You may find that Dubai receives the majority of the spotlight when it comes to visiting the UAE, however, I propose that you carve out some time for the largest of the emirates. From the Sheikh Zayed Mosque to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, there are numerous ways to spend a day in Abu Dhabi.
It is also a great city to plan a stopover if you are flying on Etihad airlines!
How to Get There:
Take a Bus. This the most cost effective route with a ticket costing around $8.60. There are two locations in Dubai which buses depart and it is recommended that you arrive early for bus departure times, as they leave as soon as the bus gets full.
Note: Some airlines have complimentary shuttles between Dubai and Abu Dhabi for passengers. See here for Emirates and here for Etihad.
Hire a Driver. This is the route we took in order to efficiently visit all the destinations we wanted to see in a day. I would highly advocate this if you are with your family (or a larger group). Drivers tend to have larger cars (SUV / Van) and it is much more comfortable. We asked our hotel to arrange the driver for us and it ended up costing around $500 USD for the entire day.
By Taxi. This is another great route if you are with multiple people. The trip costs about $60-80 USD and it will drop you “door-to-door.”
What to Do:
A trip to the Abu Dhabi Louvre is a must.
Our timing for visiting Abu Dhabi worked out perfectly as the Louvre Abu Dhabi had been open for less than a month.
While the Louvre in Paris can be quite overwhelming, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is very manageable and houses art from all over the world (including a few pieces from the Louvre Paris) and the building itself is a work of art.
The floating dome, which is the identifying feature of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, is an eight-layered blanket of honeycombed steel and aluminium, weighing almost as much as the Eiffel Tower.
Ticket: Regular tickets cost $16-17, while visitors between the ages of 13 and 22 can enter for $8-9.
Check out Sheikh Zayed Mosque.
This is the one thing you CANNOT miss in Abu Dhabi. It is one of the world’s largest mosques (total capacity: 40,000) and I think most people would agree – the most beautiful.
Entrance is completely free. Complimentary one-hour guided tours are definitely worth signing up for – be sure to note there is also a 5pm sunset tour that is quite popular.
Wondering what to wear? Modest dress is required – legs, arms and heads (for women) should be covered. They do offer free abayas (to borrow), so do not stress too much about a mosque-appropriate outfit.
Explore the Emirates Palace Hotel.
The opulence of this hotel is unlike any other in the world. It was the third most expensive hotel to build and currently is one of two seven star hotels in the entire world (the other is located in Dubai).
You can visit the lobby and exhibitions without being a hotel guest – but the beach and gardens are reserved for guests only. I recommend enjoying one of the thirteen award-winning restaurants for lunch to experience the grandeur of the hotel.
Le Café located inside the hotel serves the famous Palace Cappuccino which is a gastronomic delight of rich coffee sprinkled with real 24-carat gold flakes.
Ride the world’s fastest roller coaster at Ferrari World.
Absurd? Absolutely. Worth it? No question. If you have someone in your group that is a little less “architecture or art” focused – this might be a little more up their alley.
The Formula Rossa is currently the world’s fastest roller coaster at 150mph and trust me, it feels like it. I would allocate spending 2 hours here – it’s a good way to hid from the Emirati sun (especially during the afternoon hours). All the lines are inside (with AC) – you’ll only find yourself outside when on the rides.
Where to Stay:
If you do find yourself staying in Abu Dhabi for more than a day trip, these are the hotels I propose looking into:
- The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi
- The EDITION Abu Dhabi
- Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas
A Few Noteworthy Tips:
- Abu Dhabi is more conservative than Dubai. PDA is not appropriate – you will see signs posted around to remind you of this.
- Drinking in public is illegal in Abu Dhabi, but hotels with legal permits are allowed to serve alcohol.
- While Abu Dhabi is beautiful all year round – I HIGHLY suggest avoiding the summer months as it is hot, hot, hot.
Excited for your trip to the UAE or need some additional help planning? Be sure to check out my other related posts: here, here and here.
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