first thing to do is go to the Emirates Palace Hotel for the following reasons:

1) the sheer extravagance of it

2) to see how the other half lives

3) visit the exhibition of the designs for the new cultural facilities at Sadiyat Island. these include large models and images for the Gehry, Hadid, Nouvel and Ando buildings, as well as the pavilions for Guggenheim by Lynn, Rashid, Adjaye, Al Najjar and others. the exhibition has a series of large site models, so it helps to get a sense of some of the scale of developments in Abu Dhabi

4) there may also be a large exhibition of Islamic Art on exhibition now.

then see if you can get someone to take you over to Reem Island, a new development to the east side of Abu Dhabi island. just a big construction site, but representative of much of the new developments - for better or worse.

rent a car and drive down to Al Ain (about 1 hours drive) and go up on Jebel Hafeet for a good view towards Oman. take the secondary road back and get lost in the sand dunes.

drive south of Abu Dhabi to see the many small islands and coastal communities.

walk along the Corniche. at this time of the year, the weather is mild and easy for being outside.

have dinner at the restaurant (can't remember the name) near the Mina Fish Market, which is in the old port area.

and if you feel you have done it all, then drive to Dubai - it is only 1.5 hours away.

-- I think not. Maybe the "other 1/2 percent"

they got a walmart there?

no, but they do have an Ikea; Marina Mall with it's bargain shops and "kids entertainment zone", and large Carrefour, Géant, and other mega-markets.