Discover why we think Abu Dhabi deserves a visit

Adrenaline junkies

You can get your pulse racing on Yas Island. At the top of the list of tourist highlights is Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, where you can try out the world's fastest roller coaster, among other things. We recommend buying your tickets online, so you avoid having to stand in line. A single day adult ticket will cost AED 310 (around £68).

Next door there is also Yas Waterworld and the Yas Marina Formula 1 track. Entrance for the day to Yas Waterworld costs AED 270 (about £60).

🏴‍☠️ Pirate Tip: You can receive 25% off single day entry tickets with the Family & Friends offer when you purchase 4 or more tickets online. You'll only pay AED 232.50 (£51) per person. Plus, there is free admission for kids 3 years old and below. A similar offer is also available at Yas Waterworld.

Safari seekers

Safari in the Emirates? Very few expect this, but it is possible at the Arabian Wildlife Park on Sir Bani Yas Island (not to be confused with Yas Island!), a good two hours west of Abu Dhabi. Here, you'll find animals such as ostriches, gazelles, antelopes, giraffes, emus, and even cheetahs. We highly recommend a visit for families and couples, alike. Safari tours are offered with modern, air-conditioned off-road vehicles, which you should book in advance. Best try to get a front row seat for the ideal view and the best picture opportunities.

Another must-experience is the Al Ain Safari, which is about 1.5 hours away from the city, located in the desert, with Abu Dhabi's Jebel Hafit as a backdrop. The park, which sits on an impressive 217-hectares, is home to a variety of African animals and plants. The park is an affordable £6 entrance fee for adults and £2 for children, making it a great activity for families, couples or solo travellers looking to save!

Beach-goers

Abu Dhabi also has its fair share of white sand beaches. If a beach holiday is what you’re after, we can recommend Saadiyat Public Beach, Corniche Beach and the beach on Al Maya Island.

🏴‍☠️ Pirate tip: Families should head to Corniche Beach, located in downtown Abu Dhabi, as it is manned by lifeguards. The beach is eight kilometres long and includes children’s play areas, separate cycle and pedestrian pathways, cafés and restaurants.

Active holidaymakers

While you have the option of lounging on the beach all day, Abu Dhabi also has an array of sports to try, including golf, horseback riding and various water sports such as water-skiing and scuba diving.

Golfers should head to Yas Island and play a round at the Yas Links Abu Dhabi, an award-winning golf course designed by Kyle Phillips.

Nature lovers

Everyone knows the Sahara, but hardly anyone knows the name of the largest uninterrupted sandy desert in the world, let alone where it is. The Rub Al-Khali (which translates to "Empty Quarter") is mostly in Saudi Arabia, but also in Abu Dhabi.

A two-and-a-half-hour drive south from the capital brings you to the Liwa Oasis, where you'll be surrounded by sand dunes over a hundred metres high. We were particularly impressed by the sunrises and sunsets. It is also home to one of the country's most exclusive accommodations, the 5-star Qasr Al Sarab Hotel.

Culture enthusiasts

The garden city of Al Ain is east of the city of Abu Dhabi, just before the border with Oman. This is where many of Abu Dhabi's residents used to go during the hot summer months. The water-rich oasis city is on the World Heritage List and is great for a visit for those wishing to get some glimpses of traditional life in the Emirates. This includes a stroll through the old souk, an open-air market where you probably won't meet too many other tourists.

🏴‍☠️ Pirate tip: It is busiest here in the mornings and evenings. It is also recommended to drive up the serpentine road to the 1,240-metre-high Jebel Hafit. From there you have a great view over the entire city and the rocky landscape around it.

1. Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Alongside the skyline of skyscrapers and modern buildings, the huge, gleaming white Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of Abu Dhabi's most-popular tourist attractions.

As one of the largest mosques in the world, you’ll also be surprised to find the largest carpet and the heaviest crystal chandelier in the world. While this house of worship breaks a lot of records, it also has a lot to offer visually.

There are beautiful photo motifs around every corner, including magnificent golden ornaments, long symmetrical colonnades and a large central square. Possibly the best part, admission is free! You can book a guided tour through the arcade-lined building ensemble free of charge. But you can only get in if you follow the dress code.

2. Louvre Abu Dhabi

Louvre Abu Dhabi was a billion-dollar project designed by star architect Jean Nouvel, which opened at the end of 2017 on Saadiyat Island. Not only will the inside of the museum ​​impress you, with works by the likes of Da Vinci, Van Gogh and Monet, but we think you'll also fall in love with the architecture too. A highlight here is the 7,500-ton 'Floating Dome', where dappled sunlight seeps through, much like the palm-thatched roofs of traditional market streets in the region.

Tickets can be purchased online for AED 60 (around £13.50). Children under 18 are free.

3. Emirates Palace

The Emirates Palace hotel is a 5-star luxury hotel. Even if you are not a guest, you can still walk in and get an impression of the concentrated opulence in the public areas: gold, marble and velvet everywhere you look. For example, the royal seating, which you can find on every corner, is suitable for taking souvenir photos. Afterwards, treat yourself to a decadent 23-carat gold ice cream or a gold-flecked cappuccino at the hotel's Le Café.