Travel Guide: Spending a Weekend in Abu Dhabi.

Last Updated: November 2024

I recently spent a weekend in Abu Dhabi before heading to Dubai for a few days, and with not a lot of time in the city I thought I’d tell you all about what I got up to, to help you plan for a short weekend visiting Abu Dhabi.

I’d had a busy few weeks in New York and London, so wanted to use Abu Dhabi to relax as well as see the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and new Louvre Abu Dhabi!

What to wear in Abu Dhabi

When visiting Abu Dhabi it’s important you stay respectful with your choice of clothing, as it is a Muslim country.

Some places you visit, such as the Grand Mosque, require you to cover your shoulders, knees, and your hair with a headscarf.

The dresses below are all perfect for the requirements! Simply click on each image to go to the product page and purchase or view other similar style dresses.

Trousers are also suitable and totally fine, I just always wear dresses because they’re so easy to pack!

Where to Stay

I arrived Wednesday morning and had had a long flight, so checked in to the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, then chilled out by the pool with my book and had a nap.

I wasn’t feeling very well as I was unknowingly in the early stages of my second pregnancy (which sadly ended later that month the same heartbreaking way as the first – miscarriage sucks), so I was completely exhausted and spent most of the day lazing around the hotel drinking fresh watermelon juice, and managed to eat part of a delicious caesar salad!

Sheikh Zayed Mosque at Sunset

In the evening though I was determined to push through the exhaustion and go to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque for sunset.

Before visiting the mosque I needed to freshen up, and the bathtub in my room was insanely deep so naturally I had to test it out. I was so relaxed I fell asleep though, and woke up in a panic wondering how I didn’t drown myself.

Does anyone else have that ‘shit I could have drowned’ panic when they wake up from a nap in the bath!?

 

With the sun slowly dipping in the sky, I got a taxi across the road to the mosque (like Dubai, Abu Dhabi is impossible to walk around), and after changing into one of their Abaya’s I joined the last tour of the day.

Timing your visit with a tour is well worth doing as they’re free and I learnt so much!

It was really fascinating, and it also allows you to enter half of the mosque that visitors aren’t allowed to wander freely in.

The mosque was finished in 2007, and is large enough to fit almost 41,000 worshippers! The carpet in the main prayer hall is the World’s largest carpet, and took over two years to complete.

Apparently they had to ship it into the country from Iran on a military aircraft!! As we walked out of the main prayer hall the sunset prayer call began, and it was mesmerizing.

Hearing the call to prayer just gives me all the feels. I have no idea what the words are or what they’re saying, but they just sound so beautiful. The tour finished and we were allowed to wander around the public areas of the mosque.

The light at night was stunning, but I planned to go back the next morning to see it again in the daylight. I’m actually really glad I did this as the light was completely different.

 

Dinner at Barfly by Buddha Bar

I headed back to the hotel and decided to try out Barfly by Buddha Bar for dinner.

As I was travelling alone I didn’t want a typical restaurant where I would feel lonely, so opted for somewhere with more of a bar atmosphere.

I definitely made the right choice – I had a lovely dinner with some incredible food (although it consisted of everything you’re not supposed to have whilst pregnant – sushi, sashimi, and alcohol), right on the water beside the canal.

Also, it turned out it was ladies night, so I got 50% off my bill and bottomless prosecco (which I didn’t even make full use of – I managed two sips of my glass before feeling sick).

And then after more than 24 hours without a proper sleep, it was time for an early night.

Day One in Abu Dhabi

The next morning I awoke early, made full use of the buffet breakfast at the Ritz-Carlton, and then got a taxi back over to the Sheikh Zayad Mosque.

I know, it sounds OTT going to the mosque twice, but here me out…

Sheikh Zayad Mosque in the Morning

If you have time I would definitely recommend visiting both during the day and at sunset, as it looks like a totally different building in the different light.

Louvre Abu Dhabi

While I was in Abu Dhabi I was desperate to visit the newly opened Louvre Abu Dhabi.

I’ve been to the Louvre museum in Paris many, many times over the years, so was excited to see what sort of size the Louvre Abu Dhabi would be and what pieces of art it contained.

The Louvre in Paris is absolutely huge, but thankfully the Louvre Abu Dhabi is much smaller, and they have an amazing selection of masterpieces that are all super easy to find.

They had works from Bellini, Da Vinci, Monet, Pollock, Manet, Matisse, Van Gogh, Degas, Gaugin, and hundreds more!

Also, all my childhood dreams came true when I saw Whistler’s Mother in real life…yes, THE Whistler’s Mother from the Bean movie!!

 

Lunch at Emirates Palace

Once I’d finished checking out the collection at the Louvre Abu Dhabi I then got a taxi over to Emirates Palace for some lunch.

I didn’t have a lot of time left before I had to check out of my hotel and head to Dubai, so I just went to the cafe in the middle of the Emirates Palace and had the most expensive club sandwich I have EVER had!

It cost a whole £30, and it didn’t even contain any gold leaf that the Emirates Palace is famous for adding to food and drink.

But, I highly recommend you try the camel milk ice-cream with gold leaf on top – it’s surprisingly delicious!

 

 

 

 

Qasr Al Watan

After Emirates Palace, get a taxi up the road to Qasr Al Watan. This is the new Presidential Palace that was built in 2017, and it’s so stunning!

You’ll need around 2-hours to really enjoy the palace without rushing through. It’s a beautiful place to visit, especially at Golden Hour as the setting sun gleams off the brilliant white granite and limestone.

Dinner at ANNEX Rooftop

Enjoy a late dinner at ANNEX Rooftop at The Abu Dhabi EDITION, which is the luxury hotel’s rooftop bar serving realluy great Peruvian food and cocktails.

I recommend making a reservation for around 8/9pm to get the full party experience!

Day Two in Abu Dhabi

Qasr Al Hosn

Spend the morning of your third day at Qasr Al Hosn, a historical landmark and the oldest stone building in the city of Abu Dhabi.

It was designed by Mohammed Al Bastaki and built in 1761 as a conical watchtower to defend the only freshwater well in Abu Dhabi island.

Saadiyat Beach Club

After Qasr Al Hosn, get a taxi over to Saadiyat Beach Club where you can spend the afternoon relaxing by their swimming pool and beach.

The Saadiyat day pass fee is AED 375 per person, which isn’t a minimum spend that you can use for the restaurants and bars like some other beach clubs in the area.

If you’re there on a Tuesday though, it’s ladies day where it’s only AED 199 per woman and you can enjoy 4 hours of free-flowing bubbly, white & rose wines as well as a selection of cocktails from 12:00PM to 4:00 PM and a snack.

On Fridays it’s AED 150 per Day Pass.

But anyway, pricing aside, Saadiyat Beach Club is absolutely beautiful. The food and cocktails are great, and the beach at Saadiyat is my favourite in the UAE.

Dinner at Market Kitchen, Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi

After visiting the mosque get a taxi up to Market Kitchen at the Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi.

It’s a really lovely restaurant serving a tapas style sharing menu and really delicious cocktails and mocktails!

Extra time?

If you have more time than I did on this trip, make sure you head inland to Al Ain, and/or to Zaya Nurai Island for a day trip!

Check out my Guide & Itinerary to 5 Days in Abu Dhabi!

Visiting Dubai from Abu Dhabi

After Abu Dhabi I spent 3 nights in Dubai with my old boss Nigel and his girlfriend Kristina. It’s really easy to visit Dubai from Abu Dhabi – it only takes an hour in a taxi, and costs roughly £50 each way.

I still wasn’t feeling well while I was in Dubai so we took things easy and it wasn’t anywhere near as wild as my previous Dubai visit.

We had a night out at Inner City Zoo the first night, an insane penthouse pool party at FIVE Palm Jumeirah on The Palm the following night, and then a fancy dinner at Sea Fu at the Four Seasons Jumeirah Beach on my last night.

I was struggling massively with food while I was in Dubai and everything I tried to eat was making me sick.

Nige bought us burgers on the Friday for lunch and as soon as I smelled them I heaved and couldn’t touch them, he was shouting at me “WHO ARE YOU?” because I’m known for being able to eat a burger ALWAYS.

So as soon as I found out I was pregnant I messaged him and was like ‘So I know why I couldn’t eat the burger…’

As well as the slightly sedate parties, we also did a brunch on the Friday and went back to my favourite bar – Shades at The Address hotel in Dubai Marina, and then went to Nasimi Beach Club at Atlantis The Palm on Saturday afternoon, where we napped in the sunshine and ate some sushi (again).