Abu Dhabi

Follow these tips to have an indie travel experience in Abu Dhabi.

  • Many of the sites in Abu Dhabi are actually free, so check these places out:
    • Sheikh Zayed Mosque
    • Corniche waterfront
  • There’s also plenty of green space in Abu Dhabi.
    • Khalifa Park has its own aquarium, parks, gardens, and museum.
  • Check out the Abu Dhabi Cultural Center for events and workshops.
  • Go swimming at one of the many private beaches that hotels offer travelers. You can pay for a day pass even if you’re not staying there.

Why you should add Abu Dhabi to your RTW travel list

  • Get dusty watching the UAE Desert Challenge road rally
  • Wander in any of almost 20 green parks of a city in the desert
  • Tour Al-Hosn Palace, the oldest building in town
  • Pick up something fresh for dinner at Abu Dhabi’s fish market and dhow wharf
  • A chance to see some bona fide oil sheiks
  • Take a bus to Al-Ain for the camel races

Why you should not add Abu Dhabi to your RTW travel list

  • Accommodations are expensive.
  • It can be difficult to get around.

Overview

The new beating heart of the Middle East, Abu Dhabi made a leap from the Stone Age to the 21st century in only a few short decades, undergoing rapid development and quickly becoming a modern business center and tourist hub for the Arab world.