Holidays to Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi holidays serve up swanky resorts, high-octane theme parks, desert adventures and sun-drenched beaches. How’s that for an amazing Middle Eastern city break?
Terrific theme parks
Orlando may well be the theme park capital of the world, but Abu Dhabi’s certainly staking a claim to the title with several showstoppers under its roof. It’s even got a snow park!
Head to Ferrari World to experience the Formula Rossa (the world’s fastest rollercoaster), the water-themed Yas Island for the 238m-long Dawwama (at 781ft, it’s the world’s largest hydromagnetic-powered waterslide, whatever that means!) and Warner Bros World for a fun day out with your favourite cartoons.
Desert adventurers
To experience another side to the emirate, all you need to do is swap the city streets of Abu Dhabi for its desert sands. Highlights include heart-thumping dune bashing (aka riding over sand dunes in a 4x4), chilled-out camel rides, desert camping with a sea of stars above you, and the Al Wathba Fossil Dunes Reserve.
Sugar-sweet beaches
Beaches? In Abu Dhabi? You bet. This is the UAE, after all! For a classic beach break, head to the pristine white sands of Saadiyat Island. Here, Soul Beach is ideal for lazy sun-lounger mornings, while Kai Beach is perfect for wet and wild watersport afternoons.
The more tranquil Mirfa Beach is one if you want if you’re keen to escape the crowds, as long as you visit outside the annual Al Dhafra Watersports Festival (usually in February or March).
Grand architecture
From soaring skyscrapers like the Burj Mohammed bin Rashid to imaginative creations, such as the circular Aldar Headquarters, Abu Dhabi likes to go big when it comes to modern architecture.
But Abu Dhabi’s more traditional buildings are no less spectacular. Take the gold-laced Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The size of four football fields, it can host up to 40,000 worshippers and visitors! Elsewhere, the gleaming white Qasr Al Watan palace is truly spectacular.
Sneak Peek
Best for... Art-loving thrill-seekers and big time shoppers 🛍️
Go... Conquer the world’s fastest rollercoaster at Ferrari World 🚗
You have to... Ride a camel through the desert at sunset 🐪
Abu Dhabi holiday deals
Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers
4.9
Excellent
- 22 Mar 2026
- 5 nights
- Bed & breakfast
- From Heathrow
Prices from
Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan
4.8
Excellent
- 21 Mar 2026
- 7 nights
- All-inclusive
- From Heathrow
Prices from
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr - Abu Dhabi
4.7
Excellent
- 21 Mar 2026
- 7 nights
- All-inclusive
- From Heathrow
Prices from
The St. Regis Abu Dhabi
4.8
Excellent
- 21 Mar 2026
- 7 nights
- Bed & breakfast
- From Heathrow
Prices from
Details
Currency
UAE Dirham
Language
Arabic
Time difference
GMT +4
Cost of a beer
35 AED
3-course meal
100 AED
Flight time
London: 6-7 hrs
Abu Dhabi’s cultural side
Head to Saadiyat Island’s cultural district to experience another side to Abu Dhabi. Here you’ll find the Louvre Abu Dhabi (the name speaks for itself) and Manarat Al Saadiyat, an arts and culture centre that also hosts the annual Abu Dhabi Art Fair each November. Elsewhere, the Al Qattara Arts Centre in Al Nin is the place to be for UAE art, while a day trip to Dalma Island invites you to travel back some 7,000 years at the Delma Museum.
A desert playground for all ages
The theme parks are reason enough to visit Abu Dhabi on a family holiday, but there’s a lot more kid-approved fun to be had in the emirate too! For instance, your kids can feed giraffes at Al Ain Zoo (and, you know, watch animals being animals too), splash around and snorkel at Corniche Beach, and have a blast in a ‘city made for kids’ at KidZania.
Shopping? You bet!
It’s safe to say that Abu Dhabi’s shopping experience is larger than life. There are malls like Yas Mall, which has an eye-watering amount of space dedicated to lots and lots of familiar and not-so-familiar shops (with a good dose of entertainment and dining too). And then there are souks, where you can pick up local, traditional and alternative goodies. Al Ain Souk is as authentic as it gets.
When to go to Abu Dhabi
There's a good reason why Brits flock to the Middle East in winter: sunshine and good times on tap. So, for balmy days and starry nights, book an Abu Dhabi city break between November and March.
For cheap Abu Dhabi holidays look to the summer months, when the mercury rockets past 40C. If those temps are no sweat, well, knock yourself out! Otherwise, pop over in the autumn when the weather is more comfortable, the city is no less charming and there are top deals waiting to be snapped up.
