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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Must-include attractions sorted by popularity
Most popular attractions in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
1. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Abu Dhabi
Quick facts: Stunning marble and intricate floral inlay cover more than 12,000 square meters of floor, giving the interior a cool, serene feel underfoot. A capacity of about 40,000 worshippers gives communal prayers an immense, reverent scale when thousands gather for major observances.
Highlights: Giant chandeliers studded with Swarovski crystals and gold leaf throw a honeyed glow across the white marble, so at dusk the whole space feels like being inside a golden shell. Walking across the hand-knotted Persian-style carpet, you can feel the dense wool pile underfoot and hear footsteps sink into a muffled hush, making the vast domes feel surprisingly intimate.
2. Louvre Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Quick facts: A shimmering silver dome spans roughly 180 meters, filtering sunlight into a hypnotic 'rain of light' that plays across water and stone. More than 600 artworks and loans circulate through the galleries, pairing ancient ceramics with contemporary paintings for surprising juxtapositions.
Highlights: Step into the central plaza at midday and watch eight interlaced layers of patterned metal, about 7,850 elements in all, cast a moving lace of light across the marble and reflecting pools. Local guides often time visits for the golden hour, when overlapping beams and mirrored water create cinematic ribbons of light that photographers line up an hour early to capture.
Book a FREE walking tour in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The best way to experience a city with a local tour guide.
Tip: We strongly recommend a free walking tour on your first day to get to know the city with a local guide. They usually cover all main attractions and you can ask for personal recommendations based on your interests for the next days. Book early as spaces fill up fast!
Additional popular things to do in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Curated tours, tickets, and activities recommended by travelers
Traditional Sweet Dishes
Baklava
In Emirati bakeries baklava is often perfumed with saffron and layered with pistachios or local date syrup, reflecting the Gulf's fragrant trade history.
Luqaimat
Luqaimat are tiny golden dumplings that puff up when fried, they are traditionally drenched in date syrup and sesame and are a Ramadan favorite.
Kunafa
Kunafa is a molten, cheese-filled pastry that pulls into long, gooey strands when served, and Emirati versions often add clotted cream or pistachios for extra richness.
Traditional Savory Dishes
Machboos
Machboos is a spiced rice dish where rice simmers with meat and dried limes so the grains take on deep, layered flavors, it is often considered a celebratory centerpiece.
Shawarma
Shawarma in the UAE mixes Levantine tradition with local tastes, the thinly sliced, spit-roasted meat is wrapped with tangy pickles and garlic sauce for a quick, addictive street meal.
Mandi
Mandi's signature smoky flavor comes from slow-roasting meat in an underground pit or tandoor, and the method produces meat so tender it falls from the bone.
Traditional Beverages
Karak tea
Karak tea is a sugary, cardamom-scented milk tea that began with South Asian laborers and became a Gulf ritual, people gather at roadside stalls to sip it and chat.
Arabic coffee
Arabic coffee, brewed in a dallah and often spiced with cardamom or saffron, is served in tiny cups as a formal gesture of hospitality and guests may be offered multiple rounds.
Laban
Laban is a tangy, cooling yogurt drink used for centuries to hydrate desert travelers, it soothes the stomach and is often enjoyed plain or with mint.
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