Emirate of Abu Dhabi · United Arab Emirates
Where to stay in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is a city in Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, home to about 1,570,000 people.
- Best months
- December to February
- Nearest airport
- AUH26 km · Zayed International Airport
- Currency
- AEDUnited Arab Emirates dirham
- Time zone
- Asia/Dubai
- Language
- Arabic
About
About 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.
Abu Dhabi is the capital and seat of the government of the United Arab Emirates, hence it is the go-to destination for any major political event or ministerial headquarters. It is not, however, the commercial or tourism capital of the country — that would be Dubai — but massive investment in aviation and tourism since the 2000s has definitely added a lot things to do in city. The city was not intended to be the capital of the UAE.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Abu Dhabi
See
Abu Dhabi offers a lot of historical and cultural sights but it certainly isn't lacking in modern attractions.
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
- Qasr Al Watan
- Qasr al-Hosn
- Corniche Road
- Yas Island
- UAE flag pole
- Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Masdar City
- Emirates Palace
- The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi
- Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital
- Etihad Arena
Do
- Abu Dhabi Beach
- Corniche beach
- Lessons
- Desert safari
- Shopping
- Helicopter Tour
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Abu Dhabi to stay in
Hotels are well-tended and host first class restaurants, pools and other high-end facilities.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Abu Dhabi
109 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata; the 40 best known are shown, by the number of Wikipedia editions that cover them. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates Palace Kempinski | 2005 | 8.1 km |
| W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island | 2009 | 21.1 km |
| Bab al-Qasr | 2016 | 7.8 km |
| Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi | 5.1 km | |
| Rosewood Abu Dhabi | 2013 | 5.6 km |
| The WB Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton | 2021 | 20.8 km |
| AG Hotel | 1.3 km | |
| Al Ain Palace Hotel Abu Dhabi | 6.1 km | |
| Al Diar Capital Hotel | 6.2 km | |
| Al Diar Dana Hotel | 5.3 km | |
| Al Diar Mina Hotel | 6.0 km | |
| Al Diar Sawa Hotel Apartments | 2.1 km | |
| Al Jazira Club Hotel | 0.6 km | |
| Al Maha Arjaan Hotel Apartment by Rotana Abu Dhabi | 5.4 km | |
| Al Manzel Hotel Apartments | 5.3 km | |
| Al Raha Beach Hotel | 17.8 km | |
| Al Seef Resort & Spa by Andalus | 6.2 km | |
| Aloft Abu Dhabi | 5.4 km | |
| Anantara Eastern Mangroves Abu Dhabi Hotel | 4.1 km | |
| Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Hyatt Hotels Corporation | 5.3 km | |
| Aparthotel Adagio Abu Dhabi Al Bustan | 4.0 km | |
| Beach Rotana - Abu Dhabi | 5.0 km | |
| Beach Rotana - All Suites | 5.0 km | |
| Beach Rotana Residences | 5.0 km | |
| Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana | 5.7 km | |
| Center Ville Hotel | 3.3 km | |
| Centro Al Manhal Hotel by Rotana Abu Dhabi | 3.1 km | |
| Centro Capital Centre by Rotana | 5.8 km | |
| Centro Yas Island-by Rotana Abu Dhabi | 20.5 km | |
| City Seasons Al Hamra Hotel | 5.1 km | |
| Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers | 2020 | 7.7 km |
| Corniche Hotel Abu Dhabi | 5.9 km | |
| Courtyard by Marriott World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi | 5.6 km | |
| Cristal Hotel Abu Dhabi | 5.1 km | |
| Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi | 5.5 km | |
| Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island | 20.4 km | |
| DoubleTree by Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Residences | 2021 | 20.7 km |
| Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi | 0.5 km | |
| Eclipse Boutique Suites | 5.9 km | |
| Executive Suites by Mourouj | 1.7 km |
All 109 hotels in Abu Dhabi, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit Abu Dhabi
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Abu Dhabi are December to February. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 42 °C; February is the wettest, with about 17 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Abu Dhabi: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Zayed International Airport (AUH), about 26 km from the city centre in a straight line; Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC, 92 km) and Al Ain International Airport (AAN, 125 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
Abu Dhabi offers buses and plenty of taxis to get around. Since the most of the city is located in Abu Dhabi island, traffic is a common occurrence. Taxis are a good way to get around if you don't have a car. Abu Dhabi's taxis are relatively cheap. The main taxis are silver with yellow signs on the top. Flag fall costs 5 dirham, 5.50 dirham at night (10PM to 6AM) (2017) and the minimum fare is 12 dirham. You can flag one down from anywhere in Abu Dhabi. Alternatively, you can book a taxi in Abu Dhabi by calling 600535353 or by using the Abu Dhabi Taxi app, for a 4-dirham booking fee.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
AUH · Zayed International Airport
DWC · Al Maktoum International Airport
AAN · Al Ain International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Abu Dhabi
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. The fun thing about Abu Dhabi is that most kitchens, from tiny falafel kiosks to grand hotel restaurants to Burger King, deliver anywhere in the city. Delivery is quick, reliable, and free at some restaurants. Delivery can be arranged via Whatsapp or apps like Talabat or Deliveroo.
Drink
Only restaurants in hotels were allowed to serve alcohol. Therefore, nightlife is typically associated with hotels. The legal minimum drinking age is 21 and bringing your own alcohol is not allowed in restaurants. Unlike some other Middle Eastern nations, the bars in Abu Dhabi will be able to accommodate most drink orders. Many licensed premises feature Brunch, which does not refer to a meal between breakfast and lunch but an all inclusive package, typically consisting of a few hours of food (sometimes a buffet), drinks and potentially entertainment. There are many bottle shops around the city.
Stay safe
Abu Dhabi was ranked as the safest city in the world 3 years in a row by 2019 by the largest crowd-sourced global database Numbeo. The city is extremely safe, however it never hurts to practice common sense. Some people may try to scam you through telephone messages or automated voice calls telling you that you won the lottery, that you're in a legal trouble for violating a law, or that a Sheikh has decided to give you free money, or something of that sort. Taxi drivers are monitored and they're very safe. Rarely, crime does occur but is quickly dealt with by the federal police as the city is the headquarters of the Ministry of Interior.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Abu Dhabi: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Abu Dhabi?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Abu Dhabi are December to February. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 42 °C; February is the wettest, with about 17 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Abu Dhabi?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Zayed International Airport (AUH), about 26 km from the city centre in a straight line; Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC, 92 km) and Al Ain International Airport (AAN, 125 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Abu Dhabi?
United Arab Emirates dirham (AED).
Nearby
Destinations near Abu Dhabi
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.