You may have clicked on this article thinking it would be about New York City and our four fashionable friends, Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha, and Carrie. While I do love thinking about the food, fashion, and luxury of The Big Apple, Abu Dhabi is certainly the way to go when reenacting any of the moments from the franchise.

Critics and moviegoers panned the film, and the script was lackluster and borderline offensive. Emirati authorities even forbade filming, forcing the set to relocate to Marrakech. Our favorite four couldn’t actually visit Abu Dhabi, but if I had a chance to remake the film my way, here’s where each of the stars would go.

Charlotte

With a passion for art and beauty, Charlotte would naturally love Saadiyat Island. Its beaches, museums, and architecture by Dame Zaha Hadid and Frank Gehry would offer the perfect setting for Charlotte to roam. This area is a highlight designed by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority with the culture of the United Arab Emirates in mind. It’s about 20 minutes from the Abu Dhabi airport and about an hour from Dubai. New sections of this area continue to be revealed to the public, and the project is estimated to be complete by 2020.

Miranda

After checking in at the five-star InterContinental Abu Dhabi hotel, Miranda would have slipped off those mom jeans and headed straight for the spa. This hotel, which boasts beautiful views of the Arabian Gulf and a white-sand beach, would be perfect for her to recharge her batteries. In addition to the spa, which has a masseuse, steam room, and sauna to complement the beauty treatments, facials, and neck reflexology services, Miranda would have her choice of restaurants and lounges to see and be seen.

Samantha

Ever the perfectionist, Samantha would be in heaven amidst the opulence of Abu Dhabi’s architecture. She would have to check her attitude at the door, however, as some of the most stunning gems are places of worship. The Sheikh Zayed Mosque, which offers a light show at night, is the epitome of opulence. It opened in 2007, and as the city’s premier place of worship, it’s a site you can’t miss.

The mosque’s capacity is 41,000 people, and it cost $545 million to build. The mosque has seven imported chandeliers that include millions of Swarovski crystals. One of them is said to be the second largest chandelier in a mosque in the world. Think Sam would be able to guess which one?

Carrie

After Carrie’s souq mishaps in the movie, I think it’s best that she stick to the malls. If you’re able to keep your passport safely in your possession, you won’t want to miss many of the marvelous old markets in the city and beyond. Make sure to check out your options from The Culture Trip’s list of Must-Visit Souqs and Street Markets in the UAE.

Have you been to Abu Dhabi? Where did you visit? Were you carried away or left in the dust?

 

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