The United Arab Emirates has fascinated me for a great many years, and when I finally visited Dubai, it didn’t disappoint. Similarly, there is no end of things to do in Abu Dhabi. With its beautiful mosques and palaces, thrilling theme parks and outstanding innovations in technology, art and design, not to mention exquisite culinary traditions, it is even more enticing. If you are wondering what to see in Abu Dhabi, where to go and what to do, here are my top 10 places to visit in Abu Dhabi.
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Top 10 things to do and places to visit in Abu Dhabi
1. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
This vast and stunningly beautiful mosque is big enough to hold 40,000 worshippers. Semi-precious stones adorn the marble panels on the columns, and it boasts the world’s most enormous chandelier. I’d dearly love to see it for myself one. It’s top of my list of places to visit in Abu Dhabi.
Image credit: Mathias Apitz (München) | Creative Commons
It’s essential that you dress respectfully wherever you go in Abu Dhabi, but please pay particular attention when visiting religious buildings. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque dress code is very strict, especially for women, who should have their hair, arms and legs fully covered.
2. Adrenaline inducing Yas Island
As well as Abu Dhabi’s Formula 1 track (which you can run or cycle around every Tuesday for free) and a Ferrari theme park, Yas Island is home to Waterworld, the biggest water park in the world with a vast choice of raft rides, ravines, slides and wave machines.
Image credit: 赵阳 | Creative Commons
3. Take a stroll along the Corniche
This epic 4-mile long promenade is the perfect place for a walk, jog or even a bike ride dotted with picnic spots, exciting sights, including the Capital Gate (purposely built to have a 18º tilt) and numerous places to eat that will take you around the world and back again.
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi?
4. Al Ain, the Garden City
About an hour and a half or so’s drive from the centre of Abu Dhabi lies the city of Al Ain rich in forts, museums and Unesco World Heritage Sites plus the not to be missed central date-palm oasis fed by natural springs.
Fort Al Jahili, Al AinÂ
Image credit: Dr Norbert Heidenbluth | Creative Commons
5. Emariti Cuisine
Much like Dubai, in Abu Dhabi you’ll find an almost bewildering variety of cuisines from around the world. What I most long to try again is the Emirati cuisine infused with spices and ingredients from throughout Asia and Arabia. Think nuts and limes, cinnamon and saffron, slow-cooked meat dishes and the freshest of fish.
6. Emirates Palace
This luxurious hotel is well worth a visit to admire the stunning architecture and beautiful gardens alone, but I’d also love to try their cappuccino made with 24-carat gold as is their camel burger. The latter I tried (without the gold) in Dubai, and it was surprisingly good. Extravagant, yes. Tasty, you bet.
7. Dune Bashing
Sliding sideways down massive sand dunes in the breathtaking beauty of the UAE desserts is a thrill not to miss as you can see in my video from my last visit to the Emirates.
8. Saadiyat Beach
I love swimming, especially in the sea, and here you’ll find the crystal clear warm waters of the Arabian Gulf gently lapping a 4 mile stretch of the soft white sands of Saadiyat Beac. It’s reputedly the best beach in Abu Dhabi and a wonderful way to combine a city break with a beach escape.
9. Louvre Abu Dhabi
With the Louvre Abu Dhabi opening its doors, there’s yet another reason to visit this dynamic city. The museum presents significant objects from the fields of archaeology, fine arts and decorative arts, representing all regions and periods, including contemporary art. Described as an unprecedented alliance of an intergovernmental agreement between the emirate of Abu Dhabi and France, it is a place of discovery, exchange and education. It’s already proved to be a must-see place to visit in Abu Dhabi.
Image credit: Gabriel Jorby | Creative Commons
10. Masdar City, a city of the future
Masdar City, next to Abu Dhabi’s airport, is a pioneering zero-carbon development powered entirely by the sun and the winds. No cars allowed. Instead, you can move around the city in one of their four-seater driver-less pods which run on guided rails. In years to come, who knows what technological developments made here will be seen in towns and cities around the world. This place fascinates me, and I’m determined to visit it one day. It’s high on my list of things to do in Abu Dhabi.
When to visit Abu Dhabi?
For the best weather, when it’s not too hot or humid visit Abu Dhabi in winter from December through March. However, if you also want to avoid the crowds, springtime (April and May) or autumn (September and October) offer pleasant weather, reasonable hotel rates and fewer fellow tourists than the popular winter months.
Where to stay in Abu Dhabi?
For the ultimate in luxury check out the Emirates Palace or Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi, with its revolving rooftop restaurant offering 360-degree views of the city. Both are in a prime location near the Corniche. For great value, especially in the shoulder season InterContinental Abu Dhabi is a great choice. And for a comfortable, budget hotel try Al Diar Dana Hotel in the city centre.
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I would like to go to New York. I have been before to visit my wifes family and would love to go back again! especially at Christmas when all the lights are on!
I would love to go to Dubai because it is such a unique place.
I’d love to visit Italy, as it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to explore!
New York is such a dream of mine- my husband went when he was younger and said he only managed to do 10% of what he planned to do. I’ve never been so we’re determined to in the next 5 years, best get saving those pennies! 🙂
I would love to go Dubai. I have never been there. Beaches are amazing there.
I’d like to go to the USA
Istanbul for me after seeing it on a Rick Stein programme last year – the fish sandwiches look as good as the Blue Mosque!
I’d love to visit Istanbul too. I have a good friend living there and I also once met (in Italy)a fabulous Istanbul chef, Arda Turkmen, who I’d love to catch-up with again and visit his restaurant. And of course the history, culture and architecture is a must too. I need to sort out a visit!!
The Maldives for the snorkelling
I’ve always wanted to go to Dubai!
New York to go to Ellis Island and discover the trails of the migrants that founded that multicultural country
I’d like to go to New York because I would love to have lunch in a traditional diner, go shopping in Bloomingdales and see a big show on Broadway.
India for the scenery and culture
I always wanted to see Sri Lanka must be such a spiritual place.. I’d definitely shoot for that:)
Would love to go to the USA.
I would love to go to Morocco or South Korea.
The Maldives, I really want to go there it looks so idylic
Back to Barbados – amazing place!!
I would love to go to London, England, so I have a trip planned for the end of May to go.
I would love to go to the US again!
new zeland looks an amazing place to see
I’d love to go to Berlin. It looks such a fascinating city.
Right now would love to go anywhere that has sunshine blue sea and sandy beach
I’d love to go to Morocco
I’d love to go to New Zealand as my daughter moved there a year ago and it looks like an amazing place o visit
Oh I do hope you manage to get over there before too long. I’d love to go myself but my reason for wanting to get there is nothing compared to yours.
I would love to send my Mum and Dad to Las Vegas for their anniversary.
Ooh I’d love to take my son to Dubai – I’m sure we’d have a great time exploring and he loves long haul flights (but to be honest he’s never flown short haul)
I went to Slovenia ski-ing just before Yugoslavia split up .. I would love to go back there , in the summer this time …sooo pretty !!
Wow I’d love to go to Greece, South Africa, Hong Kong and so many other places. However, after reading this- Abu Dhabi is high on my list now! Sounds amazing!!!!
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Would love to go back to Thailand. Love the people, culture and food.
the maldives – the water is so clear and inviting
I would really love to return to Italy. I have such fond memories of my honeymoon 5 years ago.
I hope you get to go back sometime soon. Wonderful country, people and food!
Your post just made me feel like going to Abu Dhabi – the photos are stunning! x
Dubai i would love to see it just once
I’d love to go to Vegas.
i love GREECE – going to Crete in May and so excited
very beautiful place a lot of shopping malls and desert safari tours really love the idea of picnic here I also want to go there
I’d love to go to Barbados because it looks amazing and I would love to experience the culture and the food!
I’d love to go back to the Seychelles. We got married there 20 years ago and would love to have a romantic second honeymoon
I love Abu Dhabi
i would like to go to las vegas!
I’d love to go to Vegas and see all the casinos.
Mauritius sounds wonderful to me as i like tropical weather or at least i think i would as ive never had a vacation
i want to go in Centara Karon Resort Phuket because it s a beautiful place in the world
The Maldives beach holiday
I would love to go to Thailand! I’ve been there before and loved it and would just love to go back!
LUX hotel on the South Ari Atoll of the Maldives looks so luxurious, I’d love to go there for a week.
I would love to go to Spain,I have never been
I’d like to go to Spain because I’ve never been there and because I need a bit of relax with my boyfriend! 😀
I would love to go to Spain as I love their culture and way of life and it looks amazing.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
I would like to go the NYC
I want to go to Spain because I have never been there before and it looks beautiful in pictures
Good Golly Miss Molly , childhood dream since to see Dubai. . Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. 🙂
I would really love to visit Spain. I took 5 years of Spanish in school and never did get over there to visit so I could use what I learned.
I wouldn’t say no to a Maldives beach holiday (this endless English spring cold weather has me dreaming of sunny days!)
i’d like to go to Spain x
Dubai for more than a lay over!! 😀
I would love to visit Dubai, it looks amazing and it’s somewhere i’ve always fancied
Madrid beautiful city relaxed atmosphere
Prague sounds beautiful
I would go to New York again and again and again!:)
would go to corralejo, went there on honeymoon 11 years ago and fell in love with the place
I would really love to visit Italy – Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan. It is a country I have always wanted to visit but have not got round to going yet.
I would love to visit Morocco again and sample the cuisine and see more of the sights xx
I was going to say Tunisia as I went there as a child and would love to return, but after reading your blog I will have to say Abu Dhabi. you make it sound so lovely, Kat, especially the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – looks awesome!
i would love to visit Rome , looks so beautifu x
Rome for the history xx
Dubai, somewhere a little different.
Would love to go to the Caribbean for a 25th anniversary pampering break
It’s my dream to go to Los Angeles! So no hesitation as to what I’d put it towards haha! Amazing opportunity thank you so much for the chance to win 🙂
Would love to go to Congo. Top of my list!
Would love to go to the Maldives. It looks pure luxury!
i really want to go to istanbul, no constantinopel, no istanbul…..well, you get my meaning!
Rome for the sun and the history.
I would go to to the Maldives would love to dip my toes in the turquoise waters
NYC, then maybe my other half will stop telling me how much I should go there! haha no really, would love to, looks amazing!
Rome for the history. I can’t believe I’m 43 and have never been!!! Scandalous!
I really want to go to Morocco!
New york as we have a couple of times
There are so many places I’d like to go! It’s so hard to pick one. Portugal (Lisbon, Porto & Lagos) is high on my list right now, as well as Prague and Siem Reap! This voucher would help a LOT.
I’d love to go to Dubai & Middle East simply because I’ve never been, and I’m really tempted having seen your photos! 🙂
I would love to go back to Sri Lanka as staying in Club Dolphin hotel is would be amazing, that’s where we got married 10 years ago!
I would love to go to Thailand as I love the culture and food.
I”d go to Amsterdam. I’ve been once before but only for a few hours. I’d love to go back for longer
NYC has been top fo my wish list for ages – want to go shopping, to Staten Island, see the statue of liberty and ride round central park
Hi Pat, NYC is on my (rather long) list too 🙂
I want this holiday voucher… I want to go to Abu Dhabi…
Would love to go to Rome and visit all the ancient ruins
Rome is a beautiful city with such mch history everywhere you turn. I hope you get to visit one day.
I’d love to visit the mosque in Abu Dhabi – a photographers dream! The Louvre looks amazing too and as for that fort – it resembles a real life sand castle!
Doesn’t it! I couldn’t belive it when I saw it.