A day trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi
- Jul 21
- 3 min read
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are not far apart. By car, the journey takes approximately one hour and 20 minutes. If you are spending a few days in Dubai and would also like to see some of Abu Dhabi, a day trip is therefore ideal. You can choose to rent a car and explore independently, but there are also plenty of organised tours available where everything is arranged for you. We chose this Abu Dhabi day trip and had a really enjoyable time!
Ferrari World
We were collected from our hotel in the morning and drove for just over an hour to our first stop: Ferrari World. During the journey, our guide told us all about Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the other emirates of the United Arab Emirates. It was interesting to learn more about everyday life in the country and how the seven emirates came together. Our stop at Ferrari World was only a short photo stop. You do not enter the theme park during this type of tour, but you usually have some time to walk around the entrance and visit the nearby shops.
Ferrari World is located on Yas Island, close to the famous Yas Marina Circuit, where the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix is held. If you are a Formula 1 fan, it is a fun area to see during your day trip. Of course, you can also book a full-day visit to Ferrari World if you would like to enter the theme park and experience its rides.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
After our photo stop and a quick toilet break, we continued to the highlight of our Abu Dhabi day trip: the famous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The mosque is the largest in the United Arab Emirates and is particularly well known for its beautiful white marble architecture.
Inside, you will find an enormous hand-knotted carpet, impressive columns and magnificent chandeliers. The mosque was named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder and first president of the United Arab Emirates. During the drive to the mosque, our guide told us more about his life and the history of the country.
Once you arrive, the visitor rules and dress code are explained to you. All visitors must dress respectfully. Women are required to wear loose-fitting clothing that covers their arms and legs, as well as a headscarf covering their hair. Men should wear long trousers and clothing that covers their shoulders. Clothing must not be transparent or tight-fitting. Visible tattoos and clothing displaying inappropriate or prominent slogans may also need to be covered. Dress-code services and policies can change, so it is best to arrive wearing suitable clothing rather than relying on being able to borrow an abaya or headscarf at the mosque.
Non-Muslim visitors are welcome to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. You can follow the designated visitor route or join an official cultural tour to see large parts of the mosque and learn more about its architecture and Islamic culture.
Louvre Abu Dhabi or Etihad Towers
Depending on the tour you book, you may visit Louvre Abu Dhabi afterwards or, as we did, Etihad Towers. You can usually see all the planned stops in the tour description on GetYourGuide before making your reservation. When we visited Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi had not yet opened, so our tour took us to Etihad Towers instead. We entered the building with our group and travelled to the observation deck on one of the highest floors. From there, we had a beautiful view of Emirates Palace and the rest of Abu Dhabi.
Louvre Abu Dhabi opened in 2017 and is now included in some Abu Dhabi day tours. It is located on Saadiyat Island and contains artworks and historical objects from cultures around the world.
After this final stop, we drove back to Dubai in around an hour. We had a really enjoyable day in Abu Dhabi. Our guide told us a lot about Islam, the history of the United Arab Emirates and everyday life in the country. We were offered plenty of drinks throughout the day, and there was also enough time to have lunch. In short, an Abu Dhabi day trip is a great addition to your itinerary if you are spending several days in Dubai!
