Cafes & Bars
Always found in the hotel lobbies, attached to shopping malls or in the main residential areas, cafes play an important part of the Abu Dhabi social and business scene.
Cafes are present in many shapes and forms, some offering internet access and all offering a wide selection of local newspapers in both English and Arabic, and all satisfying the time old instinct of people watching.
Bars on the other hand are always housed in hotels or in recreational clubs; this is down to the strict local licensing laws of the UAE.
Alcohol is expensive and in many cases carries up to 100% mark up on wholesale price, however, on a more positive note every drink imaginable is available. There are several themed bars available to suit all tastes, these range from beach bars to sports bars to karaoke bars, all tastes are accommodated.
Many cafes and bars have outdoor seating areas to be enjoyed during the cooler months.
Tipping is discretionary, but is greatly appreciated if good service is delivered.
Abu Dhabi health Authority has made several attempts to place a ban on smoking in public places; this however has not always been successful.
35% of the population of Abu Dhabi smoke, this is broken down to represent 20% of the total male population smoke and more positively only 2.9% of the female. Campaigns are frequently undertaken by the government to increase the awareness of the dangers of smoking.
The Health Authority of Abu Dhabi www.haad.ae has established a number of’ Quit Smoking Clinics’, and run special awareness programmes.
Shisha, an Arabic form of tobacco smoking remains popular in outdoor cafes and bars, an evening time ritual among the Middle Eastern folk. The shisha, or Arabic water-pipe in which fruit-scented tobacco is burnt using coal, passes through an ornate water vessel and is inhaled through a hose.