As I mentioned in my blog last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Abu Dhabi recently. I’ve been back for three days, and I miss some of the quiet provided by the remote location of Qasr Al Sarab, a desert resort by Anantara, but more about that next week! I started the trip in true style, flying first class from New York (JFK) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) on Etihad. The new first-class suites provide privacy and allow passengers to sleep on the overnight flight. Be sure to look for my review of the flight in an upcoming issue of Global Traveler. After landing — and partaking in Etihad’s chauffeur service — I checked into the brand-new Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. Again, look for a review soon. I enjoyed dinner at Frankie’s, the property’s Italian restaurant, before settling into my room on the Fairmont Gold level. The next day, I got an exclusive glimpse of Etihad headquarters. The airline is planning a revamp of their lie-flat business class in the near future, swapping the seat fabrics and installing a privacy shield between seats. After Etihad, I headed to the recently opened Ferrari World, on Yas Island. As a fan of theme parks and roller coasters, I was psyched to learn Ferrari World was home to the world’s fastest roller coaster. The ride, Formula Rossa, catapults riders forward, accelerating from 0 to 149 miles per hour in about five seconds. What a thrill! From there, I visited the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, probably the most recognizable site in Abu Dhabi. The mosque drips luxury, adorned with white marble, precious gems from around the world, huge chandeliers and the world’s largest carpet. It holds several Guinness Book of World Record titles. I enjoyed dinner at The Fairmont again that evening; this time at Marco Pierre White Steakhouse. Without a doubt, the best steak I’ve ever had, and the raspberry tart dessert was tasty as well. I had three hours — from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Friday morning to explore some more. As it was Friday, the holy day, pretty much everything was shut down, and other sites didn’t open ’til 10 a.m. I made due with a self-made taxi tour along the Corniche, around Emirates Palace and through the downtown area. I was fortunate to find a very understanding, pleasant and knowledgeable driver. Then, I was off to Qasr Al Sarab. I was intrigued by my taste of Abu Dhabi and impressed by the changes planned, especially those on Saadiyat Island. For more on the city, check out the May issue. — Kimberly Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive