By air
Zayed International (AUH), ~30 km
Middle East · UAE
Abu Dhabi, UAE
A grand mosque and island museums
Getting there
Best time to visit
November to March — warm, not scorching
Don't miss
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Louvre Abu Dhabi
Qasr Al Watan
The Corniche
Things to do
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Louvre Abu Dhabi
Yas Island's theme parks
The Corniche
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0
What to pack
Modest clothing (the mosque requires it; abayas are provided)
A quieter corner
The Mangrove National Park by kayak
Questions travellers ask
What should I wear to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque?
Modest clothing — the mosque requires it, and abayas are provided.
When is Abu Dhabi most comfortable?
November to March, when it's warm rather than scorching.
What else is there to do in Abu Dhabi?
See the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Watan, stroll the Corniche, and try Yas Island's theme parks. For something quieter, kayak through the Mangrove National Park.
Which airport serves Abu Dhabi?
Zayed International (AUH), about 30 km away. Settle in with Emirati dishes and dates with Arabic coffee.
About Abu Dhabi
- Island
- Coastal
Where it is
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and of its largest emirate, also called Abu Dhabi, its centre built on an island just off the Gulf coast among mangroves and smaller islands such as Saadiyat and Yas.
History
Members of the Bani Yas tribe settled the island in the 18th century after finding fresh water there, and it became the seat of the Al Nahyan family. Pearling sustained the town until the trade collapsed in the 1930s; oil was discovered offshore in 1958, and exports began soon after. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan led the founding of the UAE in 1971 and became its first president.
People
Emiratis live alongside large communities from South Asia, the Arab world, the Philippines and Europe, and Arabic is the official language with English widely used. Bedouin heritage lives on in falconry, camel racing, Nabati poetry and the Al Dhafra Festival held in the desert of the emirate's west.
Known for
- The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
- The Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island
- Qasr Al Watan presidential palace
- Yas Island's theme parks and Formula 1 circuit
- The Corniche waterfront
Did you know?
The name Abu Dhabi is usually translated as father of the gazelle, from the story of hunters who followed a gazelle to fresh water on the island.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.