Abu Dhabi is an underrated city in UAE that is much deserved a visit during your time in UAE. My main stay was in Abu Dhabi but I visited Dubai during my visit to go to the Expo and it’s only an hour drive away.

Best Time to Go

When we think of Middle Eastern Countries, we think of the summer months as a no-go but to my surprise, most of the places in Abu Dhabi are indoors which makes it an all year round destination.

If you are looking into spending days on the beach, consider on checking the weather forecast for windspeed during the months of December and January. My visit was during the end of December and early January, the sun was shining but the windspeed was 50km/h so the beaches were closed.

Before Arriving to Abu Dhabi

  • Register for Arrivals with your vaccine information on the ICA website
  • For UAE Visa – I have written an article on how to apply for your visa with my personal experience here
  • Download Al Hosn App from App Store or Google Play Store – This is needed to enter any location in UAE

Upon Arrival in Abu Dhabi Airport

  • PCR test will be conducted prior to immigration queue
  • Ask the immigration officer for your UID number which will be used to log in to your Al Hosn App. My UID did not work and I was not able to log in but I used the Saudi version of the app called Tawakkalna that is also recognized in UAE.
  • Quarantine is not required for anyone visiting Abu Dhabi

How to get around

I would recommend to rent a car as it would save a lot of cost. There are two options of car rentals; international car rentals or local car rentals. If you cannot rent a car, regular taxis are available and they are cheaper than Uber or Careem. Public buses are also available but I did not try them during my visit.

International or Major car rental companies requires a credit card to block an insurance fee of 1,000 AED which will be returned back after 15 days if the renter did not get any traffic fines. I tried using a prepaid credit card but it doesn’t work because it is considered as a debit card. I would always prefer renting from an international car rental because they would have a full insurance coverage in case of any damage.

Local car rental companies take 2,000 AED insurance fee in cash which will be returned back after 15 days to ensure no traffic tickets were issued under the renter. The risk with a local rental company is that it doesn’t have full insurance coverage for damage. I didn’t have a credit card so I had to go with a local company. It was my first time renting without a full insurance and thankfully the car came in one piece.

Driving License – GCC citizens can use their country’s driving license, however, for GCC residents and other nationalities, they need to have an international driving license when renting with a local company.

Things to Do

First, it’s best to understand the distribution of Abu Dhabi. It’s a cluster of different islands packed with different activities. So I’m going to list them down by Islands to help plan your itinerary better.

Yas Island

Yas Mall – Yas Mall is basically your gateway to Ferrari World and Clymb. As mentioned earlier, most places in Abu Dhabi are indoors, including their amusement park! Only the rides take you outside and everything else is indoor.

Ferrari World – Need I need to say more on this? Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi is home to the fastest rollercoaster in the world going up to 240km/h. It’s so fast that riders have to wear goggles. There are 4 rollercoasters in Ferrari World that I’m going to list down in my favorite order. It is definitely not for the faint of heart.

  • Ferrari Rossa – The FASTEST in the world!
  • Flying Aces – Lots of twist and turns! It is also the longest in time compared to the rest. Make sure to sit by the edge.
  • Turbo Track – An unexpected vertical ride to a free fall zero gravity. Get seated at the very right end of the ride.
  • Fiorarno GT Challenge – A calming ride compared to the other four to calm the nerves.

This is a really great time to go to Ferrari World as there is barely any queue so you don’t even need to get a fast track. I did not have to wait in line for any of the rides. Moreover, all the rides are very short so you won’t be left waiting too long and they sanitize the rides after every round.

Note: All rollercoaster rides require fabric face mask which you can purchase at Ferrari World stalls for 35 AED (2 masks). I’d recommend buying a few for back up in case they fly off during your ride.

Clymb – Wether you’re an experienced or non experienced climber, Clymb is a place to explore your skills in rock climbing and also to tick off the list of climbing at the tallest climbing wall in the world at a height of 40 meters. Clymb also has an Indoor Skydiving experience which is a lot of fun! Ask for a high fly experience to go up high on the tunnel and feel the thrill.

Tip: Get down the escalator from Ferrari World or Clymb and go outside to see the beautiful structure of Clymb.

Warner Bros – I personally did not get a chance to visit Warner Bros but I would recommend it for anyone visiting there.

Tip: Get a cheaper ticket by buying for Ferrari World and Warner Bros in one package.

Karting – Yas Island is home for the F1 circuit and I’m saddened that I did not get a chance to experience karting while I was there. I’ve heard so many great reviews on it and I’d recommend this to be on your list!

Iris Club – A nice lounge-like roof bar to unwind after a long day.

White – White, formerly MAD is only open on weekends for anyone looking to party during the time in Abu Dhabi.

*It’s important to take note that many clubs/bars does not allow dancing due to Covid-19 restrictions. Always check ahead of time to avoid disappointments.

Saadiyat Island

Soul Beach – As the name implies, it’s a beach with a soul. Pure pristine white sand beach with clear blue water and at only a price of 75 AED for an umbrella and a sunbed. The beach has many really nice restaurants and cafes along the shore. I went to Alkalime; a plant based cafe for coffee that was really good and the ambiance is beautiful. For lunch, I went to The Steak House which had really good sandwich at a reasonable price. The beach has a very clean shower and toilet facilities to change in. I loved the fact that they have underground parking at a price of 10 AED after the first hour which makes it very convenient as you go up the elevator, the beach is right there.

L’ouvre – L’ouvre Abu Dhabi is an architectural masterpiece that would require a good 6 hours or more to explore the 21 buildings filled with artifacts collections, art, xxx They also have exhibitions held in one of the buildings. It is also a very picturesque location for photography when the sun is above the structure and passes through the dome which creates drops of rain on the wall. It’s also a beautiful spot to watch for sunset. Go Karts are available for free to transport you from the parking to the museum,

Kayaking is also available at L’ouvre to admire the majestic white structure with a geographical patterned dome while paddling on the still water of the Arabian Sea. Also, yoga under the dome.

Tip: Go at 12pm to experience the rain of light and also sunset by 6pm.

Jubail Island

Jubail Mangrove Park – If you’re looking for some time to unwind in nature, Jubail Mangrove Park is the place to be. They also have mindfull and wellness program such as yoga and sound healing in the most calm area surrounded with ecological wonders of mangroves.

Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – An iconic and beautiful mosque that is certainly not to be missed.

* Important: Female must cover up to the shoulder, below the knee and headscarf at all times in the mosque. Clothing with cartoons is not allowed in the mosque.

Wahat Al Karama – Located just across Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is probably the best place to shoot for sunset with a reflection of the mosque on the water. Entrance if free.

Qasr Al Hosn – A place to learn about the birth of Abu Dhabi. It’s small and can be covered in an hour or less.

Marsa Mina – If you’re looking for a different atmosphere for having a meal, Marsa Mina might be an option. It’s a cluster of food trucks located just across from the port where you can see cruises parked.

Other spots to consider; Qasr Al Watan, Al Qana Bridge and Founder’s Memorial

COVID-19 Information

Almost everywhere in Abu Dhabi requires a negative PCR Test within the last 14 days. Entering Abu Dhabi by land from Dubai also requires a negative PCR Test.

*Information related to Covid-19 may not be up to date. Please check with reliable sources for the latest updates.