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  • Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque
  • Camels in Abu Dhabi desert
  • Child in Abu Dhabi streets

Abu Dhabi holidays

Explore this beautiful city of wonderful contrasts

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One of the seven sovereign sheikhdoms that complete the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is the region's ‘cultural heart’, capital and centre of government. Effortlessly contrasting modern architecture with Arabic tradition, the ‘Garden City of the Gulf’ is a modern metropolis on an island graced with parks, green boulevards and verdant gardens.

Only 40 years ago, Abu Dhabi was a sleepy fishing village. Largely thanks to its oil wealth, today it's one of the world’s richest cities and an ever popular tourist destination.

See our latest Abu Dhabi holiday offers.

Abu Dhabi holiday highlights
•   Book our Abu Dhabi City Tour and explore this buzzing city. See the imposing Grand Mosque, painstakingly renovated Al Husn Palace and striking modern architecture with an Islamic twist.
•   Discover spectacular marine life in the warm waters off Abu Dhabi's pristine white-sand beaches.
•   Embark on a desert safari or go sandboarding over the golden dunes - a thrilling experience.

Abu Dhabi Honeymoons

All of our Abu Dhabi hotels make for fabulous honeymoon settings, but we have specially labelled a few of our favourite, most romantic retreats that we think make the most perfect settings for your dream honeymoon in the UAE.

Abu Dhabi Tailor Made
We can help you your own holiday from scratch, with every aspect tailored to suit your individual needs. Made to measure, your dream escape will spring to life. Simply:
•   Look through our online portfolio of Abu Dhabi hotels and experiences.
•   Call our experienced team of Personal Travel Experts on 01306 747002 and plan your holiday of a lifetime.

Abu Dhabi Multi-Centre holidays
Want to see more than one of our amazing destinations during your holiday? Just say the word and we can combine your stay in Abu Dhabi with other exotic locations such as Bangkok or the Maldives.

To find out more about Abu Dhabi holidays, take a look at our:
•   Online information on Abu Dhabi.
•   Abu Dhabi travel features on Kuoni i-travel, our online travel guide.

Time difference / local time

GMT +4 hours
Language

Arabic. English is widely understood.

Currency

Dirham
Safety

The United Arab Emirates is considered a very safe destination, but as with any major city or resort, take care of your valuables.

Highlights

The Corniche
Abu Dhabi’s famous seafront boulevard is perfect for a nearly morning or late afternoon stroll. Marvel at the impressive Blue Mosque on the corner.

Fishing Harbour and Dhow Yard
See how these sturdy wooden vessels, which once ferried Arab seafarers to China and East Africa in quest of trade, are made.

Forts
Just east of the city, the 200-year-old Al Maqtaa Fort was built to keep bandits away from the city’s riches. Diwan Amiri, the famous White Fort nearby, was built in 1793.

Futaisi Island
Take a boat trip across to this pretty eco-tourist resort - home to gazelles, flamingos and eagles.

Golf
Boasting world-class facilities, a striking clubhouse, flawless fairways and seven salt water lakes, Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton is an oasis of tranquillity carved out of the desert.

Al Ain
Often described as the ‘Garden City of the Gulf’, Al Ain is a lush green desert oasis that has forever been a stop on the camel caravan trail. It's backed by the imposing backdrop of Jebel Hafit.

Jebel Hafit
Journey up the 13km long road to the summit of this mountain for magnificent views of the city and surrounding area on a clear day.

Beaches

Abu Dhabi has white-sand beaches lapped by warm waters that are teeming with marine life.

Passports and Visas

•  Make sure you have a full 10-year passport.
•  British and Irish passport holders don’t need a visa.

Events and festivals

January
Abu Dhabi Golf Championship
Held at the pristine Abu Dhabi Golf Club, this tournament sees 120 players compete for the Falcon trophy. There's a spectator village with diversions to keep kids occupied.

March-April
Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Festival
Join in the fun at this two-week celebration. The action includes ballets, workshops and Arabian contemporary classical music.

July
WOMAD Abu Dhabi
WOMAD (World of Music Arts & Dance) hits the Corniche with performers from all over the world. Feel the rhythm with drum-based groups, dance and visual arts.

October
Abu Dhabi Film Festival
Watch cinematic creations by Arab and international film-makers.

November
Abu Dhabi Art
This contemporary art fair is held at Emirates Palace. Over 20 countries are represented and the event aims to promote dialogue between the east and west.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Held at Yas Marina Circuit, this is the last race of the Formula One Season. Head to the track and watch cars whiz by at 200mph.

Shopping

Shop till you drop at Abu Dhabi Shopping Mall.

Flying time to destination

7 hours

Activities

Beach, Eat & Drink, Shopping, Culture, Nature & Quietness, History & Tradition, Events & Festivals, Sport in general, Watersports, Hiking, Biking, Golf, Wellness / Spa, Outdoor / Adventure
Eating/Drinking

•   Try mezze, a selection of starters that's as filling as a main course. It includes:
    o   Tabbouleh (a salad of chopped parsley, cracked wheat, tomatoes and mint)
    o   Hummus (chickpea and sesame seed dip)
    o   Moutabel (aubergine puree)
    o   Waraeinab (stuffed vine leaves with rice)
    o   Tahini (sesame seed paste, yoghurt and lemon dip)
    o   Arabic bread
•   Main dishes include:
    o   Machbous (spiced lamb with rice)
    o   Hareis (simmered wheat and tender lamb)
    o   Meshwi (a mixed grill of various types of meat and sausage)
    o   Locally caught fish or shellfish.
•   For a snack, try shawarma - slivers of grilled lamb carved from a vertical spit and served with salad in a pocket of Arab bread.
•   For desert try esh asaraya (cheesecake) and umm’ail (bread pudding with cinnamon and nutmeg).
•  T he middle east is famous for its sweet pastries, although fruit is the usual dessert.

Good to know

Religion
Islam

Dialling code
+971 2

Summer or Winter destination?

Summer, Winter
Museums

Al Ain Palace Museum
Gain a fascinating insight into the region's history. The Palace was once the home to the late ruler Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Heritage Village
This small museum depicting the the local community's traditional daily activities before Abu Dhabi's oil was discovered.

Tipping

A service charge of 15–18% will usually be added to your bill.

Climate data for this region

Best time to visit

The United Arab Emirates are warm all year round, but the best time to visit is from November to March when the average maximun temperature is 25°C. May to September are the hottest months, when temperatures often exceed 40°C.

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