What You Will Do
The capital city of the United Arab Emirates incredibly merges its rich ancient heritage with the most modern contemporary life. You will see, taste and live the culture of UAE with the latest developments. Explore the panoramic sights and grand landmarks of the capital in this 8 hours to make the best memories in Abu Dhabi.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Itinerary
1
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center
1 hour 30 minutes
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque stands out as one of the world’s largest mosques, and the only one that captures unique interactions between Islam and world cultures. Sheikh Zayed's vision for the Grand Mosque was to incorporate architectural styles from different Muslim civilizations and celebrate cultural diversity by creating a haven that is truly diverse and inspirational in its foundation. The mosque’s architects were British, Italian and Emirati, and design inspiration was borrowed parts of Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan, and Egypt among other Islamic countries, revealing a glistening architectural marvel with an astonishing capacity of 40,000 worshippers and visitors.
The open-door policy invites tourists and celebrants from all around the world who can witness the spectacular onion-top domes, the reflective pools that engulf the courtyard and the iconic prayer hall, which not only overflows with blissful sunlight but also houses the world’s biggest chandelier and carpet, both meticulously handmade. Be sure to spot the calligraphy encircling the hollows of the domes, etched with verses from the Quran and painted with gold leaves in An-Naskh lettering.
2
Heritage Village
30 minutes
Visit the Heritage village to experience the traditional aspects of the desert way of life, and immerse yourself in the time capsule that brings to life a souk, a mosque and an encampment from pre-modernized Abu Dhabi. You can shop, explore artifacts and watch artisans making pottery, blowing glass and weaving fabric on a loom.
Run by the Emirates Heritage Club, this reconstruction of a traditional oasis village provides an interesting glimpse into the emirate’s past and features public workshops where craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills such as metal work, pottery, weaving and spinning. The craftsmen share their skills with visitors, and occasionally offer them a chance to try them out. The little spice shop within the village offers a range of dried herbs, handmade soaps and plenty of souvenirs to collect.
3
Abu Dhabi Dates Market
15 minutes
Abudhabi Dates Market is the main and biggest market to get dates in Abu Dhabi. The various products of date species are available usually in the market during the season. You can find date products from Oman and Saudi as well. The prices you can get here are the best in town.
4
Madinat Zayed
30 minutes
The Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre is the place to go for international retail shopping. At the heart of the city the Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre offers a wide array of brands and stores that offer the discerning shopper everything from high end fashion, perfume, household goods, groceries, electronics and lots more.
With more than 70 jewelry stores that offer traditional and contemporary gold, diamond and pearl jewelry from across the globe, the Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre is a true jewel in the cityscape. It also showcases the Madinat Zayed Gold Centre, the only Gold Centre in Abu Dhabi. The mall offers adequate parking facilities.
5
The Corniche
10 minutes
The Corniche Road spreads across an impressive eight kilometres of manicured waterfront that includes children’s play areas, separate cycle and pedestrian pathways, cafés and restaurants, and the Corniche Beach - a lifeguarded beach park.
Corniche Beach
This lengthy stretch of beach extends along Corniche Road from near the Hilton Hotel to beyond Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, where you’ll find its main entrance. During the week you can usually find a beach umbrella, but during the weekend they may all go quickly. You can’t swim out very far; floating fences keep you within 40 metres of the beach, and there are plenty of lifeguards around.
Abu Dhabi’s pristine Corniche beachfront has been awarded coveted Blue Flag status - the internationally renowned eco-label for beaches and marinas that guarantees clean and safe bathing water.
Some 30,000 to 50,000 visitors flock to the Corniche every month, enjoying three separate sections for families, singles and the general public. There are more than 1,100 free parking spaces with a five-minute walk of the beach, which charges AED 10 (the US $2.7) entry to the family and singles sections. Entry to the public beach is free
6
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi
25 minutes
An iconic Abu Dhabi landmark, this beautiful hotel blends Arabian splendour with the latest luxuries to create a magical and memorable experience. During daytime, the hotel’s golden-sandy colour contrasts with its fresh green gardens, silvery water fountains and the blue sky. At night, the hotel’s lighting changes subtly, featuring a majestic rainbow-changing effect over the main dome.
The main Palace building stretches over a kilometre from wing to wing, and its gardens and surroundings spread across 100 hectares. The hotel features 114 domes, with the central dome at an imposing 72.6 metres above ground. Gold, mother of pearl and crystals dominate the interior. The Palace has 1,002 chandeliers, the largest weighing 2.5 tonnes. Another memorable Palace feature is its two handmade wall display carpets, portraying the palace itself and each weighing a tonne.
Guests and visitors can wander through the majestic halls and corridors – a showcase of Arabian design, with grand central passageways and arched ceilings – and choose from over 200 rooms, all decorated in a comfortable yet chic style and boasting lavish cultural touches. Culinary highlights include modern Chinese cuisine at Hakkasan, fine French fare at Le Vendome and award-winning local dishes at Mezlai Emirati Restaurant.
7
Qasr Al Watan
15 minutes
Qasr Al Watan, the new cultural landmark in Abu Dhabi, opens its doors to the public in an invitation to discover the legacy of knowledge and tradition that have shaped the journey of the nation, boosting cultural understanding of the United Arab Emirates
An Architectural Landmark
More than a traditional palace, Qasr Al Watan is an exquisitely crafted tribute to the Arabian heritage and artistry, and its architecture and design echo the significance of the exhibits housed within its halls and the function of its most iconic rooms.
Cultural Initiative
Qasr Al Watan invites visitors to learn about the country’s governing traditions and values, and explore a well-preserved legacy of knowledge, thus boosting cultural understanding of the UAE.
A Knowledge Hub
Qasr Al Watan opens the door to an inspiring intellectual legacy that highlights Arab contributions to various fields of knowledge. The Palace also houses Qasr Al Watan Library where scholars can explore a vast collection of books and resources about the UAE and learn about the nation’s progressive journey.
An Enriching Visitor Journey
At Qasr Al Watan visitors will learn about the formation of the UAE and its system of governance and have access to halls typically reserved for official summits. Visitors will also gain a deep appreciation of Arabian architectural craftsmanship and intellectual heritage in a truly enriching journey.
Parking: Arriving at the Visitor Centre by car, you will see the Visitor Centre car park. There are ample parking spaces available and there is no charge to park here. Valet parking is available at the Visitor Centre car park at a charge of AED 80.
Parking is open from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm, 7 days a week.
8
Etihad Towers
A dramatic architectural statement, this five tower complex invites residents and visitors to live, work, stay, shop and dine in one destination with panoramic city and Arabian Gulf views.
A benchmark for luxury experiences, the complex includes three residential towers and the 280 metre high, five-star Jumeirah at Etihad Towers hotel.
On Tower 2’s 74th floor, the Observation Deck at 300 offers unbeatable cityscape and island views.
The Avenue at Etihad Towers is one of the world’s most expensive and exclusive collections of boutique shops, with many having luxurious private rooms for private, VIP shopping.
9
Iranian Souk
30 minutes
The Iranian Souk is an open-air souk and wonderful shopping location. Iranian Souk offers a wide selection of original products and goods from Iran, such as bedspreads, Oriental spices, brightly-colored textiles, high-quality Persian rugs, beautiful carpets, and hand-painted pottery.
10
Yas Island
Yas Island is an island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The island’s development project was initiated in 2006 by Abu Dhabi-based Aldar Properties, with the aim of turning the island into a multi-purpose leisure, shopping and entertainment center at an estimated total cost of over billion. There are 5 main attractions included- Ferrari World, Yas Water World, Warner Brothers, Clymb and Yas Marina Circuit.
11
Manarat al Saadiyat
30 minutes
Manarat Al Saadiyat contributes to the art scene in Abu Dhabi through exhibitions, workshops, performances and drop-in art studio spaces. The site for the annual Abu Dhabi Art show, Manarat Al Saadiyat includes an outdoor events terrace, a café and brasserie, three galleries for temporary exhibits, a photography studio, an art studio and a 250-seat auditorium.
Meaning ‘place of enlightenment’, Manarat Al Saadiyat opened in 2009 and today hosts an ongoing series of activities for the local community, including workshops for children and adults in topics such as printmaking, self-portraits, figure drawing and robotics.
It also serves as venue for comedy nights, theater workshops, sky-gazing, yoga classes and film screenings.
12
Marina Mall
1 hour
Marina Mall is an Abu Dhabi shopping mall and entertainment venue which opened in March 2001. The Mall is located along the breakwater on Corniche road, close to the Emirates Palace hotel. In January 2017, Forbes recognized Marina Mall as one of the top shopping malls in Abu Dhabi.
13
World Trade Center Mall
30 minutes
This contemporary revival of a historic district within the heart of the city – the old Central Market, which was the business and trading hub - is now a fully integrated, mixed-use development with a mall, a modern souk, offices and residences.
The Souk at World Trade Centre Abu Dhabi On the site of the original commercial district and spanning three levels, this contemporary interpretation of a traditional Abu Dhabi market is connected to the WTC Mall by Khalifa Bridge. The souk has everything from traditional artifacts, henna and spices to jewellery, Arabic perfumes, clothing and accessories.
14
Louvre Abu Dhabi
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is an art and civilization museum, located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The museum was inaugurated on 8 November 2017 by French President Emmanuel Macron and United Arab Emirates Vice President Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
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