Things to do in Abu Dhabi: A Guide to the Best Places to Explore in Abu Dhabi

Updated On: April 24, 2024 by   Ahmed Samir

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on the coast of the Arabian Gulf, and it is bordered to the northeast by the Emirate of Dubai, to the east by the Sultanate of Oman, and to the south and west by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The United Arab Emirates consists of seven emirates, Abu Dhabi is the largest one in the country and it is the seat of government in the United Arab Emirates, as well as the seat of the ruling family and the royal family.

Abu Dhabi is one of the famous attraction cities in the Arab region and one of the lovely cities in the United Arab Emirates and it contains many beaches to visit and to enjoy the sun and the sand.

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is full of many tourist and recreational areas that have made it a favorite stop for lovers of travel and adventures. There are many top destinations in Abu Dhabi like Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Louvre Abu Dhabi and many other places. So let us know more about these in the coming part.

 Weather in Abu Dhabi

The weather in Abu Dhabi is hot most of the year, where the temperature reaches 42 degrees, while it rains intermittently in winter and it reaches 13 degrees at night. Abu Dhabi’s climate is dry in the summer which starts from April till November and a mild winter from December till March.

Things to do in Abu Dhabi

The beautiful city of Abu Dhabi is worth visiting, where you will find many things to do there and walking through the corniche while seeing the lovely view of the gulf. Also, there are many cafes and restaurants to enjoy your time in and beside hotels that you can stay in.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the most famous tourist attraction in Abu Dhabi, the mosque is built with white marble and it is merged with Mameluke, Ottoman, and Fatimid designs to create a magnificent modern mosque with a touch of Islamic architecture.

The mosque was opened in 2007, it took about 20 years to be constructed and it can hold up to 40000 worshippers. When you enter the mosque you will see that there are glasswork and intricate carvings that give a wonderful look to its interior and exterior.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the biggest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and it is dedicated to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan who was the first king of the United Arab Emirates. For non-Muslims, they are allowed to enter all areas of the mosque and you can have a free guided tour if you want.

The mosque is open every day from 9 AM till 10 PM and Friday from 4:30 PM till 10 PM.

The Louvre – Abu Dhabi

Beside the grand mosque, there is The Louvre Museum which contains many collections from the Neolithic till these days and it is a cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and France.

The Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi was opened in 2017 and it consists of 12 galleries including ancient Egyptian statuary to paintings and there is an explanation in Arabic, English, and French. There is a children’s museum, also a café, restaurant, and shops.

The entrance ticket is 63 AED for adults, 31 AED from 13 till 22 years old, and free for those who are under 13 years old.

The museum is closed on Monday but it is open from Sunday to Wednesday from 10 AM till 8 PM and Friday and Saturday from 10 AM till 10 PM.

Qasr Al Hosn

Qasr Al Hosn was built in the 18th century, which makes it the oldest building in the city and it is also called the Old Fort or the White Fort. It was at that time the office of the ruling family and the seat of the government. Inside Qasr Al Hosn you will find a museum that views the history and the culture of Abu Dhabi and its interior was renewed through the years.

The entrance ticket costs 30 AED and the place is open from Saturday to Thursday from 9 AM till7 PM and on Friday from 12 PM till 10 PM.

Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace is one of the famous buildings in Abu Dhabi, has been open to the public since 2019 by the order of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan so that everyone can learn more about United Arab Emirates’ culture.

Before it was used for official and large international meetings and now it is one of the important monuments in Abu Dhabi. When you go inside you will see many rooms like the Gift Room, Meeting Room, Council Room, and Library.

The Presidential Palace is open every day from 10 AM till 7 PM, the tour takes you 1 hour and the entrance costs 60 AED.

Heritage Village

Heritage Village is a rebuilding of a traditional Bedouin Village, it is one of the perfect places to discover the history of Abu Dhabi and you can visit the museum there and see the antiques and weapons.

There are also workshops where you can see craftspeople who explain the Emirati metalwork, weaving skills and you can buy local products such as clothes, jewels, and many other things.

Also when you are there you will find an Arabian wind tower that was used to create natural ventilation and passive cooling in buildings. From there you can enjoy the beautiful view of the Abu Dhabi skyline and see the Corniche and many buildings.

Ferrari World

A lot of people know the Ferrari races that are held in many cities around the world, now you can see one of these races in Abu Dhabi and it is one of the famous attractions in the city and a perfect place for family, friends and even children.

The children can test small cars on a Junior GT track, for adults, you can ride the fastest roller coaster in the world with its speed reaching 120 km per hour. Also while you are there you will see many collections of Ferrari cars from 1947 until now and you can have a tour of the Ferrari factory.

Etihad Towers

The Etihad Towers consist of 5 skyscrapers which are three residential towers and 5 stars Jumeirah Etihad Towers Hotel and a famous attraction in Abu Dhabi.

One of these buildings is the most wonderful one, where it gives you a magnificent view from the 74th floor and 300 meters above the ground. You can see the Emirates Palace, the Presidential Palace. When you are up there you can enter the restaurant that serves soft drinks and snacks.

Mangrove National Park

Mangrove National Park is the perfect place for nature lovers, it is located along the shore surrounding Abu Dhabi and the tour there can take 2 hours. The tour lets you know the importance of the mangrove and gives you the chance to discover the beautiful place. In 2020, there was a wooden footbridge built on the water called Mangrove Walk where you can discover the place on foot.

Spending the day at the beach in Yas Island

Another main attraction located in Abu Dhabi is Yas Island, where you can do many things like spending all of the day at the beach with your family and friends. There one Yas Beaches you can find many cafes, restaurants, and food stalls, and also there is a swimming pool area and sun loungers and shades for relaxing on the sands.

Warner Bros World

Warner Bros World is one of the largest indoor theme parks in the world, it is dedicated to cartoons, movies, and comic book heroes and it is divided into 6 lands all under one roof.

Some of these themes are Gotham City for the Batman universe, Metropolis for Superman and another part is for Looney Tunes. It is the perfect place for children to spend a great time with their superheroes.

Yas Marina Circuit

It is the place where Abu Dhabi’s Formula One Grand Prix is held, it takes place in November and the circuit is located on Yas Island. The first race took place in 2009, where you can have a tour of the circuit, pits, and grandstand.

There is a platform for the fans of Formula One if they want to see the track and go behind the scenes and you can enjoy a driving experience on the Formula One track. Also there you can discover the racing school, race cars and the garage located there and a nice thing you can do on the track is having a walk or a run and that is every Tuesday and Saturday night and you can enter for free.

Saadiyat beach

Saadiyat Beach is a 9 km long sand beach with beautiful turquoise water, the beach is located near the Louver Museum and it is considered as one of the most magnificent beaches in the country. There is a part of the beach that is protected because of the turtle’s nest and you can go through the beach on a wooden boardwalk so no one can disturb the area.

The beach is divided into 3 parts, which are the public beach, Saadiyat Beach Club that contains a spa, gym, restaurants, and swimming pool, and Hotel’s private beaches like Hyatt Park.

Natural Reserve on Sir Bani Yas Island

It was established by Sheikh Zayed, the natural reserve shows Arabian wildlife such as gazelles, giraffes, leopards, and many more animals. There is a resort located there where you can book many activities with them like safari, horse riding, hiking, and mountain biking.

A Day Trip to the Desert

The most famous day trip to Abu Dhabi is going to the desert by visiting the Liwa Oasis or even the Al Khatim Desert. The desert of Abu Dhabi contains the largest sand dunes in the world and the area is the perfect place for sandboarding and camel trekking.

The tour offers you to visit a camel farm and see the traditional dessert life. The tour also takes about 6 hours and includes a dinner in a desert camp with Tanura and belly dancing entertainment shows.