Abu Dhabi Holidays

Abu Dhabi packs the Gulf's grandest mosque, a Louvre, three world-class theme parks and some of the whitest sand in the Middle East into one capital city. If you want a holiday with sun, culture, and adrenaline in equal measure, this is it.

☀️ Good to know for your Abu Dhabi Holidays 2026

• ☀️ Abu Dhabi averages over 300 days of sunshine a year, with winter highs of 24-28°C perfect for sightseeing and summer temps pushing past 40°C — ideal for pool days and air-conditioned attractions

• 💶 Generally a touch easier on the wallet than Dubai — a meal for two in a mid-range restaurant costs around £30-40, a pint around £6-8, and a 24-hour Yas Island theme park pass is included free with several hotels

• 🎢 Theme park central: Ferrari World (Formula Rossa, the world's fastest rollercoaster), Warner Bros World (six themed zones, fully indoor and air-conditioned), and Yas Waterworld all on Yas Island, all walkable from each other.

Top reasons to visit Abu Dhabi:

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is free to enter, open every day, and looks other-worldly at sunset (modest dress required, and headscarves are provided at the door)

• The Louvre Abu Dhabi is the only Louvre outside Paris, sitting under a latticed dome on Saadiyat Island that is almost as impressive as the collection inside

• Three theme parks on Yas Island (Ferrari World, Warner Bros World and Yas Waterworld) are walkable from each other, and several hotels include a free 24-hour pass

• Saadiyat Beach, Corniche Beach and Yas Beach give you three completely different beach days within a twenty-minute drive of each other

• The F1 season-closer at Yas Marina Circuit every November brings concert headliners and a citywide buzz that spills well beyond the racetrack

• Half-day desert safaris with dune bashing, camel rides and barbecue dinners start from around £60 / €70 and run year-round

Abu Dhabi is perfect for you if...

• You have always wanted to see a grand mosque that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale, and also ride the world's fastest roller coaster on the same day

• You are a "big resort" family who wants theme parks, waterparks and a swim-up bar before the kiddos even ask not a quiet villa somewhere

• You want something a bit more sophisticated than Dubai without losing the wow factor

• You want all-inclusive luxury on a white-sand beach without the ten-hour flight to the Maldives (and with loads more theme parks and malls)

🏙️ Where to stay on your holidays to Abu Dhabi

Each area of Abu Dhabi has its own vibe, so picking the right one will make your holiday chef’s kiss.

• Abu Dhabi Mainland - the city’s buzzing core, where you can hop between mega malls, cultural landmarks like Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and urban beaches. Perfect for first-timers who want a mix of sightseeing, shopping, and sunny downtime all in one place.

• Saadiyat Island – Abu Dhabi’s luxury hotspot with soft white sands, high-end resorts, and cultural icons like the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Best for couples or culture-seekers who love their beach days with a side of boujee elegance.

• Yas Island – putting the capital F in fun, stacked with Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, Yas Waterworld, and beach clubs. Perfect for families and groups chasing high-energy holidays with theme parks, waterslides, and nightlife all in one place.

🏨 Best Hotels in Abu Dhabi 2026/2027

Abu Dhabi's hotel scene is properly impressive, with five-star resorts, beachfront properties, and theme park hotels spread across the mainland, Saadiyat Island, and Yas Island. See all hotels in Abu Dhabi, or browse our top picks below.

💑 What are the best hotels in Abu Dhabi for couples?

• 💎 The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal - Venetian-inspired five-star with gorgeous canal views, multiple pools, a private beach, and a world-class spa. Just minutes from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Properly romantic without being over the top.

• 🌅 Fairmont Bab Al Bahr - Luxury hotel right on the creek with its own private beach, five restaurants, and spacious rooms with all the bells and whistles. The views across to the Grand Mosque at sunset are something else.

• 🏝️ Anantara Eastern Mangroves - A unique pick overlooking Mangrove National Park rather than the sea. Infinity pool, Thai-inspired spa, and kayaking through the mangroves right from the hotel. Perfect for couples who want something different.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best family hotels in Abu Dhabi?

• 🎢 Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island - The big draw here is complimentary access to Yas theme parks including Ferrari World and Warner Bros World. Family suites with bay views, a kids' club with cinema, and a splash pad pool area. Hard to beat for families.

• 🏖️ Al Raha Beach Resort & Spa - Family-friendly resort on a private beachfront with spacious rooms, multiple pools, and a Dine Around concept that lets you swap between restaurants. Kids love the beach activities, parents love the spa.

• 🌊 Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island - Beachfront on Saadiyat Island with a mini aqua park, wave pool, kids' and teens' clubs, and a different restaurant for every day of the week. All-inclusive and properly set up for families.

✨ What are the best luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi?

• 👑 Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental - The most iconic hotel in Abu Dhabi. Private beach, multiple pools, waterslides, a lazy river, and a spa with a Turkish bath. Kids' club, watersports, and dining that ranges from casual to world-class. A genuine palace.

• 🏨 Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi - Recently upgraded with gorgeous suites, butler service, premium dining, and stunning Arabian Gulf views. A proper luxury base on the mainland.

🎉 What are the best hotels in Abu Dhabi for groups?

• 🏎️ W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island - Built right on top of the F1 racetrack. Modern, flashy, with a rooftop pool deck, cocktail bars, and a unique design that's unlike any other hotel you've stayed in. Walking distance to the theme parks and Yas Beach. Perfect for a group trip with a bit of edge.

• 🍺 InterContinental Abu Dhabi - Five-star on the mainland with its own private beach, a Belgian beer cafe, a Brazilian steakhouse, and seven other restaurants and bars. Enough variety to keep a group happy for a full week without eating at the same place twice.

💰 What are the best value hotels in Abu Dhabi?

• 🏖️ Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers - Private beach on the Arabian Gulf with an outdoor pool, watersports, tennis and squash courts, and a brilliant range of restaurants including German, Indian, Japanese, and American-Brazilian options. Five-star quality at a competitive price.

• 🌆 Corniche Hotel Abu Dhabi - Stylish and central with views over the Arabian Gulf, Italian and Moroccan restaurants, and a short walk to the Corniche. A solid city base without the five-star price tag.

👉 See all Abu Dhabi hotels

🏖️ Best Beaches for Your Abu Dhabi Holidays 2026/2027

• 🏝️ Saadiyat Beach - The standout beach in Abu Dhabi. Pristine white sand, turquoise water, and natural dunes protected as a turtle nesting site. On Saadiyat Island, with the Louvre Abu Dhabi right nearby.

• 🌊 Corniche Beach - A long, public stretch of sand along Abu Dhabi's waterfront with calm, shallow water that's great for families. Blue Flag status, lifeguards, and facilities including showers and changing rooms. Free to access.

• 🎢 Yas Beach - The beach on Yas Island, right next to the theme parks. A proper beach club atmosphere with DJs, food, and a lively vibe. Great for groups.

• 🏖️ Soul Beach - A newer addition on Saadiyat Island, connected to the Saadiyat Grove development. Soft sand, beach clubs, and a more relaxed feel than Yas.

• 🌅 Al Bateen Beach - A quieter, locals' favourite beach on the mainland with calm water and views across to the mangroves. Good for a peaceful morning away from the resort.

All-inclusive holidays in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi might not be the first place that springs to mind when you think all-inclusive, but two of the emirate's strongest beach resorts now run proper all-inclusive programmes, combining premium food, drink and facilities with Abu Dhabi's year-round sunshine and a (reasonably) short 7.5-hour flight from the UK and Ireland.

The all-inclusive proposition here sits at the luxury end. Both properties are on the beach, both include premium dining and drinks packages rather than a basic buffet-and-house-wine setup, and both have enough going on within the resort (pools, spas, kids' clubs, watersports) that you could happily stay put for days at a time. If you prefer to explore, the theme parks, mosques and desert safaris are still within easy reach.

For families, all-inclusive in Abu Dhabi makes the budget conversation much simpler. With kids' clubs, aqua parks and meals covered, you can plan your spending around day trips and souvenirs rather than worrying about restaurant bills adding up.

Which is the best all-inclusive hotel in Abu Dhabi for families?

• Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island On Saadiyat Beach with a mini aqua park, wave pool, kids' club and teens' club all wrapped into the all-inclusive package. The beach is one of the best in the emirate and the food runs well beyond buffet territory.

Which is the best all-inclusive hotel in Abu Dhabi for couples?

• Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi Recently upgraded with butler service, premium dining across multiple restaurants and a spa that earns its keep. A grown-up all-inclusive that feels more boutique hotel than mega-resort.

🗣️ Local Lingo for Your Abu Dhabi Holidays

Arabic is the official language, but English is spoken widely everywhere in Abu Dhabi, especially in hotels, restaurants, malls, and tourist areas. You won't have any trouble getting by. That said, a few Arabic phrases always go down well with locals.

• Marhaba mar-ha-ba Hello

• Shukran shook-ran Thank you

• Min fadlak min fad-lak Please

• Bikam? bi-kam How much?

• Yalla! yal-la Let's go!

• Ma'a salama ma-a sa-la-ma Goodbye

• Gahwa gah-wa Coffee (you will be offered it everywhere, and accepting is the polite move)

• Habibi ha-bee-bee My friend, my dear (you will hear this one constantly)

Abu Dhabi Holidays 2026 / 2027 Travel Guide

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best things to do on an Abu Dhabi family holiday?

• Emirates Park Zoo Hand-feed giraffes, catch the bird show and let the little ones loose in the petting farm. Entry is around £18 / €21 for adults and £12 / €14 for children.

• Yas Waterworld Over 40 rides including the Dawwama, the world's first hydromagnetic tornado waterslide. All-day tickets cost around £55 / €65 for adults and £45 / €53 for children under 1.1m. Entirely outdoors, so best outside the peak summer heat.

• Warner Bros World Six themed zones, entirely climate-controlled and indoors. An ideal full-day option when the temperature climbs, and young children will not want to leave.

• Saadiyat Beach turtle nesting Between April and July you can watch Hawksbill turtles nesting on Saadiyat Beach, with guided viewings arranged through the local wildlife authority.

• Mangrove National Park kayaking A quieter day out paddling through mangrove channels with over 60 bird species including flamingos and herons. Wooden walkways and family-friendly guided tours available.

💑 What are the best things to do for couples on an Abu Dhabi holiday?

• Sunset dhow cruise A traditional wooden boat with Arabic coffee and a multi-course dinner as the city skyline lights up. Expect to pay around £75 / €88 per person.

• Qasr Al Watan The presidential palace is open to visitors, with state rooms, a library and architecture that rivals the Grand Mosque for visual impact. Entry is around £18 / €21.

• Saadiyat Beach Club day pass Loungers, an infinity pool and beach access on Saadiyat Island's best stretch of sand. Day passes run at around £100 / €115 per person.

• Emirates Palace spa Couples' hammam and signature spa rituals starting from around £120 / €140 per person. Worth booking ahead.

• Byblos Sur Mer Lebanese seafood restaurant with creek views and one of the more romantic evening settings in the city.

🎉 What are the top things to do for groups on an Abu Dhabi holiday?

• Ferrari World and Formula Rossa The world's fastest roller coaster hits 240 km/h in 4.9 seconds. The rest of the park is built around driving experiences and simulators that groups can compete on.

• Desert safari Half-day trips start from around £60 / €70 and include dune bashing, camel rides and a barbecue dinner. Overnight camps run from around £150 / €175 with stargazing and traditional entertainment.

• Rooftop bar circuit Ray's Bar on the 62nd floor of Jumeirah at Etihad Towers has panoramic city views, and The Warehouse at Al Raha is a more laid-back starting point. Both are strong options for a group night out.

• Yas Marina Circuit tour Walk the F1 paddock and pit lane on a 90-minute guided tour for around £55 / €65. Book ahead during Grand Prix week in November.

Other places to visit nearby:

• 🌆 Dubai The UAE's most famous emirate is just 90 minutes up the coast. Skyscrapers, man-made islands, world-class shopping, and a beach scene that never stops — Dubai holidays are the perfect add-on or alternative if you want more buzz, more bling, and more nightlife.

• 🏔️ Ras Al Khaimah About two hours north of Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah swaps city glitz for desert mountains and quieter beaches. Think all-inclusive resorts, desert safaris, the world's longest zipline on Jebel Jais, and prices that are noticeably gentler than Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

• 🌊 Fujairah Over on the UAE's east coast (around 2.5 hours from Abu Dhabi), Fujairah is a completely different vibe — rugged mountains, coral-rich waters perfect for snorkelling and diving, and chilled beach resorts backed by the Hajar Mountains. One for nature lovers and couples looking for something quieter.

• 🏖️ Ajman The UAE's smallest emirate sits about 2 hours from Abu Dhabi and offers a laid-back beach scene with budget-friendly hotels. It's got a charming local feel, easy access to both Dubai and Sharjah, and a fraction of the crowds — great if you want a quieter base without straying too far from the action.