Photographer Khalid Alhammadi says that while Dubai's landscape is frequently honored in photography, Abu Dhabi's beauty often does not receive enough attention in the photography world. He decided to fix that with this stunning collection.

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In Alhammadi's photos, skyscrapers and mosques peek above the clouds and fog, giving an otherwordly feel to the city. The photos feature the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates, and the famous Etihad Towers.  

Alhammadi gained permission to scale some of Abu Dhabi's tallest buildings in order to capture these photos. He told Caters News Agency that the process of gaining permission to scale the buildings can take months. He estimates that he may have climbed the buildings more than 100 times.

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"What motivates me to undertake this kind of photography is the feeling and emotions that the scenes provide," the photographer told Caters. "The moment where I can see the nature embraces the city is just mesmerizing and inspirational."

Alhammadi takes the photos during the winter when the mist is thick, and he says that the mist makes for good photos during both the day and evening. 

"I like to explore new things—the fog always appears in a different form, from colorful from the city lights at nights to the golden clouds during the sunrise. Some days, the fog turns away from my locations and some days appears as a haze: Mother Nature testing our patience and commitment," Alhammadi mused.

Click through the photos above to see the beauty of misty Abu Dhabi.

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