Hotels & Hand Luggage

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi

OVERVIEW

An intoxicating mix of opulence, history, culture, heritage and future vision. Stay in one of Abu Dhabi’s many lavish hotels and you will be rewarded with world class service as well as traditional Arabic hospitality. There’s islands built for leisure and entertainment, fantastic shopping, beaches and trips into the desert.

Abu Dhabi is the capital and the largest Emirate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The island of Abu Dhabi is situated 250 meters off the mainland along the Persian Gulf and has a population of around 1.5 million.

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Dubai and Abu Dhabi Guide book

Dubai & Abu Dhabi Travel Guide

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Abu Dhabi has a desert climate with hot summers, cooler winters and plenty of sunshine.

Spring

April to May – pleasant weather with average temperatures ranging from the high 20’s to low 30’s (low 80’s to high 90’s) and slightly lower hotel rates after the peak tourist seasons.

Summer

June to August – it is very hot with high humidity levels despite small amounts of rainfall. Hotel rates are greatly reduced during the summer months, sometimes by as much as 50%. If you can stand the heat this is a great time to get a good hotel deal.

Autumn

September to October – the temperatures start to cool down after the searing heat in the summer, although they are still in the late 30’s (low 100’s) in September and then down to the low 30’s (high 80’s) by the end of October.

Winter

November to March – weather wise this is the best time to visit but expect to pay top prices for hotel rooms as the rates are highest during this period. Daytime temperatures are around the mid 20’s (mid 70’s to low 80’s). December and January are the coolest months to visit.

Average Temperature

Average Rainfall

TRANSPORT

There are a limited number of transport options when getting around Abu Dhabi, with many of the main attractions outside of the city being quite spread out so you will nearly always need a car or taxi.

Taxis  

Taxis are a very common, cheap and comfortable means of transport in Abu Dhabi, they are all metered but fares can also be negotiated upfront and drivers only accept cash as payment. The taxi can be flagged down pretty much anywhere or booked over the TransAD hotline (600 535353). The fares will always be higher during the night time as fares increase from the hours 10:00 pm–6:00 am.

All taxis can also be hired to take you outside of Abu Dhabi city or outside Abu Dhabi Emirate. A taxi in the daytime from Abu Dhabi to Dubai would cost around AED 250.

Buses

The buses are affordable, comfortable and air-conditioned, they operate around the city and suburbs, as well as Al Ain, Madinat Zayed and on Abu Dhabi Island. All bus services run from 5:00 am to midnight during the week and till 2:00 am on weekends. A single bus fare for a trip outside the city costs 1 Dirham and all fares are paid into a small box next to the driver when entering the bus.

Airport Shuttle

Etihad offer guests a free shuttle service from the airport to Abu Dhabi city or Al Ain. Emirates also offer a free shuttle service to Abu Dhabi if flying into Dubai – both airlines will require your flight booking information and it’s advisable to book in advance to make sure you get a place on the coach.

Car Rental

Abu Dhabi has a well maintained road network and has relatively cheap petrol prices, however it also has a high rate of road fatalities due to over-speeding and reckless driving. There’s a wide range of car rental companies on offer with offices at the airport, major hotels and around the city — foreign visitors will need a passport, credit card and international drivers licence.

AVERAGE COSTS

The currency in Abu Dhabi is the UAE dirham (AED or Dhs) and note denominations are 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000.

ATM’s are available around various parts of the city and in malls and shopping centres. Credit cards are widely accepted and you can change money at the airport, around the city and in hotels. We found the best place to exchange money was the malls and shopping centres such as the kiosks in the Marina Mall as they seem to offer the most competitive rates.

Average Costs (in UAE dirhams)

  • Mid range hotel (3–4 star)  280–500
  • Budget accommodation from 200
  • Three course meal for two in a mid-range restaurant 140–250
  • Budget dinner 30–50
  • Pint of beer 25–40
  • A regular coffee 14–25
  • 3 km taxi ride around the city 7–12
  • A bottle of water 1–2

ATTRACTIONS

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

This stunning mosque is one of the largest in the world and has the capacity for 40,000 worshippers. With over 1000 columns, 24 carat gold gilded chandeliers and 82 domes, this intricate and beautiful structure is an awe-inspiring sight. The bright white and glistening gold colours look beautiful in the sun and as it starts to set atmospheric, blue-hued lighting transforms the look of the mosque into an equally majestic vision. The mosque is open to visitors from 9:00 am till 10:00 pm Saturday to Thursday and 4:30 pm till 10:00 pm on Fridays, with scheduled, one hour, complementary tours available throughout the day. During he month of Ramadan the opening hours for visitors are 9:00 am till 2:00 pm everyday except Friday when the mosque is closed.

Ferrari World

This Ferrari branded theme park, located on Yas Island, is home to the world’s fastest roller coaster, Formula Rossa, with a top speed of 150 mph (240 km/h) that is reached in just 4.9 seconds. There are thrill rides, live shows, 4D rides and kids rides to keep everyone entertained. The park is open everyday from 11:00 am till 8:00 pm. Single park tickets start at AED 295 and you can also by a combined ticket with entrance to Yas Waterworld.

Yas Waterworld

This huge waterpark on Yas island has over 40 rides, slides and attractions and there is something for everyone. Some of the rides include the world’s longest, fastest tornado water slide, an interactive water and laser roller coaster and a free fall speed slide. The parks opening hours vary depending on time of year and day of the week, it always opens at 10:00 am and closes between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Single park tickets start at AED 250 and you can also buy a combined ticket with entrance to Ferrari World.

Qasr Al Hosn

Abu Dhabi’s oldest building and first permanent structure was once home to the ruling Al Nahyan family and was originally a coral and sea stone watchtower built in the 1760s that was then transformed into an impenetrable fort. The fort itself is currently undergoing a huge restoration and so can’t be viewed, it should re-open at some point in 2018. You can still visit the permanent free exhibition at the Qasr Al Hosn centre, that tells the story of the history of Abu Dhabi and it’s people through photographs and testimonies. The free exhibition is open daily from 9:00 am till 8:00 pm.

Observation Desk at 300

Located on the 74th floor of Tower 2 at the Etihad Towers complex, this observation deck offers fantastic 360 degree views over the city and surrounding islands while you enjoy afternoon tea or one of the drinks or light bites available. The entrance fee is AED 95 that comes with a AED 55 credit voucher that can be redeemed at the restaurant on the day of your visit. It is open daily from 10:00 am till 7:00 pm and the afternoon high tea is served between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm and costs AED 250 per person.

Emirates Palace Hotel

This stunning, luxurious five star hotel is located on the shores of the Arabian Gulf and overlooks its own private, natural bay. The landscaped gardens are only accessible to guests of the hotel, but non-hotel guests can still visit one of the cafes or restaurants inside the hotel and marvel at the beautiful marble floor, glistening gold ceilings and opulence at every turn. You can also go out to the impressive outside area at the front of the hotel, with palm trees and fountains, to marvel at the iconic building. The area also offers great views of the Etihad Towers so there are some wonderful photo opportunities.

AREA GUIDES

The Corniche and Downtown Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi city it actually an island just off the mainland, the Corniche and Downtown areas are popular places to stay on this island.
The Corniche Road and promenade spread across 5 miles (8 km) of waterfront with landscaped gardens, cafes, restaurants, walkways, a cycle path and the Corniche Beach. A great way to explore the Corniche is to rent a bike from one of the several stations located near the Corniche, although most of it provides little shade so be cautious of the beating sun and ensure to take water if venturing to the eastern section as there are far fewer amenities here. The long stretch of beautiful Corniche Beach has three sections, one for families and one for singles that come with a charge of AED 10 and a free public beach. Towels and sunbeds can also be rented for a fee.
The Emirates Palace Hotel, Etihed Towers, Marina Mall and the Heritage Village are all easy to reach from The Corniche and there are plenty of hotel options to choose from.

Between the Bridges (Khor Al Maqta or Bain Al Jessrain)

This area, that goes by several names, is where the stretch of water, commonly referred to as The Grand Canal, separates mainland Abu Dhabi and the island of Abu Dhabi. There are some beautiful five-star hotel resorts located here and many have distant, stunning views of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. You will also find The Souk at Qaryat Al Beri with an array of shopping and dining options and waterways linking to two of the luxury hotels where you can take traditional Abra boat rides between the souk and both hotels.

Yas Island

A man-made island full of leisure, shopping and entertainment options. This is where you will find Ferrari World theme park, Yas waterworld and Yas Marina Circuit, that hosts the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix. There is also the Yas Marina, Yas Mall, Yas Beach, Yas Links golf course, a huge number of dining options and a handful of hotels. To further enhance Yas Island, Warner Bros. World is set to open at the end of July 2018.

Saadiyat Island

One of the most luxurious neighbourhoods in Abu Dhabi has high-end five star hotels, villa complexes and beautiful beaches. The area is going through an impressive transformation into a world-class island destination with the Louvre Museum now open and the Guggenheim museum also set to open there. There is a beautiful, beach front golf course at the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and the pristine Saadiyat public beach with ample facilities is open from 8:00 am till 8:00 pm and entry is AED 25 for adults and AED 15 for children over 6. Hawksbill sea turtles continue to nest on the islands beachfront and the implementation of a Hawksbill Turtle Conservation Programme has ensured the successful hatching of this endangered species eggs.

INTERESTING FACTS

  • The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque’s first ceremony was the funeral of its namesake, Sheikh Zayed, who is buried at the site.
  • The most inclined building in the world is located in Abu Dhabi. The Capital Gate building leans four times more than the Tower of Pisa in Italy at a tilt of 18 degrees.
  • Abu Dhabi means ‘Father of the Gazelle’ in Arabic, although it isn’t clear where the name came from.
  • Abu Dhabi is famous for pearls and divers used to free dive, before there were oxygen cylinders, deep into the Persian Gulf waters to retrieve pearls from oysters.
  • Camel racing is popular in Abu Dhabi and the riders are now robots, used to make the camels race.
  • The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has the world’s largest chandelier and world’s largest carpet.
  • The Emirates Palace hotel has 1002 Swarovski crystal chandeliers.

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