Abu Dhabi is a sumptuous city that is mix of lovely social landmarks and obvious of 21st century megastructures. It is the biggest of the seven Emirates and is the capital city of UAE. It has everything from gigantic and lovely mosques, probably the best amusement parks on the planet, a louver gallery and vast deserts. A piece of knock-knock advice to all the travellers who wish to experience the best of the Middle East – do not return till you have explored all of the below-mentioned places to visit in Abu Dhabi, the prized jewel of the United Arab Emirates.
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1. Yas Island
Yas Beach on Yas Island is a popular choice for a full day at the beach. Day passes here grant beachgoers access to a wealth of facilities that will please both families looking for an easy going beach day and groups of friends seeking a fun-filled beach experience. There are cafés, restaurants, and food kiosks on-site offering a range of cuisines; a large swimming pool area with cabanas for rent; plenty of sun loungers and shades for lazing on the sand; and more lounging areas off the sand. This area is also home to the Yas Marina Circuit, which is where Abu Dhabi's Formula One racing takes place every year. Sun seekers should beeline straight to Yas Beach; and shoppers should head straight to Yas Mall, the city's premier shopping destination.
- Spend a weekend filled with thrill and adventure at Yas Island, one of the biggest adventure tourist places in Abu Dhabi
- Kayaking, snorkeling or parasailing- try your hand at a variety of watersports at the Yas Beach
- Climb the tallest indoor climbing wall in the region at Climb Dubai, or try indoor skydiving instead
- Go on a shopping spree at the sprawling Yas Mall, Yas Island’s biggest retail destination
Yas Marina Circuit:
Timing: 9 AM to 11 PM
Price: $17.70
Yas Water world:
Timing: 10 AM to 7 PM
Price: $57.17
2. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque being one of the largest mosques in the world and the biggest mosque in the United Arab Emirates, is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Abu Dhabi. This marvel of modern Islamic architecture was built by Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the remembrance of his father. A key feature worth noticing is the world's largest loomed carpet in one of the prayer halls. The mosque is not only a religious site but also serves as an educational and cultural hub. Glamorous architecture combined with exquisite design and pattern of the mosque makes it highly popular among the foreign travellers.
- Admire the architectural brilliance of the Sheik Zayed Mosque, perhaps the most popular of tourist places in Abu Dhabi, its stunning white architecture topped off with a brilliant dome
- Take a guided tour of the Mosque interiors, learning more about its history, its architecture, and its significance to public life
- Marvel at the Kufic calligraphy work that adorns the walls of the mosque, its minarets and its ornate pillars
- Capture a picture of the biggest of the mosque’s 82 domes, also regarded as the largest mosque dome in UAE
Timing: 9 AM to 10 PM
Price: FREE
3. Louvre Abu Dhabi
The Middle East's most spectacular museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi traces the entire history of humanity's artistic achievements, from the Neolithic right up to the current day. The wealth and diversity of art on display, from ancient Egyptian statuary to famous paintings by Picasso, is mind-boggling, while the museum's contemporary architecture, with its galleries gathered under a vast silver dome, is a reason to visit in itself. As well as the permanent collection, which runs over 12 galleries, several major temporary exhibitions are staged each year. The Louvre is the first of three planned major museums to open on Saadiyat Island, which is set to become the cultural heartbeat of Abu Dhabi in the coming years.
- Pay a visit to the Louvre Museum, where over 600 works of art are kept on display, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Monet, Giovanni Bellini, and many more
- Explore the Museum’s exquisite collections of art, gathered from around the world and arranged into thematic sequences
- Let your children learn about and interact with art at the special workshops arranged by the Children’s Museum from time to time
- Admire the special paintings ‘loaned’ by the Louvre Abu Dhabi from its counterpart in France, including those by Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas and Monet
Timing:
Saturday - Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM,
Thursday - Friday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday: Closed
Price: $ 17.15
4. Ferrari World
This Ferrari themed park is located in Yas Island for thrill seekers and car lovers & is the biggest indoor amusement park around the world. This branded theme park brings the thrill of Formula One racing to Abu Dhabi and is one of the city's top things to do for adrenaline seekers and families alike. Small children can test out newly learned driving skills on the Junior GT track, while speed junkies can buckle up and ride the Flying Aces roller coaster, which clocks up speeds of 120 kilometers per hour on a 52-meter loop (the tallest in the world).There's also a collection of Ferrari's cars, with models dating back to 1947, and a Ferrari factory tour and Ferrari knowledge game show for true car nerds.
- Spend an adventurous day at Ferrari World, the only Ferrari themed amusement park in the world, and one of the most popular tourist places in Abu Dhabi
- Challenge your friends to a ride on the Formula Rossa, the fastest roller coaster in the world
- Get a chance to drive a ferrari across the race tracks, or have an expert drive you around in one
- Take part in an exciting go-kart race with a group of friends or family
Timing: 11AM to 8PM
Price: $68.05
5. Etihad Towers Observation Deck
Abu Dhabi's answer to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai is this observation deck. It offers skyline views from the highest point in the city, on the 74th floor of the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers hotel (at 300 meters above sea level).There is an entry fee for non-guests of the hotel, but the ticket price can be redeemed for food and drink from the observation deck's restaurant, which serves snacks and light bites; soft drinks; and a popular high-tea experience Having high tea up here is a leisurely way to take in the views, which swoop across the coast and the city with the arid desert plains beyond.
- Witness unobstructed, panoramic views of the Abu Dhabi skyline from the Observation Deck at 300, nestled on the 74th floor of the Etihad Towers
- Make out as many attractions across the city as you can with the high powered telescopes at the Observation Deck, such as the Corniche, the Grand Mosque, and the Emirate Palace
- Take advantage of the Observation Deck lounge as you choose from a variety of freshly ground coffee and high tea offered here
- The sunset views from the Observation Deck are especially stunning, making it a popular romantic hideout as well
Timing: Always Open
Price: $22.05
6. Heritage Village
Abu Dhabi's Heritage Village is an authentic replica of a typical Bedouin village that gives visitors an idea of Emirati life before the oil boom.
It's located in a pretty beach area of the city, which is a pleasant place to wander after a visit.
There are exhibits featuring traditional day-to-day objects, workshops where you can watch craftspeople demonstrate Emirati metalwork and weaving skills, and displays introducing visitors to local agriculture and the pearl diving trade-the main economies here before oil was discovered.
- Tour the rustic streets of the heritage village, examining how life in the city was in the previous centuries
- Catch the unique sight of old-school arts in production, as weavers work the loom and potters mold their clay by the village roads
- Examine the wares displayed at the traditional village souk, each shop boasting of a range of home grown spices, handmade crafts and soap
- Participate in a crafts workshop held by the local craftsmen, where the skilled workers train visitors in the way of pottery and metalwork.
Timings: 9AMto4PM.(everyday)
Price: Free
7. Warner Bros World
Yas Island's latest theme park addition, The Warner Bros. World is an indoor amusement park featuring 29 rides, live interactive shows, action packed activities, fascinating attractions, variety of food eateries and shopping outlets. It’s dedicated to its cartoon, movie, and comic book heroes and villains with all rides based around these characters. The park is designed with six themed zones; Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch, Metropolis, Cartoon Junction, Warner Bros. Plaza and Gotham City, making it an exciting place to visit in Abu Dhabi.
- Spend a day with the entire family at Warner Bros World, the first Warner Bros. and also the world’s largest indoor theme park
- Explore all of the 29 rides offered at the park, spread across the 6 themed zones at the park’
- Interact with and take a picture with your favorite characters from the world of Warner Bros and DC comics
- Watch childhood favorites, heroes and villains, come together in a fantasstic live performance on the Warner Bros stage
Timing:
Saturday - Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday - Friday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Price: $68.06
8. Emirates Park Zoo
The zoo in Abu dhabi gives one an opportunity to come closer to around 1700 animals which include species like rare white tigers, giraffes, elephants, a herd of zebras, and a Siberian bear. There is also a primate section, with many different types of monkeys, and a flamingo park with a sea lion enclosure. At the petting zoo, children can touch and feed domestic breeds of animals. There are fun activities you can indulge in here like animal encounter, breakfast with parrots, breakfast with giraffe, and crocodile feeding.
- Explore the best and the brightest of Emirati wildlife with a tour through the Emirate Park Zoo, one of the best tourist places in Abu Dhabi for families
- Sign up for a meal with an animal experience, including breakfast with giraffes, lunch with a leopard, and dinner with elephants
- Get up close and personal with the falcons, eagles and parrots at the Bird Park, or check out the regal pink flamingos at the Flamingo Park
Timing: 9Am to 8PM
Price: $20.27
9. Mangrove National Park
Mangrove National Park is a sanctuary for some of Abu Dhabi’s brightest birds and marine life. Take your camera for a chance to capture the diverse wildlife in its natural habitat.
Travelling by kayak is the best way to spot these beautiful creatures, with around 60 species of birds calling this diverse habitat home. Traverse the various channels with your eyes on the shallow banks to spot herons and flamingos along the water’s edge.
- Explore the UAE’s largest mangrove population at the Mangrove National Park, one of the least explored places to visit in Abu Dhabi
- Birdwatchers will spend a wonderful time observing and photographing the indegenous bird life at the Mangrove Park, which houses more than 60 bird species in total, with herons, egrets, kingfishers and flamingos found in abundance
- Get a chance to explore the park under the expert guidance of the Park Ranger, who takes one through the Mangroves across a suspended boardwalk
Timing: 10AM to 12PM
Price: $43.56
10. Hili Fun City
Famous for being the first theme park in the Gulf, Hili Fun City was first launched in 1985. Today, after being renovated in 2009, it’s packed with more than 30 fun rides and activities. The park is very popular for the range of thrilling rides and adventurous activities for adults, and the gentle rides for children that it offers. Delicious snack options from burgers to ice-creams are enticing and you can have a leisure time exploring the different eateries.
- Explore all 28 rides and attractions at Hili Fun City, which prides itself as the very first themed amusement park in the Gulf region
- Play a game of ice hockey, or simply enjoy a round of skating at the Hili City Ice Rink
- Catch a 3D show at the amusement park’s very own amphitheater
- Try your hand at a round of go karting, or watch as the go karts zoom past you at the park karting arena
- Enjoy a round of boating with the self maneuvered pedal boats at the Hili Fun City lake
Timing:
Tuesday to Thursday: 4AM–10PM
Friday to Sunday: 2AM–10PM
Monday Closed
Price: $16.33
