Holidays in Abu Dhabi

With its mix of bustling souks, palaces and modern skyscrapers, Abu Dhabi is often scene as a Middle Eastern city break. But it actually boasts a brilliant array of beaches as well, so you can combine city and beach in one place on your luxury holiday. Abu Dhabi’s Corniche waterfront is a pretty promenade fronted by a spectacular stretch of white sand right on the edge of the city. Laced with landscaped gardens and seaside cycle paths. A little further out of the centre lies Saadiyat Island, an escape where you can bury your toes in the powder-soft sands or enjoy non-motorised water sports like stand-up paddleboarding or windsurfing on clear blue waters. While arty architecture populates the islands interior, the island’s mangroves and fine dunes are fiercely protected, not least to safeguard the hawksbill turtles who come to nest in the area every year.

A playground for the young and old, Yas Island is the entertainment capital of Abu Dhabi. Car fanatics will know it best for the Yas Marina Circuit, which hosts the annual Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, while Ferrari World is an epic family theme park where the Formula Rossa rollercoaster (the world’s fastest) is the closest experience you’ll get to being a Formula One driver. Warner Bros. World is another exciting option, an amusement park filled with rides based on characters like Superman, Batman, Bugs Bunny and Scooby-Doo. Or, if you want to cool off in the Abu Dhabi heat, Yas Waterworld features an elaborate array of slides, rides and watery attractions (it even has a water cinema) that span every kind of fear factor. Whatever you prefer, there’s no shortage of adventure on a holiday to Abu Dhabi.

Why not enjoy a classic English experience in an Abu Dhabi icon? Afternoon tea at the Emirates Palace is a must, where you can admire the Arabian splendour with a delicious selection of sandwiches, scones and pastries – it’s a truly regal setting. If you want a different taste of the high life, then have your afternoon tea nearly 1,000ft in the air on the 74th floor at the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers hotel, where you’ll also be treated to stunning panoramic views across the city.

Despite its modern wonders, culture is easy to find on a holiday to Abu Dhabi. The thin towers and onion domes of the whitewashed Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque are a magnificent example of architecture, while the Louvre Abu Dhabi houses over 600 pieces of art. For something unique, pay a visit to the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, where a range of treatments are given to these birds of prey which have long been embedded in Emirati culture. Elsewhere, sandstone fortresses like Qasr Al Muwaiji and Al Jahili once guarded the city.

In the United Arab Emirates the desert isn’t far away and that’s especially true in Abu Dhabi. Make sure you take advantage, where you can embark on an adrenaline-pumping 4x4 drive across the golden dunes, before visiting a traditional Bedouin campsite, where you can enjoy a Tanoura dance show and sip Arabic coffee. Make your time in the desert even more magical by sleeping on the sand under a blanket of stars and have an unforgettable holiday to Abu Dhabi.

No vaccinations are currently recommended for Abu Dhabi. For current travel health advice, you should seek guidance from your GP at least four to six weeks prior to travel.

The time difference is GMT +3 hours.

The direct flight time from London to Abu Dhabi is around seven hours.

The currency is the United Arab Emirates dirham.

British passport holders need a visa to visit the United Arab Emirates and this is issued free of charge upon arrival.