Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, began on a T-shaped island in the Persian Gulf and now spreads across nearby islands and the mainland. Its name means father of the gazelle, and around 2.5 million people lived in the urban area in 2023, making it the country's second city after Dubai.
Visitors come for the white domes of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the museums of Saadiyat Island, the 8 km Corniche along the sea, mangrove lagoons and the theme parks and Formula One circuit of Yas Island. The pace is calmer than in Dubai, and the emirate reaches far inland to the oasis city of Al Ain and the dunes of Liwa. Abu Dhabi suits culture lovers, families, motorsport fans and winter-sun travellers. Vacation rentals range from apartments in the towers of the Corniche and Al Reem Island to villas and townhouses on Saadiyat, Yas and the Al Raha waterfront, so it is worth choosing the island that matches your plans.
Abu Dhabi is a city of islands linked by bridges, and each has its own character. The main island, with the 8 km Corniche on its western side, suits visitors who want city life, the seafront promenade, Corniche Beach and older landmarks such as Qasr Al Hosn within a short ride. Al Reem Island, about 600 metres off the main island, is a district of residential towers with around 60,000 residents, and Al Maryah Island next to it is the central business district; both suit longer stays in apartments.
Saadiyat Island, about 500 metres off the coast, combines the Saadiyat Cultural District, home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, with beaches and villa communities, a good choice for couples and families who want culture and sand together. Yas Island, an artificial island near the airport, is the place for theme parks, the Formula One circuit and holidays with children. On the mainland, Al Raha Beach, between Umm Al Nar and the airport, has waterfront apartments and townhouses on the road to Dubai.
Settlers were living around Abu Dhabi as early as the third millennium BC, in the time of the Umm Al Nar culture. The modern city dates from 1761, when a hunting party of the Bani Yas tribe, which had lived in the Liwa Oasis, found fresh water on the island; a popular story says they were following a gazelle. A fort was built beside the well, and within a few years hundreds of houses had grown up around it. That fort, Qasr Al Hosn, is the city's oldest stone building and now a museum of the city's early life, with displays of crafts such as Al Sadu weaving.
For generations the town lived from pearling. Offshore oil was discovered at Umm Shaif in 1958, and in 1966 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan became ruler. On 2 December 1971 Abu Dhabi and five other emirates formed the United Arab Emirates, with Zayed as its first president. The Founder's Memorial honours him, and Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace, opened to visitors in 2019.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the country's largest, was inaugurated in 2007 and can hold around 41,000 people. Materials came from many countries, including marble, gold, semi-precious stones and crystal, and Sheikh Zayed is buried in its courtyard. Visitors of all faiths are welcome outside prayer times; dress modestly, follow the mosque's posted dress code and check its current visiting rules before you go.
On Saadiyat Island, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, opened in 2017 under an agreement with France, shows art from around the world beneath a vast perforated dome designed by Jean Nouvel. The Zayed National Museum, the national museum, opened nearby in December 2025, and a Guggenheim museum is due to complete the district. The Abrahamic Family House, also on Saadiyat, brings together a mosque, a church and a synagogue. Yas Island has hosted the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit since 2009 and is home to large theme and water parks.
The emirate has more than 400 km of coastline, and its waters hold a large population of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. In the city, Corniche Beach and Saadiyat Island's beaches are the classic places to swim; choose stretches with lifeguards and follow the flags. East of the main island, Mangrove National Park on the Al Qurm Corniche protects the mangroves that give Al Qurm its name, which means the mangrove in Arabic, and Jubail Mangrove Park, between Saadiyat and Yas, is a sanctuary for mangroves and wildlife.
Inland, Al Ain sits beside the Omani border and is known as the Garden City for its palm oases and low buildings. In 2011 its cultural sites became the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the UAE, and nearby Jebel Hafeet, the emirate's only mountain, rises to more than 1,100 metres with Bronze Age tombs at its foot. To the south-west, Liwa Oasis, about 150 km from the city on the edge of the Rub' al Khali, is a chain of villages among high dunes, and Moreeb Dune nearby rises about 300 metres.
Zayed International Airport (AUH), the hub of Etihad Airways and known until 2024 as Abu Dhabi International Airport, lies about 30 km east of the city centre, close to Yas Island and Al Raha Beach. Rules for visas depend on your passport: some nationalities can enter without one, others must apply beforehand, so confirm the current requirements through official UAE channels.
Abu Dhabi has no metro. Public buses connect the islands and the mainland suburbs, taxis are plentiful, and water taxis and ferries cross between some of the islands. Many visitors also rent a car, especially for Al Ain, Liwa and the beaches outside the centre; traffic drives on the right, the main highways are fast, and the Darb toll system charges vehicles crossing the bridges onto the main island at peak hours. Driverless shuttles and robotaxis have been introduced on Yas and Saadiyat islands. Dubai lies along the coast to the north-east, so the two cities are easy to combine in one trip.
Abu Dhabi has a hot desert climate with blue skies most of the year. The cooler season, from about November to March, ranges from warm to mild and is the most comfortable time for beaches, mosque visits and desert trips; January is the coolest month, with an average temperature of about 19°C, and a few days bring rain or morning fog.
From May to September the weather is extremely hot and humid. Average highs in July and August are above 40°C, the humidity makes it feel hotter still, and dust storms can reduce visibility. Summer is when indoor attractions such as museums and theme parks come into their own, with outdoor plans kept for early morning and evening. In every season, carry water, use strong sun protection and dress in light, loose layers that also cover shoulders and knees for visits to religious sites.
Abu Dhabi welcomes visitors from all over the world, but public behaviour is governed by UAE law and local custom. In malls, souks and other public places, wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees, and keep swimwear for the beach and the pool. Ask permission before photographing people, avoid public displays of affection, and remember that alcohol is served only in licensed venues and that being drunk in public is an offence. In the month of Ramadan, whose date shifts earlier every year, it is courteous, and expected, not to eat, drink or smoke in public between dawn and sunset.
Holiday homes need a licence from the Department of Culture and Tourism, DCT Abu Dhabi, before they can be rented to guests, and a home may not be advertised online without a valid licence. Rules change, so check DCT Abu Dhabi's current requirements, and your government's current travel advice, before departure.
The cooler months from about November to March are the most pleasant, with mild to warm days and a January average of about 19°C. From May to September it is extremely hot and humid, with July and August highs above 40°C, so summer visits are best built around indoor sights.
The main island and the Corniche suit city breaks, Saadiyat Island combines beaches with the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Yas Island is best for theme parks and families. Al Reem and Al Maryah islands have many apartment towers, and Al Raha Beach on the mainland is handy for the airport.
Zayed International Airport (AUH) is about 30 km east of the city centre. Yas Island and Al Raha Beach are close to it, while the Corniche and the main island take longer by taxi or bus. The airport was known as Abu Dhabi International Airport until February 2024.
Yes. Visitors of all faiths are welcome outside prayer times. Dress modestly, avoid see-through clothing and follow the mosque's posted dress code, as visitors who are not suitably dressed can be refused entry. Visiting arrangements can change, so check the mosque's official guidance before you go.
It helps. The city has no metro and the islands are spread out, although buses, taxis and water taxis cover the main areas. A car makes day trips to Al Ain, Jebel Hafeet and Liwa much easier. Traffic drives on the right, and tolls apply on the bridges to the main island at peak hours.
Yes. Yas Island has theme and water parks, the Corniche has play areas and a long promenade, and beaches with lifeguards are easy to reach. Mangrove parks, museums on Saadiyat Island and a calmer pace than Dubai make it a comfortable choice with children, especially in the cooler months.
Yes. Holiday homes must be licensed by the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) before guests can stay, and a home cannot be advertised online without a valid licence. The rules are updated from time to time, so hosts should check DCT Abu Dhabi's current requirements.
Yes. Al Ain, inland on the border with Oman, is known for its palm oases and greenery, and its cultural sites became the UAE's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. Nearby Jebel Hafeet, more than 1,100 metres high, has a winding road to viewpoints over the desert.
Researched and written with AI assistance, then fact-checked against the sources below. Last checked .