Abu DhabiCapital
United Arab Emirates · Country profile
Abu Dhabi is the federal capital of the United Arab Emirates and the neighbour of the more famous Dubai, a green, orderly city of the wealth and culture of the Gulf, built along the shore and the mangroves of its own island. The grand mosque of the Sheikh Zayed, one of the largest in the world, dominates the city with its marble and its chandeliers, and the corniche of the waterfront holds the beaches, the gardens and the cafes of the everyday. The cultural ambition of the city is extraordinary, with the Louvre of the island park, the great performance hall and the museum projects of the new era, and the desert of the interior waits an hour past the city edge. For a calmer, more cultural, more authentically regional taste of the Emirates, Abu Dhabi is the answer.
About Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital of United Arab Emirates. The city's documented population is around 1,567,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the UAE Dirham (AED) and Arabic is spoken; the dialling code is +971. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Zayed International Airport.
The Mosque, the Corniche and the Cultural Islands
Abu Dhabi is a green, spacious, surprisingly cultural capital, and its rhythm is calmer than the glamour of its neighbour up the coast. The great mosque, the waterfront corniche and the Louvre of the island hold the classic circuit, and the mangroves, the desert and the nearby islands give the city its outdoor life. The winter months are the golden season, when the city events, the beach life and the evening terraces all come alive, and the summer offers the museums, the malls and the water parks in the cool of the air conditioning. It is a city of wealth, of culture and of a very deliberate, very comfortable order.
Planning the Cooler Months, the Dress Codes and the Local Rhythms
The winter, from November to March, is the season to come, when the temperatures drop and the outdoor life begins; the summer is fierce and the days are best spent inside. The grand mosque has its own dress code and its own visiting hours, and the modest, respectful clothing is required for the entry. The city is easy to reach from the neighbouring emirate, and the metro and the buses make the local journeys simple. The Friday and the weekend rhythms of the country shift the week, so the attractions and the restaurants have their own schedules. Cards are universal and the dining is superb across the whole city.
The Metro, the Mangrove Kayaks and the Dunes of the Desert
The corniche beach is the city’s great free pleasure, and the mangroves of the eastern shore hold the kayaking and the quiet wildlife within sight of the skyline. The Louvre of the island is the cultural flagship, and the island of Saadiyat holds the performance halls and the museum quarter. The great mosque is at its most dramatic at the sunset and the evening hours. The city spreads along the coastal islands, and the taxis and the car ride fill the gaps the metro does not cover. The desert of the interior, an hour from the centre, holds the dune drives and the camps of the evenings, and the whole city is safe, orderly and deeply comfortable.
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- Country
- United Arab Emirates
- Population
- 1,567,000
- Coordinates
- 24.4330, 54.6511
- Capital
- Abu Dhabi
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- UAE Dirham (AED)
- Languages
- Arabic
- Calling code
- +971
- Country code
- AE
Entry requirements for United Arab Emirates
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting United Arab Emirates for tourism.
Getting to Abu Dhabi
Airports we list for Abu Dhabi:
Other airports in the area:
Cities in United Arab Emirates
Other cities we cover in United Arab Emirates:
Frequently asked questions
Is Abu Dhabi the capital of United Arab Emirates?
Yes — Abu Dhabi is the capital of United Arab Emirates.
What currency do I need in Abu Dhabi?
The local currency is the UAE Dirham (AED). Languages spoken in United Arab Emirates include Arabic.
What is the dialling code for United Arab Emirates?
The international dialling code for United Arab Emirates is +971.
Which airport should I fly into for Abu Dhabi?
Zayed International Airport (AUH) is the airport we list for Abu Dhabi.
How far is Abu Dhabi from the nearest airport?
Abu Dhabi is about 116 km from Dubai International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit United Arab Emirates?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Australia (visa on arrival), Canada (visa on arrival), France (visa on arrival), Germany (visa on arrival) and India (visa required). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Abu Dhabi? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.