Abu Dhabi

The largest of the seven emirates that form the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is also home to the country's capital city, Abu Dhabi City. The emirate occupies 80% of the UAE land-mass and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has embarked on a dynamic campaign to develop a world-class infrastructure to establish the emirate as a destination of choice for leisure, sports, culture and business.

The emirate has joined forces with the FIA World Rally Championship as an Official Destination Partner to the series, arguably the world's most dramatic form of motorsport. This fits perfectly with Abu Dhabi's goal of becoming a centre of motorsport excellence in the Middle East, which will also see the emirate host its first Formula One Grand Prix in 2009 on the purpose-built Yas Island complex.

In addition, Abu Dhabi is partner to the reigning World Rally Champion Ford, represented by the BP-Ford World Rally Team from 2007 onwards. The emirate also has a national team competing in the Middle East Rally Championship, Team Abu Dhabi. The team's leading driver, Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi leads the 2007 series and also drives the third works Abu Dhabi-branded Ford Focus RS WRC in the BP-Ford World Rally Team.

Culturally, Abu Dhabi will be developing a cluster of cultural icons on Saadiyat Island, including The Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, as well as the Sheikh Zayed National Museum and a maritime museum and performing arts centre.

Abu Dhabi offers a diverse range of leisure opportunities, from watersports around its 200 islands to driving over the 300m high dunes of the Liwa desert while its hotels embrace the richest traditions of Arabic hospitality.

For more information on Abu Dhabi, go to www.abudhabitourism.ae