Attractions in Abu Dhabi

Jebel Hafeet is Al Ain's iconic limestone peak on the Oman border, the second-highest mountain in the UAE at roughly 1,249 metres. Its 11.7 km road of 21 corners is regularly cited as one of the world's great driving roads, and the Bronze Age tombs at its base are part of the UNESCO Cultural Sites of Al Ain.

Al Ain Oasis is the largest of seven oases in the inland city of Al Ain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011. Some 147,000 date palms across 1,200 hectares are still irrigated by an ancient falaj system that has been in continuous use for thousands of years. Entry is free and the shaded walking loops make it a year-round day-trip from Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

Sir Bani Yas Island is an 87 km² natural island in the Arabian Gulf, 150 km west of Abu Dhabi, developed by the late Sheikh Zayed as a wildlife sanctuary. Today it operates as the Arabian Wildlife Park with 17,000+ free-roaming animals, three Anantara resorts, and one of the Gulf's only excavated pre-Islamic Christian monastery sites.

Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is a 15-hectare outdoor waterpark on Yas Island, themed around the UAE's pearl-diving heritage and home to 40-plus slides and rides. Headline attractions include the Liwa Loop water-coaster, the six-person Dawwama tornado tube, and the partly-dry Bandit Bomber roller coaster that fires water cannons at riders below.

Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi is the world's first Warner Bros indoor theme park, set under a single 1.65 million sq ft roof on Yas Island. Six themed lands span DC heroes, Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera classics, and a 1930s Hollywood plaza, with 29-plus rides and full climate control — making it the most family-friendly of the Yas Island theme parks and a reliable summer fallback.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the world's largest indoor theme park, set under a 200,000 m² red roof on Yas Island. It is home to Formula Rossa, the world's fastest roller coaster, plus 40-plus rides across thrill, family, and children's zones — fully air-conditioned, which makes it one of the few UAE attractions you can do at the height of summer.

Yas Marina Circuit is Abu Dhabi's 5.281 km Hermann Tilke-designed F1 track on Yas Island, home of the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Beyond race weekend it operates as a working motorsport venue with track tours, single-seater drives, a drag strip, karting, and free public TrainYas evenings.

Qasr Al Watan is the working Presidential Palace of the UAE, opened to the public in 2019 as a cultural landmark in Abu Dhabi's Ras Al Akhdar district. Visitors tour the Great Hall under a 37-metre glass dome, browse a curated library of rare manuscripts, and stay for the evening "Palace in Motion" projection show. It sits next to (but is separate from) the Emirates Palace hotel.

Louvre Abu Dhabi is the first universal museum in the Arab world and the only Louvre branch outside Paris, opened in 2017 on Saadiyat Island. Jean Nouvel's 180-metre dome filters sunlight into the signature "rain of light" effect over 23 cross-cultural galleries. This guide covers the architecture, the collection, ticketing and getting there from Dubai or central Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in the UAE and Abu Dhabi's most-visited landmark — 82 white marble domes, four 107-metre minarets, and the world's largest hand-knotted carpet. Free to enter and open to non-Muslims most days, with strict modest-dress rules and a moon-cycle-synchronised lighting system that makes the sunset visit unmissable.