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Voykit pocket guide · United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi
أبوظبي
Spend two nights in Abu Dhabi for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the museums on Saadiyat Island; it pairs well with Dubai, about 1.5 hours by road.
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE and the largest emirate by area. It is calmer and less crowded than Dubai, with a large mosque, a Louvre branch and the Yas Island attractions. Most visitors add it to a Dubai trip, or fly into AUH and then travel on. Go in the cooler months, and treat the summer as an indoor season.
- Country
- United Arab Emirates
- Local name
- أبوظبي
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (very hot and humid)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- AED
- Money
- Dirham (AED): cards and phone wallets work almost everywhere in Dubai; keep small notes for abras, tips and souk stalls.
- Daily spend
- Budget AED 150–250 excl. bed · Mid AED 250–550 excl. bed · High AED 550+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Etisalat (e&) and du sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs at DXB and AUH arrivals; a passport is needed. Free visitor SIMs with small data allowances have been handed out at DXB — check.
- Emergency
- Police 999 · Ambulance 998 · Fire 997
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · British three-pin sockets; hotels often add universal sockets. Bring an adapter for European and US plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% if no service charge; round up in cafeterias.; Taxi / ride-hailing: Round up to the next AED 5.; Hotel porter: AED 5–10 a bag.; Desert safari driver / guide: AED 20–50.; Petrol station attendant: Small change, AED 2–5.
- Water
- Tap water is desalinated and treated to safe standards, but tastes flat; most people drink bottled or filtered water. Free water stations in some parks and malls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets with a bidet hose nearly everywhere; free in malls, metro stations and petrol stations.
Get in
By air
- AUH · Zayed International
- About 30 km (19 mi) east of the centre. Bus A1 and A2 run to the centre in about 45 minutes (roughly AED 4, check); a taxi takes about 30 to 40 minutes (AED 80–120, 2026 estimate, check). Dubai (DXB) is about 1.5 hours by road.About 19 mi (30 km) east of the centre. Bus A1 and A2 run to the centre in about 45 minutes (roughly AED 4, check); a taxi takes about 30 to 40 minutes (AED 80–120, 2026 estimate, check). Dubai (DXB) is about 1.5 hours by road.
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxis (metered; the Abu Dhabi Taxi and app services such as Careem and Uber) are the main option, with fares about AED 12 to 25 for short rides (2026 estimate, check). Public buses run on a Hafilat card; the network is limited for visitors. Dubai is a road transfer away: intercity buses from Abu Dhabi bus terminal take about 2 hours (AED 25–35, check).
See and do
Known for
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
- Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Yas Island (Ferrari World, Yas Marina circuit)
- Corniche promenade
- Qasr Al Watan
- Emirates Palace
- Qasr Al Hosn fort
- Mangrove kayaking at Jubail
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Intercity bus or car via Sheikh Zayed Road, about 140 km (87 mi)Intercity bus or car via Sheikh Zayed Road, about 87 mi (140 km) | About 1.5–2 h |
| Al Ain | Car or bus southeast, about 160 km (99 mi)Car or bus southeast, about 99 mi (160 km) | About 1.5–2 h |
| Liwa Oasis and Empty Quarter dunes | Car or tour southwest, about 250 km (155 mi)Car or tour southwest, about 155 mi (250 km) | About 3 h |
| Sir Bani Yas Island | Car to Jebel Dhanna then ferry, about 250 km (155 mi)Car to Jebel Dhanna then ferry, about 155 mi (250 km) | About 3.5 h |
Sleep
- Corniche
- Waterfront and central; good for a first stay, with taxis and buses on the doorstep.
- Saadiyat Island
- Beaches and museums; quieter, resort style, needs taxis for the city.
- Yas Island
- Theme parks and the racing circuit; good for families and events.
- Al Maryah Island
- Business hotels and shopping; close to the Galleria mall and the Corniche.
Language
Arabic is official, but around nine in ten residents are foreigners and English is the common language of daily life. Hindi-Urdu, Malayalam, Tagalog and Persian are heard constantly. Gulf Arabic greetings are appreciated, and taxi drivers navigate by landmark more than by street name.
- Useful Arabic: as-salamu alaykum (hello), shukran (thank you), min fadlak (please), yalla (let's go), insha'Allah (God willing — also 'maybe').
- WhatsApp messages work; WhatsApp calls do not.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Right hand, a smile, 'as-salamu alaykum'; let a woman offer her hand first; avoid: Hugging or kissing in greeting in public
- Dress in public: Shoulders and knees covered in malls, souks and government buildings; avoid: Swimwear or very short clothing away from the beach or pool
- Mosques: Covered arms and legs, headscarf for women, shoes off; visit outside prayer times; avoid: Loud talk and photos of people praying
- Photography: Ask before photographing people and their children; avoid: Photos of women, police, government and military sites, or accident scenes; posting others' photos without consent is a crime
- Public behaviour: Stay calm and polite in disputes; hold hands at most; avoid: Kissing, swearing, rude gestures and shouting — all can lead to fines or arrest
- Online: Keep posts neutral about the country, its rulers and religion; avoid: Insulting posts, reviews that defame named people, or sharing others' images; cybercrime laws are strict
- Ramadan: Eat and drink out of public view in daylight; greet with 'Ramadan kareem'; avoid: Loud music, eating on the street, revealing clothing
- Emirati hospitality: Accept coffee and dates; sit with feet on the floor; avoid: Showing the soles of your feet; refusing everything
Scams and watch-outs
- Dress modestly at the Grand Mosque: women need a full-length abaya (loaned at the door) and covered hair; men need long trousers.
- Summer heat is severe (over 40°C, humid): plan indoor sights in the afternoon.
- Check current local laws on alcohol (only in licensed venues), public behaviour and photography; do not photograph people without asking.
- Drugs, including some prescription medicines, are heavily restricted: check with the UAE Ministry of Health before bringing medicine.
- Public displays of affection, offensive gestures and online criticism can lead to fines or arrest.
- Check current government travel advice for your country; the UAE has strict laws on drugs, public behaviour and online speech.
Abu Dhabi is one of the safer big cities for visitors; the real risks are summer heat, road traffic and breaking local laws without meaning to.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Abu Dhabi yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
- Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Yas Island (Ferrari World, Yas Marina circuit)
- Corniche promenade
- Qasr Al Watan
- Emirates Palace
- Qasr Al Hosn fort
- Mangrove kayaking at Jubail
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Abu Dhabi: visitabudhabi.ae/
- Wikivoyage — Abu Dhabi: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/abu-dhabi). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.