Handpicked experience · Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Six hours across the capital of the Emirates: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Sheikh Zayed Centre, Heritage Village and the life before oil, then the Corniche, Saadiyat Island and a photo stop by Ferrari World.
Discover the highlights of Abu Dhabi, capital of the Emirates, known as the Arabian Jewel. Jebel Ali Port, the biggest man-made port in the world is one of the landmarks that you will pass on the way to Abu Dhabi. On arrival, the first destination is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world.Then continue to visit the Sheikh Zayed Center to get a glimpse into the private life of H.H. Sheikh Zayed, who is often referred as The Father of the UAE. The next stop is the Heritage Village where you are taken to the past to explore the life before oil was discovered. A drive along the beautiful Corniche and Saadiyat Island, home of The Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and others, will bring you to Yas-Island. Here you will have a final photo-stop near the Ferrari World before returning back.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the largest in the world.
The Sheikh Zayed Centre, and the private life of the Father of the UAE.
Heritage Village, and life before oil.
The Corniche and Saadiyat Island, home of the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
A photo stop by Ferrari World on Yas Island.
<section><h2>Overview</h2><p>Abu Dhabi is the capital of the Emirates and is known as the Arabian Jewel. Six hours is enough to take in what the city is built on — faith, a founder, an older way of life, and the oil money that rearranged all three — without the day turning into a march.</p><p>The drive in passes Jebel Ali Port, the biggest man-made port in the world, which sets the tone for a city that has built most of what you are about to see.</p></section><section><h2>Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque</h2><p>The first stop, and one of the largest mosques in the world. It is white marble inlaid with floral stonework, reflecting pools along the whole length of the courtyard, and a scale that photographs badly because nothing in the frame gives it away. Inside are the chandeliers and the carpet, and outside is the courtyard, which on a bright day is the thing people remember.</p></section><section><h2>Sheikh Zayed Centre and Heritage Village</h2><p>The Sheikh Zayed Centre gives a glimpse into the private life of H.H. Sheikh Zayed, often called the Father of the UAE — the man rather than the statesman, which is a different and more interesting exhibit than it sounds.</p><p>Heritage Village takes you further back, to life before oil was discovered: the tents, the trades, the pearl diving and the wells, on a site facing the modern skyline across the water. The juxtaposition is deliberate and it is the clearest thing the day has to say.</p></section><section><h2>The Corniche, Saadiyat and Yas</h2><p>Then a drive along the Corniche, the long landscaped seafront that the city is arranged around, and out onto Saadiyat Island — the cultural district, home of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, with further national museums built and building around it.</p><p>The day finishes on Yas Island with a final photo stop near Ferrari World, under the red roof that is visible long before you reach it.</p></section><section><h2>Highlights</h2><ul><li>Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the largest in the world.</li><li>The Sheikh Zayed Centre, and the private life of the Father of the UAE.</li><li>Heritage Village, and life before oil.</li><li>The Corniche and Saadiyat Island, home of the Louvre Abu Dhabi.</li><li>A photo stop by Ferrari World on Yas Island.</li></ul></section><section><h2>Worth knowing</h2><p>The Grand Mosque enforces a dress code and it is not negotiable: shoulders, arms and legs covered for everyone, and a headscarf for women. Wear something loose — it is a working place of worship and it closes to visitors during prayer. Ferrari World is a photo stop from outside, not an entry. Abu Dhabi is extremely hot from late spring to early autumn, so carry water, and the marble at the mosque is dazzling in full sun.</p></section>
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The practical detail, and the answers people actually ask for.
Father of the gazelle. The story attached to it has hunters tracking a gazelle across the shallows to a freshwater spring, which is why a settlement grew here in the first place.
Yes, it is the first stop and you go in. It is a working place of worship, so it closes to visitors during prayer and the dress code is checked at the door.
Shoulders, arms and legs covered for everyone, and a headscarf for women. Loose clothing works better than tight. Headscarves can usually be borrowed at the mosque if you arrive without one.
No. Yas Island is the final stop and it is a photo stop from outside. Admission is not included, and the tour does not allow time for the park.
Not on this tour. Saadiyat Island is driven through so you see the cultural district and where the museums sit, but the day does not include stopping to go inside any of them.
A reconstruction of life before oil was discovered — tents, workshops, the old trades and pearl diving — laid out facing the modern skyline across the water, which is rather the point of it.
By crossing the shallow channel at Al Maqta on foot or by camel when the tide allowed, past the old watchtower that still stands in the channel today.
Six hours in total, and most of it is driving between stops. There is walking at the mosque and at Heritage Village, both on flat ground, and the Corniche and Saadiyat are seen from the vehicle.