome Brasserie. Emirates Palace is more than just a hotel; it is a must-see in Abu Dhabi. Opulence seeps through every pore of the Palace, a perfect set-up for your next stop.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the focal point of the city, its construction initiated by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the 1990s. An amalgamation of materials from around the world, the architectural feat can accommodate more than 40,000 worshippers. Its interior and exterior are adorned with 82 domes, marble inlaid with semi-precious stones and the world’s largest carpet. The mosque is open daily to visitors; conservative dress is required, and women are provided abayas and shaylas to don. Guided tours Sunday through Thursday depart at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Saturday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The mosque is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Travelers find shopping venues throughout Abu Dhabi, from shopping malls to traditional souks. Whatever your pleasure when it comes to commerce, must-haves in Abu Dhabi include carpets, gold jewelry and edible delights, among them camel’s milk chocolate and dates, the likes of which are barely rivaled anywhere in the world.

At the end of the day, for a taste of the future Abu Dhabi, wind down on Saadiyat Island, just off the coast of Abu Dhabi and in the midst of an unbelievable transformation. Plans include a Louvre and a Guggenheim on the island by 2014. Manarat Al Saadiyat takes visitors on a journey through the development of the island. For an interactive tour of the history and vision behind the island, planned as the eventual home to four galleries, event space and a theater, see the visitor center’s permanent exhibition, “The Saadiyat Story.”

With so much to do in Abu Dhabi, and even more anticipated for the near future, visitors should plan for more than just one day off on their next itinerary.

Abu Dhabi Tourism
visitabudhabi.ae

Emirates Palace
kempinski.com

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
ferrariworldabudhabi.com

Saadiyat Island
saadiyat.ae

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
szgmc.ae

Yas Island
yasisland.ae

Yellow Boats
theyellowboats.com