Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and of the emirate of the same name, and it sits on a T-shaped island in the Persian Gulf, separated from the mainland by a narrow channel and linked by bridges to the mainland and to islands such as Saadiyat, Al Reem and Al Maryah. The city proper has a little over two million people, and the wider emirate roughly 3.8 million, most of them expatriates. Arabic is the national language, but English is used everywhere, and Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil are widely heard because of the very large Indian community.
It is a quieter and more orderly city than neighbouring Dubai, with wide roads, long sea-front promenades and a cultural programme built around Saadiyat Island. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, opened in 2007, is the first stop for most visitors. Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by Jean Nouvel and opened in 2017, and the Zayed National Museum, which opened in December 2025, sit in the same island district. Older Abu Dhabi is smaller: Qasr Al Hosn, a fort dating from 1761, is the oldest stone building in the city, and the Corniche is where residents walk in the evening.
For Indian families the city is easy in practical ways. Direct flights run from many Indian cities, and Indian vegetarian restaurants are easy to find, as are doctors and shops that work in Hindi. The BAPS Hindu Mandir at Abu Mreikhah, which opened to the public in March 2024, has become a major stop for visiting families, and it must be booked in advance. The honest difficulty is heat: from May to September daytime highs are above 39 C, and outdoor sightseeing is only comfortable from about November to March.
Entry rules for Indian passport holders depend on your circumstances: some can get a visa on arrival, for example with a valid US, UK, EU or Canadian visa, while others need an online visa through the UAE's official channels or a participating airline. These rules change, so check the official UAE government portal and your airline before booking, and buy travel insurance that covers hospital care.
Before you plan
Abu Dhabi at a glance
- Best months
- November to March is the comfortable…November to March is the comfortable window, with highs of about 25 to 30 C. April and October are warm, and May to September is very hot, with highs of 39 to 43 C.
- Ideal trip length
- 3 to 4 days for the city3 to 4 days for the city; 2 days covers the mosque, one museum and the Corniche at a gentle pace
- Airport
- Zayed International AirportZayed International Airport (AUH), formerly Abu Dhabi International, about 30 km east of the city; all flights now use Terminal A
- Railway station
- No passenger railway station is…No passenger railway station is useful for visitors that we could verify, so plan on flying in and moving by road
- Getting around
- Metered taxisMetered taxis, ride-hailing apps and city buses; most sights are far apart, so a taxi or hired car with driver is the practical choice
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹6,000 to ₹15,000 per person…Roughly ₹6,000 to ₹15,000 per person per day excluding hotel and flights, for food, taxis and entry fees; prices vary widely, so treat this as a rough signal
- Senior comfort
- Good in the cooler months: liftsGood in the cooler months: lifts, air-conditioned museums and level promenades, but long walks between car parks and entrances, and strong heat outdoors from May to September
- Language
- Arabic is the official languageArabic is the official language; English is used in hotels, malls and attractions, and Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil are widely spoken
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Abu Dhabi: January, February, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Abu Dhabi itinerary
One good day
1 day in Abu Dhabi
Reach the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque soon after it opens at 9:00 am, when the marble is cooler and the courtyard is quieter, and allow about 90 minutes. Take a taxi to Saadiyat Island for lunch and Louvre Abu Dhabi, and give the museum two to three hours in air conditioning. In the late afternoon, drive back along the Corniche and walk a short stretch as the heat eases. Dinner at an Indian vegetarian restaurant in Al Zahiyah or Madinat Zayed is the easy, familiar option.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Abu Dhabi
Start with the mosque in the morning. After lunch visit Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace that is open to visitors, where the interiors are air-conditioned and the pace is slow. End the day on the Corniche.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the morning and Qasr Al Watan after lunch, with a rest between them.
Day-by-day plan →
