Abu Dhabi is one of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These emirates are kind of like states. Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the emirates and of the UAE. In my opinion it’s a more peaceful city than Dubai, but there are still a lot of fun and unique things to do in Abu Dhabi! Luckily Dubai and Abu Dhabi are only a 1,5 to 2 hours drive away from each other, so it’s easy to combine them in one trip.
Abu Dhabi is a long, stretched out city, with different areas, like Dubai. Thus, I have divided the activities per area in order for you to plan your trip as efficient as possible. It’s also good to know that Abu Dhabi consists of many islands, but most of them can be reached by car.
Abu Dhabi has a total of 57 districts, but many of them are residential or industrial areas. You will likely spend most of you time in the following areas:
- Yas Island
- Abu Dhabi Downtown/Corniche
- Saadiyat Island
- Al Marina
- Al Maryah island
- Al Reem island
Table of Contents
- 5 things to do in Abu Dhabi Yas Island
- 4 things to do in downtown Abu Dhabi
- 5 things to do at Saadiyat Island and beyond
5 things to do in Abu Dhabi Yas Island
1. Relax at Yas Beach Club
Yas Beach Club is a chill beach club at the beach (yes, really) but it also has a nice pool. This is a big plus, especially during the summer months when the sea gets too hot to really enjoy. Another good thing is that there is a minimum age for the pool on certain days. Important to know is that there is an entrance fee to access the beach and pool. They will give you a large towel at the entrance which you can use during your stay. There are a couple of bars and food stands so they serve food and alcoholic beverages as well. On certain days there is more of a party vibe so if you come to relax in peace, it’s better to avoid those days. Weekdays passes are cheaper than a day pass for the weekend.
Location: Yas Beach location on maps
2. Have fun in Yas Waterworld
I absolutely love waterparks, always have and always will. It’s the best place to go and have fun when it’s warm. You can walk around, enjoy the many different slides or just float in the big pool. Yas Waterworld has over 40 slides and rides so it’s hard to get bored.
3. Yas Marina nightlife
Yas Marina is where most of the nightlift of Yas Island takes place. There are several restaurants and bars, of which some turn into nightclubs as the night continues.
When I was living in Abu Dhabi we spent a lot of Sundays at Iris because it was Ladies night. In general there are a lot of ladies nights in Abu Dhabi so it’s good to do your research and benefit of this. (Alcoholic) drinks are not cheap in the UAE, so you’re gonna be happy with a discount here and there. If you prefer a quiet night, make sure you don’t go there on ladies night or during happy hour.
Other places at Yas Island where you can go for dinner and drinks are:
- Aquarium
- Stars ‘n Bars/ Stardeck
- Diablito
- Filini Garden
- Amerigos
- Belgian cafe (more casual, also good to watch a game)
- W hotel
4.Bike at Yas Marina Circuit
If you are in for a more active evening, this is the perfect activity for you. A few days a week the Yas Marina Circuit is open for people to cycle/run/walk. They have bikes and helmets available and access to the circuit is free. All you have to do is register on their website. This is quite a cool experience, as I don’t think there are many F1 circuits easily accessible to exercise.
Find more information on the page of Yas Marina Circuit.
5. Scream your lungs out at Ferrari World
Ferrari World is the main theme park on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. In all honesty, I haven’t been here myself but it was always on my list and I hope to go when I visit Abu Dhabi next time. The name already reveals it pretty much, this park is Ferrari themed. As it is indoor, it’s a great activity for extremely hot or sandy/grey days. My main reason to go here is because it has the fastest rollercoaster in the world and highest looped ride. I love activities that give me crazy adrenaline. So if you’re also a big fan of theme parks and rollercoasters, this is a must!
Plan your trip and order your tickets online.
4 things to do in downtown Abu Dhabi
1. View Abu Dhabi from the top at Etihad Towers Observation Deck
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is world famous, but Abu Dhabi also has a spot to see the city from above. Etihad Towers consists of 3 towers which all serve a different purpose. You might wonder what the relation between Etihad towers and Etihad Airways is.. well, there is none. Etihad means union or united in Arabic, so it’s a word with a powerful meaning which is therefore used in names.
You have different options to enjoy the view from Etihad towers. If you like to go during the day, it’s possible to have a high tea. Another option is to buy your ticket at the entrance or online, which includes a voucher of 50DHS. You can spend this on food and drinks in the cafe at the top. Another option is to go to Ray’s Bar on the 62nd floor during sunset and enjoy their Happy Hour between 5 – 7.
2. Have an ice-cream with gold in Emirates Palace
I’m sorry to disappoint you, Emirates Palace is not actually a palace anymore. It currently operates as a very luxurious hotel with various cafes and restaurants. A stay in this hotel is certainly not cheap, but you can also just go for a visit. Enjoy all the gold and marble and even have a cappuccino or an ice cream with real gold. Be prepared to buy your most expensive ice-cream or coffee ever. But to be fair, it is one of those “once in a lifetime” experiences, which matches the whole UAE experience. Everything is a bit extra and over the top.
Important to know: women and men need to have their knees and shoulders covered so wear proper attire. My outfit on the photo below is not an example, we were just roaming around.
3. Get impressed by Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace
The Qasr Al Watan on the other hand, is a real palace and some areas are still in use. A part of it has turned into a museum and is open for visitors. It is huge in every aspect and the details on the walls and doors etc. are incredible. The museum about the history of literature and the collection of “Royal gifts” is quite interesting as well. In the evening at 18:30 they have a light show so if you plan it well, you can see everything.
Get your tickets to Qasr Al Watan online, as they work with time slots.
4. Stroll over the corniche or enjoy the free beach
The corniche is like a long boulevard or road along the beach in downtown. This is basically the only free beach in Abu Dhabi. It’s nice, but at the same time it attracts some people that could make you feel a little uncomfortable. However, it’s a lovely area to go for a walk or run. There are also a few restaurants in the middle of the corniche where you could stop for a refreshing (non-alcoholic) beverage.
5 things to do at Saadiyat Island and beyond
1. Visit the Louvre, Abu Dhabi
The Louvre in Abu Dhabi opened in 2017 as a result of a partnership between Paris and Abu Dhabi. I have visited the Louvre twice and still haven’t seen everything properly. I am personally really bad at focusing for a long period of time, so if I want to read everything and have a good look at all the different pieces of arts, I need to spread it over multiple visits. The louvre in Abu Dhabi is already stunning to look at from the outside. It has a very interesting collection of art from different times in history.
Buy your tickets to the Louvre
2. Go kayaking or Stand Up Paddle boarding in the Mangroves or Al Reem.
In between al the sightseeing, eating and tanning it’s nice to get a little active on the water. Besides that, being surrounded by the mangroves gives a feeling of tranquillity, it’s very peaceful for me. The mangroves are located between Abu Dhabi Downtown and Yas Island. You can go the Anantara Mangroves hotel which is by the water close to the Mangroves. There is a little “boulevard” with 2 different companies renting out kayaks and SUPs. You don’t necessarily need to book anything in advance, I didn’t book most of the times. But if you are with a group it could happen that they run out of kayaks or SUP boards. To avoid disappointment it might be better to call in advance. The minimum rental time is 1 hour, but you will likely spend a little longer. Especially if you want to go a little deeper into the mangroves, and chill at the tiny beach. When I was there they didn’t provide any waterproof bags, so if you have one, make sure you bring it. It’s easy to get dehydrated and sunburned on the water.
The two companies below both rent out kayaks and SUP-boards.
Sea Hawk Water Sports & Adventure
Sea Hawk is also based at Al Reem island, so this is also a place where you can spend a day on the water.
3. Explore the desert with a desert safari
This is pretty obvious and something you can’t really skip when visiting a city that’s surrounded by desert. The itinerary of most tours are quite similar, but one is more flexible than the other. The average desert safari in the afternoon/evening consists of the following parts:
- Pick up from central point or hotel
- Possibly pick up other travellers depending on the size of your group and your location
- Drive to the desert
- Make a stop in the desert at a small camel farm to feed and pet the camels (which are actually dromedaries)
- Racing and drifting over the sand dunes. This can be scary for some, but these people know what they’re doing so just enjoy the ride. It’s a lot of fun! If you do get nauseas easily, try to get a seat in the front.
- Arrival at the “camp” where you’ll spend the rest of the day or afternoon
- Free time to do the following activities:
- Sand boarding
- Quad driving, this usually costs a bit extra but is a lot of fun.
- Camel riding, please don’t do this. It’s an ultra short ride and the camels are just waiting to walk the same little round with people on their back. Over and over again, it’s really sad.
- Get your hands painted with henna
- Try on traditional outfits and have a little photoshoot
- Smoke shisha
- Dinner time, this is usually a buffet.
- The evening ends with a belly dancing show and/or another type of dance show.
- After the show it’s time to head back and you are usually back in your hotel between 9 and 10 pm.
4. Cycle in the desert around Abu Dhabi
Now this is something you’re not very likely to experience anywhere else. There are multiple bicycle tracks in Abu Dhabi and Dubai surrounded by the desert. How cool is that? The ones in Abu Dhabi are Al Wathba cycle track and Al Hudayriat cycle track. Al Qudra cycle track is located in Dubai and that’s the one I personally visited.
Don’t worry about the equipment, there is a rental company next to the entrance, where you can get bikes and helmets. In addition, there are toilets, changing rooms and resting stations along the route. The Al Wathba Bicycle Track has different lengths of loops. This makes it a good track for the less professional bikers as well. The shortest biking loop is 8km and the longest route is 30 km.
The Al Hudayriat cycle track has different loops as well. The shortest one is 3 km and the longest one is 10 km. This track is located on an island so it’s not actually in the desert. It might therefore be a little less unique.
If you’re up for a very long ride, I suggest visiting the Al Qudra cycle track. The longest route here is almost 50 km long.
4. Eat and drink like there’s no tomorrow at one of the epic brunches
Brunches in the UAE are a big thing. You should not leave without having at least one brunch. These brunches are not like any other brunch you’ll experience. There are many different types, from small and more quiet, to party vibes and huge buffets with the most extensive range of food and drink options. What makes the brunches so popular among expats mostly, is the fact that you usually pay 1 amount for unlimited food and drink. Now you may think of a cheap ass all you can eat restaurant, but this is different. The only big downside of this concept is the amount of food waste. So if you decide to go, don’t get too greedy and only take what you’re actually going to eat.
A few nice brunches:
- Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort
- Chamas at InterContinental Abu Dhabi
- Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi
- Kuzbara – Marriott Downtown (adults only)
- Acapulco brunch – Amerigos at Park Inn Yas island
- Stills at Crowne Plaza Yas island (more fun and less fancy food options)
- Market at EDITION (vegan, didn’t try it)
6. Visit the magical Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Last, but definitely not least, you must visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque when you are in Abu Dhabi. Even when you are in Dubai you should plan a day trip to Abu Dhabi including this mosque. It is one of the most beautiful mosques I have ever visited. The white imposant mosque can already be spotted from a far distance, and is beautiful from the outside as well as the inside. I visited this Mosque at least 5 times, as I brought several of my friends and family here when they came to visit. The best time to go is late afternoon. This way you will be able to see the Mosque with daylight when the sun is going down and during the night. You will also hear the prayer as the sun goes down which is also a peaceful moment.
Be aware, this is probably the main highlight of Abu Dhabi so expect to be surrounded by (many) other tourists. If you wish to have the mosque for yourself, your best bet is probably when it’s extremely hot during summer and in the middle of the day. I haven’t tried it, so this is only based on my thoughts.
It is also important to know that you must be fully covered to enter the Mosque. You can either wear your own outfit and bring a scarf, but they also have abayaat for women and kandoras for men. These are rented our for free.
Check out their opening times here.
Traveling to Abu Dhabi
From the Netherlands you can book various package trips via Sunweb, for instance.
Search flights at Skyscanner
Also make sure you check out more other articles about the best cafe’s in Abu Dhabi, for example.
I hope you found these tips useful! Please let me know if you have any questions or activities to add to the list in the comments below. Any feedback is appreciated!
Please note, this is not a sponsored article but there are a few affiliate links in this post. If you decide to buy something after clicking on a link, there is a chance that I will earn a small commission. This has no impact on you or the value of your purchase.
Travelbecks 
Wat een uitgebreid en compleet blog over Abu Dhabi. Het bracht mij weer helemaal terug naar de heerlijke dagen bij jou en alle tripjes die we gemaakt hebben. Ik heb er volop genoten van deze bijzondere wereld en de onvoorstelbare architectuur, mozaieken en decoraties in de moskee, het paleis en het Louvre!
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