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.