At many airlines things are"under review". It would be better sometimes if they would have a "drop dead" date and if it doesn't happen by this day...it won't happen. Days go pretty fast sometimes with no changes. Sorta like waiting at the other end of looking for a job!!!! They often go reaaaalllly slow!
On Abu Dhabi, I've only been there once and was alone. It was 45C and I know that was not the norm. But I've spent time in a shopping center and looked around town in what appears to be safe. I suppose I'll walk towards downtown on the next trip. I heard there was an old town and obviously I can see the "new town" from a few miles. I like to walk and look for something to do. But is it safe if you don't wear the local "garb". I don't own a Mercedes, I don't have a camel, I don't smoke cigarettes,I don't have a local cell phone, I know no one, and wouldn't know where to walk into a pub IF there was one.
There are rental car agencies and I heard that a drive is certainly possible from AUH to DXB,but what would one do when they got there? Are there any good web sites with suggestions.
The average world citizen (yanks or not) think that area of the world is like driving a Bradley tank across miles of sand with the potential of being shot, blown up, and tortured. Every day you see blasts across CNN and the BBC about Iraq. I realize AUH and DXB are not Iraq. But I am just trying to open up some dialogue so that I don't have to sit and watch TV over and over. You can only do so many revisions!!! And you can only eat breakfast once or less.