It's almost impossible to see everything Abu Dhabi has to offer in just one day, but you can make a good start.
Whether you're planning a day trip from one of the other emirates, enjoying a leisurely stopover or just taking a day out of your busy schedule to enjoy the city, it's surprising what you can get done in 24 hours.
We've put together a full day's itinerary, taking in the city's culture, heritage, natural beauty and of course, ensuring plenty of pit stops to indulge and refuel along the way.
Here is how to spend 24 hours in Abu Dhabi:
9am: Breakfast
With a day of big exploring ahead of you, breakfast is an important first stop. Head to Tashas Cafe at Al Bateen, and, weather permitting, grab a table outside overlooking the Marina — it’s a beautiful, relaxed setting to kick-start the day. Tashas breakfast menu is extensive, but we recommend ordering the Hummus Toastie and a flat white.
10am: Visit the Presidential Palace
Take the short 10-minute taxi ride from Al Bateen over to Al Ras Al Akhdar, where you'll find Abu Dhabi's Presidential Palace. There you can step inside Qasr Al Watan, or 'palace of the nation', to discover the exclusive world of a royal court. From stunning, traditional architecture to precious manuscripts and sculptures, Qasr Al Watan is Abu Dhabi's newest cultural attraction and makes the ideal first stop for a day of discovering the UAE capital's cultural heritage.
11.30am: Explore Qasr Al Hosn
Hidden among Abu Dhabi's glistening sky scrapers you'll find Qasr Al Hosn — the capital's oldest building and an important part of its heritage. Just a short taxi ride along the Corniche from Al Ras Al Akhdar, Qasr Al Hosn is in the heart of Downtown Abu Dhabi. Fresh from a ten-year renovation project, this fort dates back to 1760 and once housed the ruling family. Now, it acts as a cultural hub and a perfect example of how the emirate seamlessly blends its history and its progression.
1pm: A lunchtime visit to Mina Fish Market
At the other end of the Corniche you'll find Mina Zayed Port, Abu Dhabi's buzzing commercial port. Among the traditional wooden dhows and reams of local tradesmen, this spot is home to a number of specialised souks — from carpets and plants, to fruit and veg. The highlight though is Mina Fish Market, where the early-morning fisherman are busy preparing their catch of the day. The market itself is filled with stallholders selling the freshest fish, fronted by a number of small restaurants and cafes where you can sample the seafood at extremely affordable prices, while getting a sense for one of the emirate's oldest trades.
2pm: Stroll on the beach
Full on fresh seafood, take the 15-minute taxi ride out to Saadiyat Island. There, head to Saadiyat Beach and enjoy nature at its best. Pay the Dh25 entry fee and enjoy a quick stroll along the white sands, as the waves of the Arabian Gulf lap at your feet, seeing if you can spot any Hawksbill turtles as you go.
2.30pm: Discover Louvre Abu Dhabi
Wipe the sand from your feet and hop across to the jewel in Saadiyat's crown, Louvre Abu Dhabi. Opened in 2017, this sprawling museum and gallery features art from the Middle East and around the world, with artefacts from Ancient Egypt and South East Asia nestled between works from the likes of Monet, Paul Gauguin and Piet Mondrian. Perhaps most impressive though is the building itself. Designed by Jean Nouvel, its intricate domed roof and tranquil waterways are works of art in themselves, and are a must see for any visitors to Abu Dhabi.
5pm: Marvel at Sheikh Zayed Mosque
No day exploring Abu Dhabi would be complete without taking in the beauty of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. From Saadiyat, take the 30-minute taxi to the mosque, which sits proudly at the gateway to the city. The impressive structure is one of the largest mosques in the world, and houses the world's largest carpet and chandelier. Arrive at the Mosque at 5pm to take advantage of the free daily tour, which will allow you to learn more about the building's history as well as enjoy the glistening sunset.
7pm: Relax and refuel with dinner at the Venetian Village
Just five minutes from the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is Abu Dhabi's Venetian Village. Here, you'll find a relaxed, vibrant atmosphere and plenty of places to grab some food and refuel after a busy day's exploring. Located at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal, the Venetian Village is home to six restaurants, but if you fancy treating yourself, we recommend heading to Barfly by Buddha-Bar. Kick back in one of the restaurant's waterside cabanas and enjoy one of its famous sushi platters.
9pm until late: Soak up the atmosphere at Yas Island
Take the 20-minute taxi to Yas Island. Take in the bright red canopy of Ferrari World as you pass by on your way to Yas Marina. There, head to Iris Yas Island where you can settle down for the evening on its impressive terrace, which offers 180 degree views of the superyacht-filled Marina, and more importantly, the adjacent Formula 1 Track, where if you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of some of the cars as the whizz round — or if not, you'll certainly hear them. Iris stays open until 3am, with a DJ and live music creating a chilled out vibe into the early hours.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
SPECS
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Team Angel Wolf Beach Blast takes place every Wednesday between 4:30pm and 5:30pm
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10
*November 15 to November 24
*Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
*Tickets: Start at Dh10, from ttensports.com
*TV: Ten Sports
*Streaming: Jio Live
*2017 winners: Kerala Kings
*2018 winners: Northern Warriors
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Last-16
France 4
Griezmann (13' pen), Pavard (57'), Mbappe (64', 68')
Argentina 3
Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90 3')
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
CREW
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E299hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E420Nm%20at%202%2C750rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12.4L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh157%2C395%20(XLS)%3B%20Dh199%2C395%20(Limited)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
