Abu Dhabi Travelers Recommend

Standing on the edges of the United Arab Emirates’ deserts, including the Empty Quarter that extends into Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi makes a wonderful point of departure for dune-based adventures. From camel rides to Bedouin-style camps, here are some of the top desert experiences available from the UAE capital.

Desert and Dinner Excursions

The most popular desert trips from Abu Dhabi fill the afternoon and evening, and feature sports, Bedouin traditions, and dinner at an Arabian Nights-inspired camp. Most begin with a 4WD dune bash, sunset photo ops, camel riding, and sand boarding. Then, it’s on to a tented camp for activities such as henna painting, falcon displays, and a barbecue buffet dinner and belly dancing shows beneath the stars.

Sports Trips

Sports-only trips are ideal if you want to enjoy the all-action opportunities of the desert and don’t mind skipping the usual afternoon and evening entertainment. Many of these trips happen in the cool of morning and include ATV or dune buggy treks, or sports such as dune bashing and sand boarding.

City and Desert Combos

Perfect for travelers with limited time, combo tours let you experience a number of different activities in one time-saving and hassle-free package. Some options team an afternoon-evening desert safari with an Abu Dhabi city tour and a Dhow boat dinner cruise, all packed into two days of sightseeing.

Liwa Desert Expeditions

Situated on the fringes of the UAE’s Empty Quarter—also known as the Rub’ Al Khali—Liwa is one of the country’s most beautiful deserts, and is characterized by towering red dunes. Trips to Liwa give you a feel for the scale and beauty of a large Arabian desert. Full-day group or private tours include dune drives, a visit to Liwa Fort, and usually, lunch at a desert resort.

Private Tours

Popular with couples and groups seeking quieter, less-crowded trips, private desert tours come in many different forms. Options include lantern-lit dinners for two in the dunes, intimate sunrise tours, and personal wildlife safaris followed by a private dinner table at an exclusive desert retreat.

Overnight Stays

Experience the UAE desert at both of its most magical times—sunset and sunrise—with an overnight desert expedition. Most start with a classic evening desert-and-dinner tour before letting you sleep in your own Bedouin-style tent or desert villa, so you can wake to breakfast and dawn breaking over the dunes.

There’s more to Abu Dhabi than sun-baked beaches, desert dunes, and towering skyscrapers. The UAE’s capital city also promises wildlife-filled mangroves, cutting-edge theme parks, fast-paced motor sports, and ocean-going fun. Here are our recommendations for how to fill three memorable days in the city—with time to visit its alluring neighbor, Dubai.

Day 1: Discover the City and the Desert

Getting an eyeful of Abu Dhabi, known for its look-at-me architecture, on a sightseeing overview is a must on your first day. Settle into a hop-on hop-off double-decker bus tour and let the sights come to you—either from the open-air deck or air-conditioned lower level. For a more well-rounded take on the city, choose a classic coach tour that includes a guided walk around the gleaming Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, plus time at cultural attractions such as the Heritage Village and Dates Market.

This afternoon, head for the desert to experience its orange dunes and soul-stirring vastness. Most tours feature an all-inclusive package of sports and entertainment to give you the full Arabian Nights experience. Expect everything from 4x4 dune bashing and camel riding to dinner at a tented camp and belly dancing shows—all played out as the sun sets and the desert stars dazzle.

Day 2: Delve into Dubai

Abu Dhabi’s bigger neighbor, Dubai, beckons from around 90 minutes by road up the coast. Widen your lens on the UAE by taking one of the many full-day tours to this futuristic metropolis; most include special extras that promise to make the trip extra memorable. Many also showcase the highlights of old and new Dubai, combining time to shop in its traditional souks with panoramic tours of the city’s ultramodern landmarks such as the Burj Al Arab and Atlantis the Palm hotel. 

To add another dimension to your trip, take a seaplane flight along the UAE shoreline to the city, watching as its skyscrapers reveal themselves on the horizon. And for maximum bragging rights back home, look for tours that include a visit to the 124th-floor observation deck of the world’s highest tower—the soaring Burj Khalifa.

Day 3: Fill Up on Thrills

Abu Dhabi has plenty going on adventure-wise: in the desert, on the sea, and at the thrill-packed theme parks of Yas Island. For a serious adrenaline rush, book an all-day ticket to the fun of Ferrari World or the aquatic rides of Yas Waterworld. Or combine your sporty side with Abu Dhabi’s natural landscapes, taking an exhilarating ATV ride over the dunes or hitting the waves on a high-speed RIB cruise past the city’s stunning skyline. For something a bit slower, perhaps try a stand-up paddleboarding tour around Abu Dhabi’s picturesque mangroves.

As dusk descends, ease into the evening with a leisurely cruise. Choices range from private abra water taxi rides around the city’s inshore channels to all-singing, all-dancing dinner cruises along the Corniche. The latter are great for taking one final look at the city, treating you to fabulous panoramas of its illuminated skyscrapers.

To fully appreciate the diversity of the United Arab Emirates, you should plan to spend time in both modern Dubai and more traditional Abu Dhabi. Here are some of the best options for day tripping to Dubai from the nation’s capital city.

Sightseeing Tours

Sightseeing tours of Dubai from Abu Dhabi give travelers the chance to see the highlights of the UAE’s ultramodern metropolis. Snap photos of the Burj Al Arab—the city’s most recognizable landmark—and then wander the winding alleys of Al Bastakiya, Dubai’s old quarter. Do some shopping in the famous spice and gold souks before heading back across the desert.

Seaplane Tours

You haven’t seen Dubai in its full glory until you’ve seen it from above. On a seaplane tour, you’ll get to see not only iconic Dubai landmarks like Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, and the other Palm Islands from above, but you’ll also get a glimpse of Abu Dhabi’s Ferrari World theme park, Yas Island, the Corniche, and Emirates Palace. Upon landing in Dubai, spend some time shopping at the Dubai Mall, enjoy a gourmet dinner cruise on Dubai Creek, or take in the views from the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest structure.

Things to Know

• The 81-mile (130-kilometer) trip from Abu Dhabi to Dubai takes about two hours by car or bus, or 45 minutes by airplane.

• Most Abu Dhabi day trips to Dubai last upwards of eight hours, so prepare for a full day.

• Dubai day tours typically include round-trip transfer from Abu Dhabi hotels.

With two full days to enjoy Abu Dhabi, there’s plenty of opportunity to experience the city’s main sights and surrounding attractions—from the desert dunes and waters of the Persian Gulf to the leisure hot spots of Yas Island. Here are a few ways to maximize your 48 hours in the UAE’s action-packed capital.

Day 1: City Sights to Desert Delights

**Morning:**Devote the morning to Abu Dhabi’s sights and getting your bearings. View the highlights easily on a hop-on hop-off bus tour, disembarking at your choice of 24 stops. Otherwise, delve deeper into the sights on a bus tour that includes guided visits to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and other attractions.

**Afternoon:**As the midday heat takes hold, head for the cool of the contemporary Louvre Abu Dhabi to see the stunning art displayed in its sun-dappled galleries. Or hotfoot it to the spectacular Emirates Palace hotel to enjoy a cup of its decadent, gold-speckled cappuccino topped with genuine gold-leaf sprinkles.

**Night:**As the sun sets, zoom into the desert on one of Abu Dhabi’s many sports-and-dinner tours that include a 4x4 dune drive, sandboarding, camel ride, and starlit barbecue supper. Nature lovers, meanwhile, might prefer a gentler sunset cruise around Abu Dhabi’s mangroves to look for gazelles, cormorants, and other wildlife.

Day 2: Activities and Adventure Galore

**Morning:**With your sightseeing sorted, spend today focusing on Abu Dhabi’s leisure heavy hitters. Adrenaline junkies will love an ATV ride in the dunes, while water babes might prefer a kayak around the mangroves. Alternatively, see how falcons—the UAE’s national bird—are cared for at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital.

**Afternoon:**Up the fun at Yas Waterworld, enjoying its high-speed chutes, various pools, and lazy river. Alternatively, rent a Jet Ski to zip over the Persian Gulf waves. Those keen to escape the sun should make a beeline for Ferrari World, where indoor coasters, racing simulators, and other adventures await. 

**Night:**Finish your Abu Dhabi stay with a dinner cruise aboard a fairy-lit wooden dhow. Cruises typically glide by the Corniche to showcase the city’s glittering skyline and include an Arabian-style buffet. Otherwise, consider booking a romantic beach dinner for two, replete with butler service and a private, tented oceanside table.

With some clever planning, one day in Abu Dhabi provides enough time to dip your toes into the city’s top attractions: from admiring its incredible architecture to experiencing the thrills of its leisure attractions, plus the beauty of its desert and Gulf-side setting. Here are some ways to pack the best of the city into a single day.

Morning: Top Sights Round-Up

Mornings are ideal for sightseeing to avoid the extremes of the UAE’s heat. For an easy overview, take a hop-on hop-off bus tour, sitting on the open-air upper deck or the air-conditioned interior. Check out the palm-lined Corniche, Emirates Palace, and other sights, and disembark to explore further at any of the route’s 24 stops. Or go for a more traditional coach excursion with visits to the dazzling Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Heritage Village to discover the city’s Bedouin roots. Alternatively, focus on Abu Dhabi’s modern architecture, with a panoramic drive around its innovative skyscrapers and ecofriendly Masdar City.

Afternoon: Cars, Chutes, or Culture

Abu Dhabi is big on action-packed entertainment, and the afternoons are perfect for enjoying them. Make tracks for Ferrari World, the world’s biggest indoor theme park, to experience the planet’s fastest roller coaster and other thrilling rides. For mellower fun, cool off at the family-friendly water slides and pools of Yas Waterworld, or take a thrilling spin around the Yas Marina Formula 1 Circuit in a 3000cc race car. For something even more leisurely, head for the Louvre Abu Dhabi. This beautiful contemporary museum showcases important Western and Eastern art under a spectacular, sunlight-filtering dome.

Night: Desert Trips or Cruise Ships

Saving Abu Dhabi’s desert until the evening lets you enjoy it at its most magical. Join a desert tour that includes dune bashing, camel riding, and sandboarding before a barbecue dinner and live shows at a Bedouin-style camp. Or up the romance with a candlelit dinner for two at a luxe retreat in the dunes. You may prefer a more mellow sunset boat ride around Abu Dhabi’s mangroves, watching for gazelles and birds in the golden light. Other options include Arabian dhow (traditional sailing boat) dinner cruises along the city’s creeks—perfect for admiring the floodlit skyline.