Written By Arabiers Digital & Reviewed by Robeena Brown
14 August 2024 | 13 min
Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates capital city is today a modern city and stood among the best cities to visit in the world. Before the discovery of oil, Abu Dhabi was a small fishing village. The revenues which were generated from the oil were used to transform Abu Dhabi to industrious, bustling and organized city.
Even though Dubai is the most visited city in UAE, you can find everything Dubai has to offer also in Abu Dhabi. And it is not crowded and no huge traffic like in Dubai. Therefore, when you are planning to visit UAE you should not overlook Abu Dhabi.
If you are foreigner and want to visit Abu Dhabi, then you will need to apply for Abu Dhabi Tourist Visa.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is iconic landmark in Abu Dhabi and stands as most visited place. The mosque is cladded in Macedonian Marble and in celebration of the Islamic architecture the grandiose is a fusion of Ottoman, Mameluke, and Fatimid design elements.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was opened in 2007 after 20 year of construction. It is a beautiful mosque and the biggest in UAE.
If you love formula one racing then you should including visiting Ferrari world amusement theme park in your list of places to visit in Abu Dhabi. The park location makes it ideal place to visit with friends or family looking for place to hang out in Abu Dhabi.
At the park visitors are allowed to ride the Flying Aces Roller Coaster. It is a thrilling adventure as you ride on a 52-meter loop at speed of 120 kilometers per hour. It is the tallest rollercoaster in the world.
You can get the same experience like in Burj Khalifa in Abu Dubai by visiting the Observation Deck. Etihad Towers is the largest building in Abu Dhabi and from 74th floor of the Jumeirah you will get to enjoy the view of city skyline.
If you are not guest at Jumeirah, you have to pay entrance fee which you can later redeem for food and drink at the observation deck’s restaurant. The luxury of the restaurants amplifies the whole experience. You can enjoy the city views as you drink high end tea or a well prepared dish.
If you are adventurous traveler among the best places to visit in Abu Dhabi is Yas Waterworld. It is also ideal place to visit away from the city scorching heat especially during summer season.
Yas Waterworld is a huge theme park and can enjoy a ride in the park on the first hydro-magnetic tornado water rafting ride in the world or largest surfable sheet wave in the world.
If you want learn Abu Dhabi history, you should visit Qasr Al-Hosn fort also called White Fort. The fort was built in 1793 and stands as the oldest building in Abu Dhabi.
The fort has been renovated and the interior part is a museum. Visitors are taken through the history and culture of Abu Dhabi. There are also photo galleries which show the way of life of the locals.
Emirates Park Zoo is the best place to visit with children and it located few kilometers for the city. At the zoo you will get to see rare white tigers, Siberian bear, monkeys and sea lion at the flamingo park. The children are allowed to pet the domestic animals and also feed them at the petting zoo.
Falcons are treasured birds in Abu Dhabi and hence why they established Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital. You can visit the veterinary hospital to learn how the injured and ill falcons are treated.
At the hospital you will be taken on guided tour and the guide will enlighten a lot about falcon and can ask any question you may have. You may also get a chance to hold the falcon or feed them.
Saadiyat Island is among the Islands in Abu Dhabi where you can visit. This Island is popular because it is home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The Island is the Abu Dhabi artistic and cultural center. Beyond exploring the cultural part you can also explore the Island and get to enjoy spectacular views during the sunset.
If you also love art you can visit the Manarat Al Saadiyat and UAE Pavilion to see various art works by famous photographers, artists, and painters.
Sheikh Zayed Bridge is 842-meter long and is the symbol of the grandeur of Abu Dhabi. There was incorporation of Arab art styles and traditional Islamic during designing and is an engineering marvel.
You should schedule you visit during the sunset for a stunning view when the sky is painted bright orange color while the bridge in the foreground.
Abu Dhabi Art Hub is the place to visit in Abu Dhabi for the art and culture enthusiasts. You will embark on a unique artistic development journey in this artist-run art community.
You will also get to find peace of mind at this hub as you view different art works. Artists across the region gather at this hub for cross-cultural artistic exchanges and interactions. Every day there is art exhibition and creative workshop running at this hub to showcase skills are various art works from different artist.
Heritage village is another place to visit in Abu Dhabi and get to learn all how the locals used to live before Abu Dhabi became a modern city. At the village you will be taken back centuries ago where Emirates used to live in the small houses middle of the desert.
The Heritage village is situated near a beautiful beach area and there are comfortable houses where you can relax. There are various displays, exhibitions and workshops at the village showcasing what were the main economic activities before discovery of oil.
If you want to go dune bashing there is no better place compared to Liwa Oasis. It is located Southern part of the city and it is ideal place to visit away from the city chaos.
Besides dune bashing, you can engage into other desert activities such as surfing, camel trekking, and riding dune buggies. Outskirts of the Liwa Oasis is where the largest sand dune in the world is located.
You can embark on a road trip to Corniche, long road which runs parallel to Abu Dhabi’s coastline the western border of the city. There are several entertainment centers and shopping malls to explore along the road. If you love cycling then you should take a ride and explore this place from the city.
The Founder's Monument is among the cultural icon land marks in Abu Dhabi. The monument honors the UAE founding monarch the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The visitors are allowed to visit this monument everyday between 09:00 am and 10:00 pm. This monument sits on 3.3-hectares and visitors get a glimple into the life into Sheikh Zayed's and legacy.
Al Jahili Fort was constructed in 1891 as a defensive bastion by the Abu Dhabi's ruling dynasty Al Nahyan family. Today, the fort is a tourist attraction where they come to learn about the Abu Dhabi rich history.
You can visit the fort during opening hors which are from 9 am to 7 pm. You wioll get to appreciate the fort's unusual architecture which features distinctive towers, substantial walls, and defensive slits reflecting traditional Emirati design.
Wahat Al Karama is a monument which was built to honors the heroes and martyrs. The inauguration of the monument was on November 30, 2016 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Situated in Al Ain, Al Ain National Museum is among the largest and oldest Museums in UAE. It was constructed in 1971 and showcases the UAE history and culture focusing on Al Ain city.
The museum is housed in late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan palace. The exhibitions at the museum cover different topics among them ethnography, natural history, archaeology and social history.
Most of the travelers touring Abu Dhabi love to go with their family. If you have children between 4-16 years and wondering where to take them in Abu Dhabi and have fun you should consider KidZania.
The children will get to have fun and they learn about money, employment and other real life skills. Your child will have a chance to develop decision making skills as they participate in various role playing games. Other skills they will develop include social skills, creativity and cooperation.
Situates 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi on the golden shoreline, Yas Island is the place to visit in Dubai if you are looking to combine entertainment with leisure.
There are various places to explore in the Island ranging from Warner Bros, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi to Yas Waterworld. Attractions in the Island include Yas Marina Circuit, CLYMB Abu Dhabi and other spots within this amazing island.
The Emirates Palace is among the iconic building in Abu Dhabi. It is a luxurious hotel and is famous because of the grandeur and opulent design. The management of the hotel is Kempinski Group but is owned by Abu Dhabi government.
Even though not all places are open for visitors you can visit Emirates palace send most expensive hotel after Burj Al Arab in Dubai. The hotel features private beach, luxurious spa, marina, 14 restaurants and bars and marina.
Situated on Saadiyat Island, Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi is among the best art museums in Abu Dhabi. You may have the name Louvre in France; well the UAE government came to an Agreement with France to use the same until 2037.
There are 8,000 square meters of galleries inside this around24, 000 square meters in size Museum and this make it the largest art museum in Arabian Peninsula’s.
There is exhibition of different artworks from all corners of the globe in aim to bridge the gap between the Western and Eastern art. Around 700 artworks are permanent collection dating from different eras and cultures.
The Etihad Towers Abu Dhabi is five stunning towers building defining the Abu Dhabi skyline. Situated in the Al Ras Al Akhdar area, Etihad Towers offers visitors premium experience. There are residential apartments, the Jumeirah hotel and workplaces.
It is stunning place to visit in Abu Dhabi and you should get to the observation deck for stunning views of the city and the Gulf.
Warner Bros World is a branded indoor theme park and visitors visit this for a thrilling Warner Bros experience. You will be transported into the realms of your favorite character. You will be reminded of your childhood days where you enjoyed various cartoons and comic books.
Situated Sir170 km southwest, Bani Yas Island is another Island to visit in Abu Dhbia .It is easy to get to the Island; you can use public buses or taxi. The Island is largest Natural Island in UAE and was the largest wildlife reserve.
After conservation efforts, the Island home of various sild animals and birds. There are also millions of pants and trees planted in the Island. You can try out various activities at the Island among them Kayaking, hiking, adventure safaris, mountain biking, and snorkeling.
Mangrove National Park is often overlooked by tourist but there is a lot to see at the park. It is the home of various birds and can spend time birdwatching or taking pictures of the birds. There are 0ver 60 different bird species at the park among them herons, egrets, kingfishers and flamingos.
At this park is where you also get to see the largest mangrove population in UAE. You can take the guided tour around the park as the guide explain about the importance of the mangrove, learn about different birds and also other marine animals. You can also take Kayaking tour like night tour, sunrise tour or the sunset tour.
Sitting on over 400 hectares, Al Ain Zoo and Aquarium is the best place to visit with family in Abu Dhabi. The zoo is situated in Hafeet in Al Ain. At the zoo you will get to see various wild animals among them monkey, reptiles and rare white lion and Nubian giraffe.
There is also an aviary and aquarium where you can see up close various marine animals. There are over 4000 animals living at this zoo.
Al Lulu Island is a small Island which you can explore in 2-3 hours. It is one of the most visited artificial Islands in UAE. It is beautiful and with various tourist attractions.
You can use ferry or private boat to get to the Island. Among the places you should not miss to visit is the heritage village.
Marjan Aqua Park is ideal place to visit with your children in Abu Dhabi. There are various attractions for different age group children’s. The children can also get to enjoy various slides in the park.
You children will be entertained throughout the time they will be at this park. For the older children they can try out thrilling slides and younger ones rides to shallow pools. The children can also try different water activities like boating.
Situated on the Coast of Yas Island, Arabian Wildlife Park is a sanctuary and home of different desert wildlife. At the parks you can watch native Arabian wildlife roaming in their natural habitat like oryxes, gazelles, hyenas and giraffes.
For a clear view you can get to the viewing platform and will see the giraffes at eye level. You should take the guided tour in the park where the guide will explain about wildlife you come across.
Yas Viceroy is another landmark building in Abu Dhabi. It is famous building and captures tourist attention because it is revolutionary piece of architecture. It is among the finest places to visit in Abu Dhabi.
You can book stay at this luxury hotel. There are 499 luxury rooms featuring world class amenities. You can fail to notice the architecture design of this hotel even from far. Visitors are allowed to visit the hotel but restricted where to explore. From the hotel you can enjoy stunning sea views.
The top attractions of Abu Dhabi which you should not miss to visit include the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace Hotel, Yas Island, Ferrari World, and the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, heritage village, Yas Waterworld among others.
The famous place in Abu Dhabi is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Abu Dhabi is expensive. You should pan your itinerary according to your budget.
If you only have 2 days, you can visit various attractions across the city. You can try different cuisines, visiting the iconic landmarks, parks and try different activities.
There are beaches in Dubai and here is a list:
The best time to visit Abu Dhabi is from April to May and September to October. These are spring and fall seasons respectively and the weather is pleasant. You can also visiting during peak season from December to March, winter season.
The places you can visit in Abu Dhabi for free include, Corniche, Saadiyat Public Beach, Al Lulu Island and Al Jahili Fort.