When you are our guest, you are simply spoilt for choices. Hence, it might prove worthwhile to make an itinerary well in advance, especially if you are visiting us for only a couple of days.
Below we make some recommendations on how you might want to spend your holiday, whether your are here on a one-day transit visit, three-day weekend holiday, or a week-long furlough. In Abu Dhabi, there is always something to indulge yourself in - whether you’re into art, food, shopping, outdoor sports, aromatherapies or family activities. These recommendations will serve as valuable background information, whether you are making arrangements with one of our tour operators or with relatives who are staying in Abu Dhabi.
Furthermore, please note below reminders while holidaying in Abu Dhabi:
- The local currency is UAE dirham and some shops may not accept foreign currencies. Hence, you must make sure that you either have enough cash in dirham or that you are carrying your credit card along with you whenever you plan on making purchases.
- Weekend in Abu Dhabi comprises Friday and Saturday, and most shops open only after 2pm on Fridays.
- Tips and gratuities are not expected but commonly practised.
- Some parks and cultural landmarks may reserve a particular day for ladies only. If you are male or are travelling with an adult male companion or relative, make sure you check with the tour operator or with our website to make sure your day of visit to any of these venues does not fall on these days.
- Never photograph women without asking for their permission.
- It is prudent to always confirm your reservations and appointments or the operating hours of certain establishments 24 hours prior to the appointment, pick-up time, etc.
- Offering or selling alcoholic beverages to Muslims is prohibited.
Short 'n' Sweet (One day in Abu Dhabi)
Option 1: Sundowner Desert Safari
This off-road trip provides guests with the most popular desert adventure, organised by tour operators in Abu Dhabi. Hotel pick-up is usually arranged before 3pm, and you hit the dunes on your professionally-driven four-wheel drive right before sunset, where you get a magnificent view of the sand slopes. After the hour-long dune-bashing expedition, adrenaline-filled guests are then treated to a scrumptious Arabic dinner at the campsite, where entertainment including belly dancing, is usually provided. Women guests can also have their hand or feet painted with henna at the campsite.
Elderly members of the family or those who have heart problems or fear of heights as well as very young children, however, may be transported by the tour operator directly to the campsite to enjoy the dinner, without going through the thrilling dune-bashing experience.
Click here for list of tour operators.
Option 2: Heritage Village and Sunset Cruise
If you are the romantic or culture type, visiting the Heritage Village might be your best bet to get a first-hand look at how the emirate’s ancestors lived prior to the discovery of the modern irrigation system and before oil wealth transformed Abu Dhabi into a Manhattan-like skyline. A quiet dinner in one of the restaurants or cafes near the Breakwater would be a great way to cap the day, although a sunset-cruise-cum-dinner-and-entertainment might just cut it better for you and your loved one.
Click here for list of cruise operators.
Option 3. Jebel Hafeet and Al Ain National Museum (or Al Ain Zoo)
If you want to get away from the city after several days of business meetings or after a long, crowded flight, retreating to the emirate’s highest peak, Jebel Hafeet, is a great option to spend one day. You must start off early, maybe before 7am, especially if you’re coming from Abu Dhabi City or Dubai to avoid the heat especially during summer, and then have your brunch at the hotel near the mountain peak. From the mountaintop and on the way to Al Ain Road, you would not want to miss the Green Mubazzarah, a unique park located at the foothills of Jebel Hafeet. The Green Mubazzarah features hot-water springs that gush forth in little streams and form a lake. Some people believe the water here has healing properties.
The next best stop from Jebel Hafeet would be at the Al Ain National Museum, or if you are travelling with children, the Al Ain Zoo and Aquarium, which is probably the largest in the Arab world. Bears, monkeys, birds, reptiles, turtles and fish from all over the world and those that are endemic in Abu Dhabi and UAE are all found at the Al Ain Zoo.
Three-Day Getaway
Option 1: Beach, Sand and Culture
Start off with a half-day lazing around in the beach, by going to the swimming area of the Corniche, boarding a boat going to Lulu Island opposite the Corniche, or by heading to the Al Raha Beach Resort. That is, if your hotel is not by the beach. End your first day with a leisurely walk and dinner along the Abu Dhabi Corniche or, by going on a sunset cruise to have a glimpse of the captivating Arabian coast.
The following day, you can check out the Cultural Foundation or the Emirateas Heritage Village before hitting the magnificent sand dunes in an afternoon desert safari. On day three, you might wish to have a quick visit to the Gold Souk in Madinat Zayed or just relax in one of the spas within the emirate, before packing that luggage for your next or final journey.
Option 2: Sand, Art/Culture, Shopping and Night Clubs
If you fancy spending a whole night out in the desert (i.e. along with other tourists or your family members), that, too can be arranged. Some tour operators provide overnight safaris, where fee includes all necessities: transportation, tent, food, sleeping bags.
You may then spend the next day by visiting the Heritage Village for a first-hand experience of the local ancestors’ lifestyle as well as the Cultural Foundation, then checking out the city’s vibrant nightlife before heading to your hotel for a good, albeit late, night’s sleep.
On your final day, a trip to one of the sprawling malls for some retail therapy is not a bad idea. Neither is a quick shopping expedition to the Madinat Zayed Gold Souk, or an appointment with the spa or beauty salon.
Option 3: Sports, Food and Spa
For some people, especially most male business executives, a vacation without a tee-off is no vacation at all. In Abu Dhabi, the word is indulge; check out some of the best golf courses in the world right here. Or go fishing or sailing to unwind and enjoy the emirate’s rich marine life. The Formula One Racetrack or the soon-to-be opened Polo club at the Yas Island also await adventurous guests.
From the sea and the islands, the only option is to go inland to get acquainted with the local’s lifestyle and heritage. On your second day, you may arrange for a trip to Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain, and then back to Abu Dhabi in the late afternoon to check out the Emirates Heritage Village near the Breakwater, or the famous Al Bateen Shipyard, before enjoying a leisurely walk along the Abu Dhabi Corniche. That, or you can try a sumptuous Arabic cuisine in one of the cafes near the Breakwater, or an international fare in some of the emirate’s most popular dining venues. Finally, a trip to the spa on your hotel premises on your final day in the emirate wouldn’t hurt one bit.
Week-Long Furlough
For a week-long stay in Abu Dhabi, a combination of experiences in the desert, islands, mountains and in the Manhattan-like city comprises a journey where the East meets the West, and where the final choice of getting more of either depends fully on you, the guest.
If you’re travelling with elderly family members or children, or those who are physically challenged, we advise that you check the hotel and recreation centres’ amenities to make your stay as comfortable as possible. And if you’re travelling during the summer months (June to September) make sure you always carry a bottle of water to keep yourself hydrated.
Day 1: Indulge in Food
Abu Dhabi locals are a very hospitable people, who customarily offer food and beverages like tea or coffee to their house guests. Today’s busy metropolis highlights this tradition as it bustles with restaurants that offer Arabic, Indian, Turkish, Greek, English, Italian, French, Japanese, Spanish, Mexican or American cuisines, prepared by highly skilled chefs from all around the world. If your idea of a food trip is to indulge in steaks, curries, grills, salad, pasta, vegetarian cuisine, or seafood, you are sure to find a food outlet here that will keep you coming back. American and Arabic cafés that serve a wide range of coffee and sweets likewise abound within the city. If that’s not enough, and if you’re non-Muslim, you may cap the night by checking out one of the city’s popular clubs or pubs for live entertainment and maybe a glass of beer or brandy.
Day 2: Get Fit or Get Artsy
An early riser who visits Abu Dhabi between October and April may choose to spend the second day of his or her holiday by playing a round of golf, or by chartering a boat for a three-hour fishing trip.
Those who prefer a late start for their second day may visit the city’s cultural landmarks, namely the Qasr Al Hosn and the Cultural Foundation, which are both located in Abu Dhabi’s downtown area. They can then head towards the Breakwater to visit the Heritage Village, pick up some souvenirs, and then enjoy a leisurely dinner in one of the restaurants near the Breakwater, or at the nearby Marina Mall.
Day 3: Go Up
Part of the sprawling emirate is nestled by the majestic Hajar Mountains, whose major peak (Jebel Hafeet) is located in Al Ain. Jebel Hafeet is about one and a half hour’s drive from Abu Dhabi city, and gives a magnificent view of the whole emirate below on a clear day. There is a hotel near the peak of the mountain, where you can have your lunch or brunch with family or other accompanying guests. The cooler months (November to April) are the best times to visit Jebel Hafeet, although it could get a little foggy in early mornings. From Jebel Hafeet, you may want to check the Green Mubazzarah, a popular tourist attraction where hot-water springs gush forth in little streams and form a lake. Swimming pools and jacuzzis are scattered all over the Green Mubazarrah.
Also once in Al Ain, the Al Ain National Museum should not be missed; the archaeological and ethnographical collections in the museum will give you a greater appreciation of the Abu Dhabi local’s lifestyle and traditions.
Those travelling with children, however, may prefer to pay a visit to the popular Al Ain Zoo and Aquarium – which is home to one of the largest collection of tropical fauna as well as those that are endemic to the Arab world. Otherwise, a trip to the Hili Fun City is one that children will not easily forget. The theme park offers endless water rides, garden areas, play grounds and a skating rink, as well as restaurants and barbeque areas. Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Hilli Fun City, however, are reserved only for ladies and children.
You may end the day with a quiet dinner at one of the restaurants in your hotel premises, or by simply hanging out at the pool in your hotel while looking forward to the adventure the next day.
Day 4: Go Ride the Dunes
See Sundowner Desert Safari.
Day 5: Take a Dip
Abu Dhabi is a coastal city and we are developing more islands to extend our resort areas. Unpack those swimming suits and head to the man-made Lulu Island opposite the Abu Dhabi Corniche (free boat ride leads to the island), or check out the Al Raha Beach Resort further off the city. If you are really a beach enthusiast, there’s a swimming area in the Corniche where you can indulge in the water and sun to your heart’s desire.
You may also check out Al Futaisi Island (head to the Marina Al Bateen for the 10-minute boat-ride leading to the island), to see a stable of Arabian horses or to explore the small island on a rented bicycle. Al Futaisi boasts of natural flora and fauna, which should also prove fun even for little children. There are chalets that may be rented in the island as well as a golf course, check www.futaisi.com for further details.
Day 6: Go Shop
Gold jewelleries never go out of style, and given the fluctuating value of gold, shopping for a few pieces is never a wasteful adventure. Once armed with a shrewd bargaining skill, you should head off to the Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre and Gold Souk to bag some good stuff to show off your friends back home or to give as presents.
You may then head off to either Marina Mall or Abu Dhabi Mall to shop for designer fashions, watch a movie or treat the children to the play areas. These malls have spacious food courts and restaurant areas, and all toilets are designed to accommodate nappy changing chores or those with special needs. Visitors can practically spend the whole day (10am to 10pm) in these malls, without children getting bored or adults running out of stores to buy goods from.
Visitors are also encouraged to visit some of Abu Dhabi’s traditional markets (souks) for special spices, Persian carpets and local handicraft.
Day 7: Get pampered
You may spend this day leisurely by visiting a spa on your hotel premises, but once the Louvre and Guggenheim Museums open in 2011 and 2012, respectively, we cannot promise that we won’t recommend a visit to both museums in your to-visit list.
Others
A trip to the Sir Bani Yas Island is probably one of the most exciting items in every visitor’s itinerary during their holiday in Abu Dhabi. Sir Bani Yas can be reached by boat from a Jebel Dhanna, about 240 km west of Abu Dhabi city. The island is a nature reserve where llamas, giraffes, ostriches and gazelles wander freely in the island, while other families of mammals such as the Arabian oryx are found grazing in their enclosures. Charming flamingos are a staple in the island, whose shoreline boasts mangrove covered sandbanks. Dolphins and huge sea turtles are likewise considered regular residents of the waters surrounding Sir Bani Yas. Sir Bani Yas Island is also home to a seventh century Nestorian monastery and church, the only known Christian remnant in the country prior to the arrival of Islam and the largest one ever found in Eastern Arabia.