The Corniche, and how to use eight kilometres of seafront properly

The Corniche is Abu Dhabi's best public asset and the easiest thing in the city to use badly.

Eight kilometres of seafront run along the western edge of the island, with a separated cycle path, a walking path, and a series of beach sections — some free, some paid, all clean and all supervised. The paid sections buy you sunbeds and showers rather than a better beach.

The hour matters more than the section. Between six and eight in the morning the path belongs to runners and cyclists and the temperature is genuinely pleasant for most of the year. Between five and sunset it belongs to families, and the light along the water is the reason half the city is there. In between, from about ten to four, it is empty for good reason.

Bikes can be hired along the route at several points, and the full length in one direction is a comfortable half hour of riding. The path is flat, separated from traffic, and better maintained than most European equivalents.

For food, the northern end near the breakwater has the sit-down options and the southern stretches have the kiosks. Neither is a destination in its own right, which is fine — the Corniche is the destination.

One genuinely useful detail: parking along the Corniche is metered and fills at sunset. Arriving at six on a Friday and expecting to park within sight of the water is optimistic.