Located in the heart of Abu Dhabi between the Airport Road and Electra Street, nested among numerous embassies and hidden behind an infinite number of skyscrapers, is not yet another towering building, but rather the Madinat Zayed shopping center. With its tall arches, Madinat Zayed is also refered to as the gold souk of Abu Dhabi and is reminiscent of the palaces from the novel "One Thousand and One Nights."

Madinat Zayed was indeed designed in the style of a souk. Labyrinthian in layout, albeit with well-lit corridors, the shopping center houses hundreds of shops with a variety of offerings, ranging from Middle Eastern garments and international outlet brands to home decor, electronic gadgets and both local and international cuisine. Its most famous trait is its gold center, the first of its kind in Abu Dhabi with more than 70 specialized jewelry shops available to explore beyond the area surrounding LuLu Hypermarket. Shopkeepers are approachable and have warm and friendly smiles while they try to convince customers that their jewelry is the best on the market.

Why, then, is this shopping center so obscure to NYU Abu Dhabi students, appealing only when they need something that cannot be found at Al Safa, the closer and more convenient supermarket?

The peculiarity of Madinat Zayed is hidden in its size. Perhaps the architects intended for it to counterpoint other centers of social life in the UAE, such as the tall and skinny Marina Mall. Madinat Zayed — not only less famous but also much shorter — appears as if it lay on the ground to take a nap, extending toward other buildings rather than reaching into the sky.

The dark-maroon tiles, which cover one of the several main entrances, proudly extend to the outer area of the shopping center. They may provide comfort on unbearably hot days when, enticed by the protection of air conditioning and the glow of golden jewelry, one entres and comes to a halt, not expecting what lies ahead: an entire city to be explored.

Even with all of its attributes, Madinat Zayed still has something left to show: its white and colossal party hall. The shopping center is equipped with ballroom-sized spaces reserved for proms, family gatherings, religious events and weddings. The defining features are the latest technological innovations, which make background movies and videos at large events possible.

For food lovers, the dishes at many restaurants like De Dhali and Tanjara offer customers the chance to expand their palate. At the entrance to most restaurants, at least two approachable staff members are ready to help after greeting customers at the door. Although they offer people the opportunity to explore international cuisine, the restaurants are often crowded and not the best study spot.

Don’t think twice about donning your walking shoes and exploring the activities that Madinat Zayed has to offer. For more options, visit http://madinatzayed-mall.com/