Abu Dhabi Hotels

Abu Dhabi City Guide

The capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abu Dhabi is an open, safe and friendly city with a calmer pace of life and a focus on Arabic culture. It’s towering skyscrapers and vivid white domes of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque welcome visitors to this island nation in the Persian Gulf.

Abu Dhabi - City Layout and Attractions

Abu Dhabi occupies the sizeable Abu Dhabi island, where The Corniche, a long waterfront strip, features parks, cycle paths and walkways. Downtown is the center of the island, close to the business districts, but is a smart choice for those wishing for accommodation in Abu Dhabi with access to private beaches.

Saadiyat island has Abu Dhabi’s best beach. Yas Island, where the city’s motor circuit hosts November’s F1 Grand Prix, is home to theme parks and other attractions as well as family-oriented hotels.

Booking your Abu Dhabi hotel directly through IHG® and joining IHG® Rewards Club gives you access to “YOUR RATE” offers at Intercontinental® Abu Dhabi, close to the Corniche, with its own private beach.

Shopping in Abu Dhabi

Recent years have seen dramatic changes in shopping in Abu Dhabi, with the existing malls joined by the 400+ stores of Yas Mall on Yas Island. There’s an elegantly designed downtown mall and traditional Arabic souk at the World Trade Centre, and upmarket boutique shopping at The Galleria.

For traditional crafts, browse the Women’s Handicraft Centre, while the bustling Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre sells gold jewelry at great prices.

Eating out in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi restaurants offer everything from high-end fine dining to good-value neighbourhood Indian and Lebanese eateries.

Many of the interesting dining options are in Abu Dhabi hotels, such as Chamas, an all-you-can-eat Brazilian churrascaria, at InterContinental® Abu Dhabi. If you’re staying on Yas Island,  Barouk offers an authentic Arabic dining experience.

Culture & Nightlife

Abu Dhabi has a growing cultural scene on Saadiyat Island, which is anchored by two arts centers: Manarat al Saadiyat and NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Center. Warehouse421, in the port area warehouse, offers a platform for a wide range of artists, including musicians, artisans and performers.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is located in an innovative and architectural jewel designed by Jean Nouvel, the Pritzker Prize winning architect. The museum’s collection will include items on loan from major French institutions.

The Story of Abu Dhabi at Qasr Al Hosn Centre tells the tale of the city’s past.

If you’re looking for nighttime entertainment, clubs and bars with DJs and live music are found mainly in Abu Dhabi hotels.

Family fun

Abu Dhabi is great for a beach holiday, but if theme park fun is required, you need Yas Island. There you’ll find Yas Waterworld, widely regarded as the best water park in the UAE, and the huge Ferrari World complex.  

For a change of pace, Mangrove National Park off the coast of Abu Dhabi Island is a forest rich with wildlife. The numerous channels are ideal for kayak tours, or you can take the round-island hop-on hop-off ferry to spend time spotting the more than 60 species of wildlife.