With so much of Saadiyat Island still under construction, it’s easy to feel isolated amid the vast expanses of sand that are often all that can be seen outside our windows. But despite the impression that all that sand creates, there is still much to do on Saadiyat, and using the university-provided shuttles is a great way to explore both the island and its surroundings.

For those who have time to spare before noon, there is a daily bus at 10 a.m. to St. Regis’ small retail complex The Collection. According to the schedule, the destination is Spinneys at St. Regis, and indeed that is the main attraction of the place; however, since an hour is too long to spend in the tiny yet well-stocked Spinneys, you could visit the wonderful Salwa Zeidan art Gallery or treat yourself to some Baskin Robbin’s Ice Cream before the bus comes back at 11 a.m..

For a larger and more varied dining and shopping experience, take the daily shuttles to the Central Souk at 3 p.m., 6 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. The Central Souk adjoins the World Trade Center Mall, and the two in combination provide restaurants and shops that cater to all tastes. Alternatively, there are shuttles to Al Wahda Mall but these are only provided twice a week, on Sundays and Wednesdays.

The long awaited Louvre, Guggenheim and the Zayed National Museum have yet to arrive but Saadiyat Island is not completely without art. Manarat Al Saadiyat’s permanent exhibition, The Saadiyat Story, is a must see for residents of the island who wish to know more about the history of Saadiyat and the plans for its future.

If one wants to study, Fanr Restaurant offers a tasty international menu and a cozy study spot on the first floor, complete with bean bags and wifi.

The weekend shuttles provide morning transportation at 10 a.m. to the nearby Saadiyat Public Beach or to IKEA on Yas Island. Even if you don’t require reasonably-priced Swedish furniture, using the shuttle is economically preferable to taking a taxi all the way from the Saadiyat Campus to Yas Island’s many attractions such as Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld. In the afternoon at 3 p.m. there is another shuttle to Saadiyat Public Beach as well as the Abu Dhabi Corniche. Take advantage of the cooler temperatures, by Abu Dhabi standards, by renting a bicycle and enjoying a pleasant afternoon exploring the Corniche. There is no return shuttle though, so plan accordingly.

Bear in mind that this is in no way a complete guide to what Saadiyat and its surroundings have to offer. The best way to really get to know the city isn’t by reading articles about it, but rather by going out to see it firsthand.