The world is full of oddities, frequently bureaucratic quirks or administrative decisions that probably make sense to something somewhere but which aren’t immediately obvious to the passer-by. Abu Dhabi is no stranger to such peculiarities. Here’s a personal selection: feel free to argue or add.

 

1. Access to Al Raha Beach. One day, apparently, it will be different; but right now the only way to get to the Al Raha Beach Hotel and mall is via long slip road past the theatre and the sailing school. Which is more or less ok if you’re coming from the city, but very frustrating if you’re trying to get there from Khalifa A or the Dubai side.

2. Access to Yas Island. It’s a doodle via Saadiyat, but if you’re trying to get to the hotels or the circuit from any other direction it’s a roundabout schlep because there is no bridge at the Raha end of the island.

3. The public beach on the Corniche. It’s a public beach. Oh no it’s not. Oh yes it is. Have they made their minds up yet?

4. Speed cameras. Everyone knows they aren’t set to flash at whatever the signposted speed limit happens to be. So why not raise the speed limit or drop the flash limit?

5. Tourist Club walkways. Despite the best efforts of the authorities, those metal bridges (most of which have warped in the heat and creak alarmingly) are largely avoided by pedestrians – especially those with trolleys, pushchairs and gammy knees.