Beyond That Bridge
There was this bridge that we always see whenever we go to the Al Bateen beach. It's been long-standing, but nobody was even allowed to go beyond the bridge. We drive past it, but not through it.
So we just delight at the sight of it from afar.
The construction of the bridge started in 2009. It connected Abu Dhabi Southern Island coastline to the Hudayriat Island coastline . Finally, after 9 years, it opened to the public in 2018.
We finally set foot at the Island
Al Hudayriat Island is an island in Abu Dhabi, off the Al Bateen Area, which opened to the public in mid-2018. Before the coronavirus pandemic turned our lives upside down, the island had become a venue for lots of outdoor and sports activities in the capital.
There is a public beach that is free for all and the bridge has a lane for cycling enthusiasts. It was inspiring to see them pedal uphill the suspension bridge -- I don't think I have the endurance to do that.
Though already open for 2 years now, and living just a few kilometers off this island, we only decided to visit it today.
The Abu Dhabi Municipality has already reverted the operations of the public beaches (and a lot of other establishments) but only up to 40% capacity. Of course, there are a few added safety protocols like checking the temperatures of all visitors and physical distancing.
Getting Here & Parking
Right now, there are no public buses that go there, so the only way to get to the island is through private cars and taxis.
Upon entering the island, you will find a vast parking area that can accommodate hundreds of cars, free of charge. Unlike other beaches that we go to like the Corniche Beach, where the parking area is at the other side of the road, and the Al Bateen beach with very, very limited parking area, where to park your car is definitely not a problem here.
Food Trucks Galore
Now, I can imagine how lively this place was at night especially before we got hit by this pandemic.
There are various food trucks amidst the parking spaces, where you can actually drive through to place your orders. We came here at early morning today, around 7am, so the food trucks were not operational. I wanted to go back at sun down to find out the evening vibe here, but that may be for next time.
The Beach!
Oh yes, we came here for the beach. There's a long white sand beach that is lined with loungers and beach umbrellas. The kids would also have enjoyed the play areas, but these are off limits these days for safety reasons due to the coronavirus. As I said, entrance to the beach is free of charge but limited to 40% capacity.
Going there early, especially on weekends and holidays will make a big difference, as crowds can grow big as the day progresses. We reached there at 7:00am on a Friday which is an off day for the majority of the residents and there was big queue of beach goers waiting to enter.
As much as we wanted to swim here, we could not afford to wait any longer because the heat will become unbearable as the morning goes by. Besides, we only planned for a short dip and not stay beyond 9am. We still ended up going to the nearby Bateen Beach (top photo) and enjoyed the water, but glad we got to side-trip to Al Hudayriat Island for the first time.
We will surely come back to this gem of a place, and hopefully the crowd will be lesser by then.
When we do, I will update and share more photos and activities that can be done there, "new normal" style.
Until then!
❤️Arlyn
