Less famous, flashy, and busy than its neighbor Dubai, Abu Dhabi offers far more than just sun, skyscrapers, and five-star hotels. With pristine beaches, vast mangrove forests, an increasing number of world-class museums and art galleries, and a year-round calendar of sporting events, it challenges every stereotype about the UAE. It surprises you in all the best ways. 

Complemented with a sensational dining scene and safe, diverse, and proudly multicultural communities, it’s the perfect place for those who like to stay active and immerse themselves in a destination’s history and heritage.  

Spring: Maximize the most pleasant sunny weather of the year by kayaking around Jubail Mangrove Park and enjoying beach time on Saadiyat Island, Hudayriyat Island, and the Abu Dhabi Corniche. Amy Subaey, managing director of the adventure group UAE Trekkers, recommends hiking in the towering dunes of the Liwa Desert—the backdrop for movies such as Dune and Dune: Part 2. 

“Like stepping into Lawrence of Arabia, desert hiking lets you experience what it was like for Abu Dhabi’s original Bedouins to walk hundreds of miles with nothing but the elements and snakes, scorpions, gazelles, and camels for company,” Subaey says. 

Challenge Sir Bani Yas, the Middle East’s first long-distance triathlon, takes place on Abu Dhabi’s extraordinary island nature reserve (home to giraffes, oryx, and more amazing wildlife). At the same time, the annual TriYAS offers shorter distances for all abilities. Catch the UAE Tour cycle race, and embrace the spirit of Ramadan with lavish iftar buffets, night markets, and late-night games at the Manarat Al Saadiyat Ramadan Arcade.   

Summer: With average temperatures reaching 113°F, summer is the low season. Grab bargain hotel deals, pool day passes, and check out the city’s many indoor activities. Don’t miss the impressive National Aquarium, CLYMB Abu Dhabi (home to the world’s biggest indoor skydiving chamber), the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Yas Island’s many theme parks, and the shows and events at Etihad Arena.   

Autumn: Celebrate the cooling temperatures by cycling around Hudayriyat Island’s 10-kilometer (6-mile) cycling track, learning to surf at Surf Abu Dhabi (the world’s largest man-made wave pool), and heading out to Al Ain, Abu Dhabi’s “Garden City.” Drive up the hairpin bends of Jebel Jais (the emirate’s tallest mountain) and visit the Al Ain Oasis.  

Winter: Absorb the glamour and thrills of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and take on the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon. Immerse yourself in Emirati culture at the Al Hosn Festival and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, relish intimate performances from huge bands and artists at Saadiyat Nights, and experience wholesome family fun and homegrown dining concepts at the Mother of the Nation (MOTN) Festival. To truly appreciate the wild beauty of Abu Dhabi, charter a boat to take you around its more than 200 natural islands, and watch out for friendly dolphins popping up to say hello.  

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Saadiyat Island: Abu Dhabi’s most luxurious postcode, Saadiyat delivers five miles of white sand (including the public Mamsha Beach), multiple beachfront hotels, and clear blue waters home to Hawksbill turtles and more fascinating marine life. 

Ahmed Al Hashmi, executive director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), explains that Saadiyat’s turtle nesting season runs from March to August. “The nests hatch throughout the summer, and you can see turtles in the ocean all year-round. Dolphins are also a frequent sight along the shores of Saadiyat Island.” 

Over in the Saadiyat Cultural District, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and other galleries will soon be joined by the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, and the Zayed National Museum, housed in a jaw-dropping Norman Foster-designed building shaped like a falcon’s wings.  

Yas Island: On the city’s loud, fun, and funky island, you can drive around Formula 1 track Yas Marina Circuit (or walk, jog, or bike it as part of the free TrainYAS initiative), bar hop along Yas Bay, work on your swing at Yas Links, and scream yourself silly at indoor theme parks Ferrari World Abu Dhabi (which features the world’s fastest rollercoaster), the newly extended Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, and Seaworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Between 2030 and 2032, the new Disneyland Abu Dhabi is expected to be unveiled, completing a lineup of theme parks on Yas Island.

Downtown: As the oldest part of the city, Abu Dhabi’s bustling Downtown is more unpolished and the “real” side of the city. Discover the city’s maritime heritage at the Mina Zayed Fish Market and its no-frills restaurants, and spend days exploring the free beaches, parks, playgrounds, public artworks, and splash pads of the five-mile-long Corniche boardwalk. On the other end of the spectrum, The Galleria Al Maryah Island offers exceptional designer shopping alongside stunning branches of Le Petite Maison, COYA, ZUMA, and other fine dining hotspots. Meanwhile, the Qasr Al Hosn fort, the first stone building in the city, and the shimmering gold and marble Qasr Al Watan royal place, beautifully illustrate the emirate’s rapid development.  

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Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental: Celebrities and dignitaries are known to check into this palatial hotel adorned with gold and crystal chandeliers. If you're in the mood to splurge, it doesn't get more luxurious than this. 

W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island: The only hotel in the world positioned above a Formula 1 track, Abu Dhabi’s bright, cool, and quirky W allows guests to stay in the heart of the action. The Wet Deck pool bar and W Lounge are party hotspots. 

Home to over 200 nationalities (with Emirati citizens making up only 20 percent of the population), Abu Dhabi is a melting pot of diverse cultures, and its cuisine is equally diverse. You can eat for any budget, and feast on authentic delicacies from across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. The varied highlights range from $3 Indian curries and 30-cent sweet karak chai from takeaways in the busy and slightly crumbling Tourist Club Area, to real gold-sprinkled cappuccinos at flashy Emirates Palace. 

Emirati cuisine: Including heartwarming machboos (fragrant rice with meat or fish), golden lugaymat (deep-fried dough balls in date syrup), and cardamom-infused qahwa (Arabic coffee), the UAE’s delicious local cuisine is often and unwisely overlooked. One-Michelin-starred Erth Restaurant (which means “legacy” in Arabic) brings a modern twist to traditional Emirati cuisine. Meanwhile, the multi-award-winning Ryba, located at the 50-year-old Mina Zayed port, specializes in fresh, locally caught seafood infused with Emirati spices.  

Shawarma: Few foods are as synonymous with Abu Dhabi as the classic shawarma—a flatbread filled with meat, fries, pickles, and generous dollops of garlic sauce. You’ll find them served at every Middle Eastern restaurant and takeaway, but those from Zahrat Lebanon, a veteran Lebanese restaurant group established in 1983, are among the most legendary. Enjoying a spread of mezze (mutable, hummus and labneh included), fattoush salad, shawarma and Arabic grills on the bustling terrace of the Al Salam Street branch is an unmissable stop on any itinerary. 

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By air: Both Zayed International Airport (featured heavily in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One) and Dubai International Airport (a two-hour drive from downtown Abu Dhabi) offer direct flights to various parts of the U.S.   

By bus: Costing between 50 cents and $1 a trip, Abu Dhabi’s bus network is remarkably cheap and regular. The A1 and A2 airport buses, which run from and to Downtown, are convenient.   

By taxi: Considerably more affordable than in the U.S. or Europe, taxis are plentiful and easy to hail. Careem is the local taxi app, while water taxis connect key areas such as Yas Bay and Al Raha, and Mina Zayed and Saadiyat Island. 

By bike: Cycling on the roads is a risky activity. Cycle docking stations are found along the car-free paths of the Corniche, while bike rental shops are right by the Hudayriyat Island track. 

By train: Set to launch in 2026, high-speed rail line Etihad Rail will link Abu Dhabi to the country’s other six emirates and offer connections to Dubai in just 30 minutes. 

Cultural heritage: Islam is the predominant religion in Abu Dhabi, but other faiths are also accepted and practiced. The enormous BAPS Hindu Mandir, the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East, and the Abrahamic House (containing a church, synagogue, and mosque on the same site) demonstrate this.  

Dress code: There is no strict dress code for tourists; however, it’s recommended to dress modestly in malls, government buildings, and at religious sites. Women are required to cover their hair in mosques. 

Alcohol: It is illegal to drink or be drunk in public places, but alcohol is widely available in bars and restaurants, and it’s expensive unless you visit during ‘happy hour.’ 

LGBTQ+: Same-sex marriage and relations are illegal. Unmarried couples can legally share hotel rooms, but overt public displays of affection are not acceptable.  

In the city: Drop by Masdar City, a sustainable community that uses 40 percent less water and energy, and get around Abu Dhabi via the ever-expanding fleet of green buses (entirely powered by hydrogen and electric energy) and green taxis—roughly 80 percent of all taxis are hybrid, electric or natural gas.  

Support local farmers by visiting Mazaraa Farm on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, or Emirates Bio Farm, the UAE’s largest organic farm, out in sleepy Al Ain. For your souvenirs, the gift shop at the 421 Arts Campus, an independent gallery, offers a selection of accessories, cards, books, and more created by local creatives and artists.  

In the desert: Georges Kfoury, managing director of Arabian Wanderers, recommends that visitors avoid “dune bashing” experiences (driving over the desert in a 4x4) and opt for camping or stargazing in the desert instead. “Dune bashing has become highly commercialized. It’s often done in large groups, and it can cause significant damage to the desert. Camping from a single drop-off location has less environmental impact, while the most spectacular stargazing can be found at Al Quaa, the darkest spot in the UAE,” he says. 

On the beach: If you come across a turtle, sea snake, or any other marine animal, do not touch or move it. “Keep a safe distance and avoid causing stress through loud noises, lights, or crowds. If it’s safe, take a photo and report the sighting immediately to the EAD hotline on 800555,” says Al Hashmi. “If you see a nesting turtle, do not block her path to or from the sea. Take all your trash home and stay on designated paths to prevent damage to dunes and vegetation.” 

Travel: Fly there and back via Etihad Airways, declared Environmental Airline of the Year 2023 at the Airlines Ratings awards.