The Newly Renovated Al Gurm, Corniche
The Abu Dhabi Municipality re-opened the Al Gurm Corniche again last February 25, 2021, after two years of rehabilitation. Located at the Eastern Mangroves, in Salam Street (Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street), it is a 3.5 kilometers promenade that lets its citizens and residents enjoy sports and recreation, nature, and culture in one.
It is on the Abu Dhabi-bound side of the road, hence if you are coming from the city centre, you will have to make a big U-turn - basically the full 3.5 kms - on Dhafeer Street (opposite Anantara Eastern Mangroves Hotel). There are lots of free parking spaces throughout the stretch of Al Gurm, which can accommodate 300+ cars.
Open 24/7, Al Gurm Corniche is free for all residents to enjoy. At the very end of this stretch, near Shakhbout Bin Sultan (19th) Street, is the Dolphin Park where families can gather and also do barbecue.
Walkways and Cycling Tracks
Al Gurm also boasts to be an eco-tourism destination. The newly renovated promenade has cycling tracks and walking paths that would let you feel so close to nature with the lush mangroves growing on the waters. If you are up to it, there are also facilities for kayak tours available.
The promenade is accentuated with these installations where visitors can sit and calmly enjoy the mangrove view.
Family Friendly
Apart from the cycling and walking paths, there are several viewing platforms that also feature edutainment like telescopes and reading nooks.
There are also ramps for people of determination and children's strollers' easy access.
It is amazing how the place offers a taste of both modern city life and lets us feel very close to nature at the same time. At the left, would be the buzzing traffic while at the right is the calmness of nature.
There are many spots where children can play and explore, like these water steps.
The viewing decks are perfect spots to enjoy the luscious green mangroves and the islands beyond.
Edu-tainment
We found this telescope that lets us see and observe what lies afar. There is varied local wildlife present at the mangroves. If you are sharp enough, you will find some big birds, even flamingos roaming the mangroves.
There are also nets like the one below where kids and adults alike can step on to observe the water underneath. Expect to find crabs and fishes alike!
This is a fully functional water pump that let the kids experience an old way of fetching water.
Learn about the local wildlife and ecosystem through these cards.
We spotted several birds on the other side!
The Dolphin Park
The Dolphin Park is one of the oldest parks in Abu Dhabi, constructed 30 years ago. It also got rehabilitated and these fountains again came to life to give more vibrance to the promenade.
It felt nostalgic coming back to this park - we used to come here to catch crabs and go fishing.
Now, though restrictions have somehow eased, there is still an undeniable fact there are still safety protocols to follow due to the pandemic.
Just like the beach where there are ringed pipes to remind the visitors to keep distance, there are also rings painted on the grass here for the same purpose.
Designated Barbecue Stands
Not all parks in Abu Dhabi allow barbecue, so the Dolphin Park will surely entice those families who love this activity especially during these times when the weather is still very pleasant.
However, if you would just like to chill and eat and not be bothered to do barbecue, there are also food trucks present where you can just buy food.
A place for every one.
Truly, the re-opening of Al Gurb Corniche and Dolphin Park is something that delighted the residents. It offers a vast space for families to enjoy the remaining days of the cool season, and a perfect jogging spot too.
It was my children's first time coming here and they fell in love with the place. We will surely come back here more often.
❤️ Arlyn
All photos are by the Author, taken via Huawei smartphone.
You can also read about Abu Dhabi City Corniche here:
 | It Begins Here: Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi |
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