While Dubai has certainly made a name for itself, Abu Dhabi is racing to be a top tourist destination in the Middle East. I felt Abu Dhabi is less developed from a tourist standpoint, but the UAE is rapidly making advancements to change that. It has more of a distinct Arabian, traditional vibe than Dubai, which I appreciated! We stopped in Abu Dhabi on our way to Oman and weren’t expecting much, but we had an amazing time!
From world-class museums, Emirate culture, unique architecture, & incredible Middle Eastern cuisine, you won’t be disappointed. Abu Dhabi is the perfect city for a brief stopover in the Middle East. I recommend 1-3 days to fully enjoy this beautiful city. Discover my ultimate Abu Dhabi 2-Day Layover itinerary!
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Where to Stay in Abu Dhabi
There are three main areas I recommend staying in during your 2-day layover in Abu Dhabi: down by Corniche Beach near the Presidental Palace and Emirates Palace, on Saadiyat Island, or by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. If you prefer being by the beach, then the hotels by Corniche or Saadiyat are a better option. Saadiyat is a popular, luxurious island with lots of very nice places! We loved the area by the Grand Mosque. Because Abu Dhabi isn’t as popular a tourist destination, we felt the five-star/luxury hotel rates were more reasonable than Dubai, which is a plus!
We booked the Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, and loved it! It is walkable to a huge entertainment center, Al Qana, which has lots of great restaurants. The hotel has a fun little canal where you can ride in an abra (traditional Arabic boat) around the property. The breakfast buffet was massive and so delicious, and the sunset over the Grand Mosque was really special. I highly recommend a room with a view of the mosque!
For perks & upgrades at the Shangri-La Abu Dhabi, message me to book your hotel stay! While we were there I was able to get us upgraded, as well as free breakfast for two daily.
Luxury Hotels Near Corniche Beach
Best Hotels Near Saadiyat Island
- The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi
- Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort
- Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island – All Inclusive
Amazing Hotels Near the Grand Mosque
How to Spend 2 Days in Abu Dhabi
Day 1
Qasr Al Watan
After an incredible breakfast buffet, take a taxi and start your day at Qasr Al Watan (UAE Presidential Palace). Book an Abu Dhabi city tour, or visit on your own. While primarily used to conduct official state affairs, the Presidential Palace also opens its doors to the public, offering insights into Emirate culture and the UAE’s governance system. The Presidential Palace is an architectural marvel. It is one of the most grand buildings I have ever seen; I could spend hours admiring every detail. It’s a must-see on your 2-day layover in Abu Dhabi.
The palace is a testament to the fusion of traditional Islamic design elements with contemporary architecture. Its striking white domes, intricately carved arches, and towering minarets are stunning. You can go on a guided tour, or walk around on your own. One of my favorite parts of the palace is the House of Knowledge, a massive library that houses a vast collection of books and manuscripts on various subjects, including science, literature, and Islamic studies.
To save time, you can buy your tickets ahead of time. A bus will take you on a short drive to the Palace. Plan to spend at least an hour or two wandering the different rooms. I’ve never seen a more ornate, beautiful interior.
Alternatively, you can book an Abu Dhabi tour that includes a visit to Qasr Al Watan and other key attractions:
- From Abu Dhabi: Grand Mosque, Royal Palace, and Etihad Tower
- From Abu Dhabi: City Sightseeing and Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Emirates Palace
On your way out of the area, stop at Emirates Palace (a Mandarin Oriental hotel) – a top attraction on any 2-day layover in Abu Dhabi. The Emirates Palace epitomizes luxury, grandeur, and Arabian hospitality. This iconic landmark stands as a testament to the opulence and vision of the UAE. As you approach the palace, you’ll notice its intricate Islamic-inspired designs, golden domes, and majestic fountains.
Note that there are restricted areas that you can visit, and security guards will prevent you from wandering the entire property unless you’re a hotel guest. They invite you to dine with them which allows you to see more of the beautiful hotel and property.
Alternatively, you can book an Abu Dhabi tour that includes a visit to Emirates Palace and other key attractions:
- From Abu Dhabi: Grand Mosque, Royal Palace, and Etihad Tower
- From Abu Dhabi: City Sightseeing and Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Lunch and Relax on Corniche Beach
After a morning of sightseeing, head to the beautiful Corniche Beach for lunch and relaxation. The sand is soft and white, and the clear blue water is calm and perfect for swimming.
Corniche Beach has numerous seaside restaurants with stunning views of the Arabian Gulf. Check out Finz at Beach Rotana for seafood, BBQ Al Qasr at Emirates Palace for grilled meats, Café Palmier at Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi for international cuisine, and The Terrace on the Corniche at St. Regis Abu Dhabi for panoramic views.
Emirates Heritage Village
Take a quick visit to the Emirates Heritage Village. While it’s just a recreation, it’s still worth a quick visit. Explore reconstructed traditional buildings, including a souk (market), a mosque, and a Bedouin camp, offering insight into the daily life and customs of pre-modern UAE. Emirates Heritage Club has workshops for traditional crafts where you can watch craftsmen demonstrate metalwork, pottery, weaving, and spinning yarn. You can also shop or enjoy the beautiful views of the city skyline!
Abra Boat Ride at the Shangri-La
Whether or not you are staying at the Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri this is a fun activity during your 2-day itinerary in Abu Dhabi. You can take a traditional abra (boat) around the canals. The Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri is a beautiful property with a view of the Grand Mosque. Once you’re done, you can head next door to the Al Qana shopping center for dinner at Grand Beirut.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
If you have time, I recommend checking out the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the evening and in early morning. In the evening, you can experience the beautiful lights at the mosque. During the day, you can go inside and witness the architectural masterpiece. The mosque is truly breathtaking. There’s no way to describe how stunning and grand it is. This is a must-visit on your 2-day Abu Dhabi layover.
I suggest going as early as possible, or before sunset to get amazing daytime photos. The sun can be extremely bright and blinding against the white color of the mosque. It is also very hot! Make sure you bring sunglasses!
Tip: Make sure you buy tickets ahead of time if you’re not joining an organized tour as they get reserved quickly. Also, depending on the time of year it may have different hours so plan accordingly.
Book a tour to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque:
- From Abu Dhabi: Grand Mosque, Royal Palace, and Etihad Tower
- From Abu Dhabi: City Sightseeing and Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Mosque Dress Code
You are required to be covered from head to toe to visit the mosque. Women must cover their heads, legs (past your wrist), and arms (past your ankles). There are many stands outside the mosque entrance where you can buy a traditional outfit (for men and women). It’s not necessary if you bring your own appropriate clothing, but the traditional Abaya is beautiful and makes for amazing photos. The outfits typically cost $40-$60 USD. Make sure you negotiate! Once inside, walk through the long shopping mall to the entrance. Take your time and explore the grounds as well as the inside.
Dinner at Grand Beruit
Next to Shangri-La is a brand-new shopping, dining, and entertainment area called Al Qana. You can walk there in a few minutes over the bridge connecting the two areas. We stumbled upon Grand Beirut and it ended up being our favorite meal in the Middle East. The cuisine is Lebanese and meant for sharing. Order EVERYTHING and save room for dessert. The complex has lots of other restaurants and cafes worth checking out if you have time! Eating as much incredible Middle Eastern food as possible while on your 2-day layover in Abu Dhabi is a must.
Day 2
Grand Mosque in the Morning
As I mentioned above, it’s a good idea to visit the Mosque in the early morning or before sunset to get the best pictures and to avoid the heat.
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Yes.. there is a Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi! Abu Dhabi is currently opening many world-renowned museums in the Saadiyat Cultural District, as a way to entice more tourists. The Louvre in Abu Dhabi is a fraction of the size of the one in Paris, but it’s architecturally impressive and has some beautiful works of art from around the world and throughout many periods in history. Plan to spend about 1.5-2 hours here.
Saadiyat Beach Club
After the Louvre, head to the trendiest area of Abu Dhabi for some rest & relaxation on Saadiyat’s beautiful beaches. Even on a short 2-day Abu Dhabi layover, there is time for the beach! Saadiyat Beach Club is a luxury beach club with a huge pool, beachfront access, and a couple of restaurants. Grab a few lounge chairs, relax, and enjoy some cocktails for the rest of the idea. Make sure you stay for sunset, which is beautiful there. You can reserve tickets or purchase them online ahead of time. I recommend going early if you want good seats.
Dinner on the Saadiyat Boardwalk
After the beach, take a taxi to Soul Beach, walk along the boardwalk and have dinner along the ocean. There are lots of great spots. We enjoyed Grand Beirut so much that we ended up eating at their sister restaurant Beiruit Sur Mer.
Have some extra time? Explore this 2-day itinerary for Dubai.
Visiting the Middle East During Ramadan
Ramadan is a very important Muslim holiday that lasts about a month every year. Observing Ramadan requires that Muslims participate in specific rituals of fasting, prayer, and charity. We had the pleasure of experiencing this special time for about 3 weeks while traveling in the Middle East. It does create some challenges while traveling, but nothing that should prevent you from visiting!
The timing changes year to year so make sure you check ahead of time when it falls. During Ramadan, Muslim’s do not eat or drink (even water) from sun up to sun down, every day, for a month, until Eid al Fitr, a holiday marking the end of Ramadan. If you visit during this time, expect ALL restaurants, cafes etc to be closed in Abu Dhabi, except at hotels.
I found Abu Dhabi to be much stricter than Dubai in terms of what is open during Ramadan. Dubai is a lot more liberal because of its large expat, non-Muslim community, and number of tourists.
Tips for Visiting Abu Dhabi During Ramadan
- Out of respect you shouldn’t eat or drink in public (not even water)
- Alcohol is not allowed in general, but even a lot of hotels don’t allow it during Ramadan
- You can purchase food and drinks at supermarkets, which are open, and consume them in private
- Drink/eat before going out for the day since there won’t be anywhere to stop
- At sundown, the locals participate in iftar which is when they break fast over a huge meal with friends and family
- Most restaurants offer a set menu from ~6pm – 8pm so that the locals can eat as quickly as possible at sundown
- I recommend eating later to allow the locals to eat first!
- If you want to eat earlier it’s also ok to participate in the iftar, but maybe at your hotel where it is understood tourists will be eating
- Many activities and points of interest have different hours than usual. Confirm when things are open before visiting. Sometimes things were open from 10AM-1PM and then closed until 4PM. Open from 4PM onward.
How to get to Abu Dhabi
There are many international flights from around the world into Abu Dhabi or Dubai (which is only an hour or so drive), making it very easy to get to! Emirates and Etihad Airways, fly to UAE from all over the world.
Book a Transfer
Once you arrive I always recommend pre-booking a transfer via Booking.com. You can book cheap local taxis to and from the airport. The driver will meet you with a sign at the airport so you don’t have to wander around and figure out how to get a taxi and you won’t get ripped off. It’s affordable and way less stressful.
How to Get Around Abu Dhabi
Sadly walking isn’t really an option in Abu Dhabi. You either need to rent a car or take taxis everywhere. We always use rentalcars.com to find the best deals on cars all over the world. Additionally, in Abu Dhabi they use a rideshare app called Careem, which I recommend downloading before you arrive. It’s reasonably affordable and you can choose taxis or a private car. They are readily available and usually come within a minute or two.
Passing through Dubai? Explore this ultimate 2-day guide to visiting Dubai.
Things to Know Before You Go
Best Time to Visit & Weather: The ideal time to visit Abu Dhabi is November to April when the weather is much cooler (25°C to 30°C / 77°F to 86°F). It can get up to 45°C (113°F) in peak summer months (June-September) so it’s best to avoid visiting Abu Dhabi during that time.
Currency: Abu Dhabi uses the Dirham. Most places accept major credit cards, but some smaller shops or vendors in the markets prefer cash. It’s always good to have some cash for small tips, etc.
Tipping: Tipping is not always expected but appreciated. In restaurants, it’s recommended to tip 5-10% of the bill for great service (unless the bill already has service included – which happens often so make sure you check!). Tipping housekeeping ($3-5 per day) or other hotel staff is always a good idea!
What to Wear in Abu Dhabi: Depending on when you go, it will likely be quite warm in Abu Dhabi. It’s best to wear light breathable clothing. in general, we found Abu Dhabi to be much more conservative than Dubai. Longer skirts pants or dresses, covered shoulders and chest, etc. Women should dress modestly, covering their shoulders and knees, when visiting mosques or other religious sites.
Plugs & Adapters: In Abu Dhabi, the standard plug type used is the Type G plug, which features three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. To ensure compatibility with Abu Dhabi electrical outlets, I suggest a universal outlet, which you can easily buy on Amazon.
Cost to Travel: Abu Dhabi is more affordable than Dubai, but still moderately expensive. Accommodations are more reasonable than Dubai. Local restaurants were also reasonable (as long as you don’t eat at hotels!). It’s also not really a walkable city so you need to either rent a car, take taxis or Careem (ride-share).
Language: The official language is Arabic, but most people speak English. It’s very easy to get around!
Visa: Citizens of several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many European countries, can enter Abu Dhabi without a visa for short stays ranging from 30 to 90 days, depending on their nationality. It’s best to check if you need a visa on their official website.
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