Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District and the UAE's second-most populous city, after Dubai.
Situated on a T-shaped island, Abu Dhabi extends into the Persian Gulf from the central-western coast of the UAE.
Getting to Abu Dhabi
- 01Zayed International Airport
The UAE's second busiest airport (after Dubai) and the home base of Abu Dhabi's flag carrier Etihad Airways with flights to Australia, Europe and the United States.
- 02Abu Dhabi
The five-laned E11 highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is the country's heaviest-traveled route, and the 130-km journey can be covered in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Worth seeing
Abu Dhabi offers a lot of historical and cultural sights but it certainly isn't lacking in modern attractions.
- 01Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
- 02Qasr Al Watan
Al Ras Al Akhdar (Bus 34 or 39), contact@qasralwatan.ae.
- 03Qasr
The oldest stone building in Abu Dhabi, this small fort was first constructed in 1761 and served as the royal palace from the late 18th century until 1966.
- 04Corniche Road
The city's main avenue, it curves around the coastline along Abu Dhabi's spectacular waterfront that stretches for miles from the breakwater near Marina Shopping Mall almost up to the Mina Zayed port.
- 05Yas Island
It has a Formula 1 race track, Ferrari World (a Ferrari-themed park with the fastest roller coaster in the world), the Warner Bros.
- 06UAE
At 122 m, this is among the world's tallest flagpoles, and you won't miss the massive UAE flag flying from it.
Things to do
Swimming at the public beaches of
- 01Abu Dhabi Beach
- 02Corniche
Private beaches: Nearly all hotels and private clubs in Abu Dhabi offer swimming facilities, usually in the form of private beaches.
Where to eat
Most food is certified halal but some hotels are allowed to serve pork dishes. Indian food is relatively cheap, Levantine food is widely available and there are a few Chinese restaurants with reasonable prices. Hotel restaurants are typically the most expensive. The city is home to all manner of fast food franchises like McDonald's and Hardees, usually located at malls.
- 01Fish Market
A fish market with restaurants attached, where you can have your choice of fresh fish cooked with your choice of seasoning, sauce and accompaniments.
- 02Liwan Mansour Restaurant & Grill - AlKhalidiya
Zayed the First St.
- 03The Resto Pinoy
Al Khalidiyah Branch, Al Khalidiya - Zayed The First St.
- 04Ghalib Restaurant
Khalidiya D - Building No.3960, Sheikh Zayed 1st Street - W Corniche Rd.
- 05Smart Cafteria
Khalidiyah St - Al Khalidiyah - W9 (behind shining tower).
Getting around Abu Dhabi the local way
- Get inYou will require a sponsorship by an Emirati airline, hotel or tour operator to be able to apply for a visa.
- Get inSmartwings Airlines – Connects Dubai and Abu Dhabi with many cities in Europe, some however only as part of package tours.
- Get inThere's a twice-weekly ferry service from Bandar Abbas in Iran to the port of Sharjah by the Iranian shipping company Valfajre-8.
- Get inIt's an overnight ferry taking 10-12 hours, departing early evenings on Sundays and Thursdays.
- Get inApart from regular services, there is a large network of traditional dhow trading routes which transports goods throughout the Gulf and even to India.
- Get inDepending on which dhow you end up on they can call at all coastal cities in the UAE, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- Get aroundWhile driving to the desert, make sure to pay attention to any camels that may be crossing the roads.
From Wikivoyage: United Arab Emirates, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Chris Down (CC BY 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.
