New and old attractions in Abu Dhabi

Middle East old hands will tell you Abu Dhabi has few attractions.

That may have been true but the biggest United Arab Emirates member is striving to change that, which is good news for the growing number of Australians having a one- or two-night break on the long journey to Europe.

While nearby Dubai is noted for its glittering shopping malls and indoor ski run, Abu Dhabi is playing the culture card.

On another island close to Abu Dhabi City, called Saadiyat, it's building the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum.

And on the same island will rise yet another Guggenheim museum designed by Frank Gehry.

Abu Dhabi is paying $US520 million for the right to use the Louvre name. In exchange for art loans, special exhibitions and management advice it's reported to be paying France another $US747 million.

The deal was done in 2007 and it was hoped the Abu Dhabi Louvre would open in 2012. That's been put back to 2015.

Meanwhile, exhibitions are being mounted in temporary quarters on the island. One, called Birth of a Museum, runs until July 20.

It's an eclectic collection, with some works from the Paris Louvre, and includes Pablo Picasso's striking work Portrait of a Lady, which is in the Louvre Abu Dhabi's permanent collection.

Australia's Virgin now has links with Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airlines.

You can fly Virgin to the emirate and continue to Europe with Etihad.

However, heavy human traffic can make for chaos and long queues when linking with a flight to or from Europe. Better to take the special deals for a two-night layover (and catch the latest cultural exhibition).

Get stories like this in our newsletters.