Cost per day · United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi on $45, $150 or $550 a day
How much does Abu Dhabi cost per day? Budget travellers get by on about $45 a day, mid-range trips run around $150, and luxury starts near $550 — accommodation, food, transport and activities included.
That makes Abu Dhabi the 29th most expensive of 100 cities for a mid-range trip — see all 100 ranked.
The UAE's capital is calmer and more cultural than Dubai: the white marble Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Jean Nouvel's Louvre under its floating dome, the presidential palace you can walk through, and on Yas Island the Formula 1 circuit and the world's fastest roller coaster. The desert begins where the city ends.
Abu Dhabi is cheaper than Dubai for rooms. The Grand Mosque is free, the Corniche beaches and waterfront cost nothing, and Indian, Pakistani and Lebanese cafés feed you well for a few dollars.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
The coral-stone fort where Abu Dhabi began, restored as a museum
Get tickets on Tiqets →Dune-bashing, camels, sandboarding and a barbecue dinner in a desert camp
Get tickets on Tiqets →The red-roofed theme park with Formula Rossa, the world's fastest coaster
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Simple chain hotel near the Grand Mosque and the city entrance
Reliable rooms near ADNEC with a rooftop pool
Modern hotel at the exhibition centre with a rooftop bar
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: The Grand Mosque ~$30
Day 2: Corniche and the sea ~$35
Day 3: Mangroves ~$30
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is free; book a time slot online. Corniche Beach has a small entry fee and lifeguards. Eat shawarma and biryani in the old downtown, not in the malls.
Mid-range buys a beach hotel, the Louvre and Qasr Al Watan, a desert safari with dinner and a day on Yas Island's theme parks.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Dune-bashing, camels, sandboarding and a barbecue dinner in a desert camp
Get tickets on Tiqets →World art from prehistory to now beneath Jean Nouvel's "rain of light" dome
Get tickets on Tiqets →The working presidential palace, with its great hall and library open to visitors
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Beach resort on Yas Island near the parks and the circuit
Towers on the Corniche with a private beach and the observation deck
Arabian-style resort on the creek facing the Grand Mosque
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Palaces and the Louvre ~$160
Day 2: Desert ~$180
Day 3: Yas Island ~$200
Visit the Grand Mosque at sunset for the light on the marble. Buy a Yas multi-park ticket if you want Ferrari World and Warner Bros. The desert safari is better from the morning dunes than from the evening crowd.
Luxury Abu Dhabi is a suite at the Emirates Palace or a beach villa on Saadiyat, a private desert camp in the Liwa dunes, the Louvre with a curator and a driving experience on the F1 circuit.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
The red-roofed theme park with Formula Rossa, the world's fastest coaster
Get tickets on Tiqets →A full day in the giant dunes of the Empty Quarter, with lunch
Get tickets on Tiqets →Dinner aboard a megayacht along the Corniche skyline
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Mediterranean-style resort on Saadiyat's nesting-turtle beach
A fortress resort in the Liwa dunes of the Empty Quarter
The domed palace on its own beach, all gold leaf and marble
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Art and palaces ~$900
Day 2: The Empty Quarter ~$1300
Day 3: Speed and sea ~$1100
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental and the St. Regis Saadiyat are the addresses. Drive a GT car round Yas Marina Circuit. A night at Qasr Al Sarab in the Empty Quarter is the real desert.
About Abu Dhabi
Hot desert: mild sunny winters (24–27°C by day), scorching humid summers (40–45°C). Rain is rare, falling on a handful of winter days.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19° | 21° | 23° | 28° | 32° | 34° | 36° | 36° | 33° | 30° | 25° | 21° |
| 2d | 2d | 2d | 1d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 1d | 2d |
| high | high | high | mid | low | low | low | low | low | mid | high | high |
Taxis are cheap and metered; buses run across the city but the attractions are spread out. Free shuttles link Yas Island's parks and hotels. No metro.
A travel eSIM gets you online the moment you land in United Arab Emirates — data plans start at $4 — no roaming bill, no queue for a local SIM, and nothing to swap in and out of your phone. Install it before you fly.
The city's seafront with its beach park, the Etihad Towers and the old downtown grid of cheap restaurants behind.
Best for midrangeThe cultural island with the Louvre and teamLab, and long white beaches lined with resorts.
Best for luxuryFerrari World, Warner Bros., Yas Waterworld, the F1 circuit and resort hotels, twenty-five minutes from downtown.
Best for midrangeThe financial district with the Galleria mall, the Four Seasons and the city's best restaurants.
Best for luxuryNear the exhibition centre and the airport road, with good-value chain hotels.
Best for budgetThe resort area along the creek facing the Grand Mosque, with the souk at Qaryat Al Beri.
Best for midrange- ✓Dress modestly in public — shoulders and knees covered in malls and souks
- ✓Wear long clothing and a headscarf (women) at the Grand Mosque
- ✓Accept Arabic coffee and dates when offered, and shake the cup to decline more
- ✓Use your right hand for eating and handing over things
- ✓Respect Ramadan: no eating or drinking in public by day
- ✓Ask before photographing people, especially women
- ✗Kiss or hold hands affectionately in public
- ✗Drink alcohol outside licensed hotels and venues, or be drunk in public
- ✗Photograph government buildings, the palace grounds or military sites
- ✗Swear or make rude gestures, including online and while driving
- ✗Bring medications without checking UAE rules; some are controlled
- ✗Sunbathe topless or wear swimwear away from the beach and pool
Travel Insurance for Abu Dhabi
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for any trip to Abu Dhabi. Safety is rated Extremely safe, with very low crime. Laws on public behaviour, alcohol and dress are stricter than in the West; respect them, and avoid public displays of affection. — even in safe destinations, unexpected medical emergencies or trip cancellations can be costly. Make sure your policy covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation.
Visa note: Visa on arrival or visa-free for UK, US, EU, Canadian and Australian passports, typically 30–90 days depending on nationality.. Some countries require proof of travel insurance as part of the visa application.
Get travel insurance for Abu Dhabi →FAQ: Abu Dhabi Travel Questions
Is Abu Dhabi safe to visit? ▾
Extremely safe, with very low crime. Laws on public behaviour, alcohol and dress are stricter than in the West; respect them, and avoid public displays of affection.
When is the best time to visit Abu Dhabi? ▾
November–March for warm, sunny days (24–28°C). Late November brings the Formula 1 season finale on Yas Island. Summer is extremely hot. Hot desert: mild sunny winters (24–27°C by day), scorching humid summers (40–45°C). Rain is rare, falling on a handful of winter days.
How much does a trip to Abu Dhabi cost per day? ▾
- budget: $45–$80/day
- midrange: $150–$280/day
- luxury: $550–$1300/day
Do I need a visa to visit United Arab Emirates? ▾
Visa on arrival or visa-free for UK, US, EU, Canadian and Australian passports, typically 30–90 days depending on nationality.
How do I get around Abu Dhabi? ▾
Taxis are cheap and metered; buses run across the city but the attractions are spread out. Free shuttles link Yas Island's parks and hotels. No metro. Taxi base fare ~$4. Day pass ~$3.
Is tipping expected in Abu Dhabi? ▾
Service charges are often included. Add 10% for good service in restaurants and round up for taxis.
What currency is used in United Arab Emirates? ▾
The local currency is AED, and the official language is Arabic, English.