Abu Dhabi: Travel Guide for Art Lovers

The Louvre Abu Dhabi was conceived from a partnership between France and UAE

Welcome to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (or UAE). Dubai is a well-known destination of the UAE and no trip to the country can be complete without visiting the rich in culture territory that is Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is an art lover's dream and a must see on an UAE itinerary. Without further ado, here is an art lovers travel guide for Abu Dhabi:

The best time to visit Abu Dhabi is during shoulder season months April, May, September and October for enjoyable weather and fewer crowds

Abu Dhabi Travel Facts

• Abu Dhabi is the capital and largest territory of the United Arabs Emirates, consisting of over 80% of the total land area

• Admired for its blend of tradition and progression, beaches, gastronomy, shopping, adventure and welcoming for couples, families and solo travelers

• Abu Dhabi's culture reflects its rich heritage, breathtaking landscapes, modern architecture, intriguing art installations, kind-hearted, open-minded people

• Similar to Dubai, Abu Dhabi is considered one of the safest destinations to visit in the world

• Due to its proximity to the equator, it has a year-round warm temperature ranging from mid 20 to over 40 degrees Celsius

• The best time to visit Abu Dhabi is between April and May as well as September and October, which is considered its shoulder season and boasts pleasant weather that's not too hot or humid and fewer crowds

• Plan to spend at least 2-4 days in Abu Dhabi to see its highlights and experience its attractions

Etihad Airways operates from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)

Getting to Abu Dhabi

There are 5 airports in Abu Dhabi:

• Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH): Second largest airport in UAE; official airline is Etihad Airways; honored as the World’s Most Beautiful Airport at the prestigious Prix Versailles in December 2024; approximately 31km from city center

• Al Ain International Airport (AAN): Second international airport in Abu Dhabi; currently 4 airlines operate from this airport: Etihad Airways, Air India Airways, Nile Air and Pakistan International Airlines (more airlines are on the horizon); approximately 150km from city center

• Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI): An exclusive business airport serving private jets only; only business airport in the Middle East and North Africa regions; approximately 10km from city center

• Sir Bani Yas Airport (XSB): Mostly caters to travelers visiting the natural Yas Island; approximately 283km from city center

• Delma Airport (ZDY): Serves Delma Island; connects travelers to AUH airport with convenient 45-minute flights

The Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is one of the best hotels rated by Trip Advisor

Accommodations

• Some of the most popular areas to stay in Abu Dhabi include Yas Island, Abu Dhabi City Center and Saadiyat Island

• The current Top 10 accommodations by Trip Advisor to stay at while visiting Abu Dhabi:

  1. Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat: 5-star resort with a perfect 5/5 score on Trip Advisor with only 22 rooms and suites; languages include English, Arabic and Greek

  2. Club Prive By Rixos Saadiyat Island: Another 5-star resort from Accor boasting a 5 out of 5 score on Trip Advisor with a used-to-be new secret hideaway Club Privé by Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island; spoken languages include English, Russian, Arabic, Indonesian and Turkish

  3. Erth Abu Dhabi: A 5-star hotel with a reputation as a leader in traditional Emirati hospitality; staff speak Arabic, English, French, Hindi, Malayalam, Russian, Tamil, Filipino, Urdu, Chinese

  4. Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers: A 2024 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best by Trip Advisor, this 5-star Hilton hotel is located at Abu Dhabi's popular location, the Corniche; language capabilities include Arabic, Filipino, German, Hindi, Italian, Serbian, Turkish, Ukrainian, English, French, Russian, Spanish

  5. Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi: Voted Traveler's Choice award by Trip Advisor in 2024, 5-star Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is located on a 1.3km private beach with 24-hour butler service; personnel speak 25 languages including English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Dutch and Italian

  6. Intercontinental Residences Abu Dhabi By Ihg: An additional 5/5/5 property, 5-star hotel with 5 out of 5 traveler rating on Trip Advisor, Intercontinental Residences Abu Dhabi is a served residence with 1 to 3-bedroom apartments and studios with fully equipped kitchen and amazing views; spoken languages include English, French, Russian, Arabic, Filipino, German, Hindi, Nepali, Romanian and Ukrainian

  7. The Wb Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection By Hilton: A unique 5-star hotel, its site states, "The WB™ Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton™ is a World first." Welcoming for families, guests can enjoy daily access to Yas Island theme parks; staff speak over 15 languages including English, French, Arabic, Afrikaans, Filipino, Malay and Nepali

  8. Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi: Known for its sustainability, Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi is a 5-star Marriott hotel with a revolving lounge, the only in the city, circled by shopping malls, parks and steps from Corniche Beach; language capabilities include English, Arabic, Russian, Filipino, Hindi and German

  9. City Seasons Al Hamra Hotel: The only 4-star hotel on Trip Advisor's Top 10 accommodations in Abu Dhabi, City Seasons Al Hamra Hotel with 310 rooms and suites offering warm, Arabian hospitality and easy access to shopping centers and attractions; spoken languages include Urdu, Indonesian, Hindi, Filipino, Arabic and English

  10. The St. Regis Abu Dhabi: Voted Travelers' Choice award by Trip Advisor in 2024, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi is a luxurious, charming hotel with waterfront views of Arabian Gulf; languages include English, Arabic, French, Russian, Filipino and Hindi

      
      

Falafel is a popular dish in Abu Dhabi

Local Gastronomy

Some of the most popular dishes in Abu Dhabi include:

• Khuzi/Ghuzi: Considered the national dish of the UAE, Ghuzi is made from whole roasted lamb, goat or mutton on top of spicy rice, garnished with nuts, raisins and vegetables; Khuzi is served during special occasions and is easy to find in local restaurants

• Al Machboos: A one-pot simple dish to make and is typically made with rice, meat, beef, lamb, chicken, shrimp or fish, onions, vegetables, spices and lemon

• Al Harees: A traditional emirates dish and is specially prepared during Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, weddings and special occasions; this dish has a porridge-type consistency with its main ingredients consist of wheat, chicken, lamb (or any meat of choice), soaked wheat berries, chunks of meat, cinnamon, salt, pepper and other spices and vegetables

• Shawarma: Originating from the Levant during Ottoman Empire, this worldwide fav is just as popular in Abu Dhabi

• Tabbouleh: Vegetarian dish typically made with green onions, tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, crushed wheat, lemons and fresh mint

• Falafel: The Middle East version of french fries, falafel is prepared from fried balls made up of ground chickpeas or fava beans and are usually served with a spicy sauce or dip

Qasr Al Watan's facade was expertly made using white granite and limestone, sold maple wood hand made with 23-carat gold designs

Top Rated Landmarks and Attractions

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center: A must-see on your Abu Dhabi itinerary, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center is a majestic mosque blending modern and traditional Islamic architecture and one of the largest in the world able to accommodate over 41,000 worshipers at a time

• Ferrari World Yas Island: The first Ferrari-branded theme park in the world, this easily recognizable amusement park with a huge red Ferrari roof provides numerous exhilarating rides including the world’s fastest rollercoaster, family-friendly attractions, state-of-the-art simulators, live shows and racing memorabilia

• Qasr Al Watan: A palace that houses the main UAE government buildings and self-proclaimed 7-star hotel with a facade consisting of white granite and limestone, 149k china, crystal and silverware and fine hand-carved maple wood designed with 23-carat gold designs

• Louvre Abu Dhabi: In partnership with France, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is truly unique measuring 24,000 square metres and is the largest art museum in the Arabian Peninsula with art from Leonardo da Vinci and Van Gogh; the museum has 55 buildings and 23 galleries and is surrounded by water where visitors can take a guided kayaking tour; an artistic masterpiece the top of the museum has a geometric design made of 7,850 stars

There are several artists from Abu Dhabi bringing fame to their emirate

Artists From UAE & Abu Dhabi

• Monteath: A 4-member band who grew up in the UAE recognized for its unique rhythmic music consisting of new age folk with a hint of blues

• Julia Ibbini: Abu Dhabi based artist known for her creative process by layering laser-cut pieces with intricate details

• Sumayyah Al Suwaidi: Celebrated Abu Dhabi artist, fashion designer and curator known around the world

• Khaled Al Jabri: Caricature artist based in Abu Dhabi with a passion for comics

• Maitha Abdalla: With a B.A. in Visual Arts from Zayed University with drawings and paintings inspired from her stories and culture

• Kenna Al-Sayed: Award winning artist known for love of horses with art that conveys hidden emotions of these beautiful animals

• Aisha Al Ahmadi: Artist, writer and aspiring curator born in Abu Dhabi utilizing research-based facts in her creations with themes of identity politics, truth and perception