Tourist Attractions & Monuments Île D'Abu Dhabi

Timetable

Opening hours: there are no rules for Abu Dhabi, but it's fair to say that everything generally starts at 10am and closes relatively late. Note that some places open later on Fridays. But there are no precise rules.

Visitor numbers: numbers depend on the month of the year, with the peak season between November and February.

To be booked

It's best to book in advance to attend the NBA season launch on October 6 and 9 in Abu Dhabi, the Formula 1 World Championship final on the Yas Island circuit in November, or certain concerts in the Yas Arena.

Budget & Tips

First of all, download the Visit Abu Dhabi application. This is the official application of the Tourist Office. All the latest news, prices and timetables are there. You can also take advantage of great discounts and deals with the Groupon app.

Affordable: all museums in Abu Dhabi are very affordable. In art galleries, most admission is free.

Reasonable: guided tours. The French-speaking guides listed in our guide charge reasonable prices, but they are few and far between.

Expensive: all the city's theme parks are expensive and require a certain budget.

Main events

Via the Events tab in the bottom right-hand corner of the Visit Abu Dhabi app, you can find out exactly what's on over the next six months.

October to May: Abu Dhabi Classics music season.

October 2026: Start of the NBA season at the Etihad Arena.

November to April: Abu Dhabi Festival.

Late November: Abu Dhabi Modern and Contemporary Art Fair.

Late November: Abu Dhabi Etihad F1 Grand Prix on the Yas Marina circuit.

December¹: Commemoration Day, with a tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives for the nation.

December 2 and 3: National Day. Traditional dances, flag-decorations and fireworks mark these celebrations.

January¹: New Year.

January: United Arab Emirates Tour - HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Grand Prix: start of the European Tour.

February: Abu Dhabi Food Festival - Local and international chefs celebrate the diversity of the world's cuisines.

April: Al Marmoun Heritage Festival - Celebration of Bedouin culture, camel races.

Ramadan: altered schedules during the day, but great hustle and bustle everywhere after sunset. The end of Ramadan, Eid el Fitr, ushers in a period of sales and bargains.

July: Liwa dates festival - Celebration of the Bedouin way of life and the region's emblematic fruit.

Aïd-al-Adha: Feast of the Sacrifice, 60 days after the end of Ramadan, an important sheep-sacrifice festival and a time for family and friends to get together.

Arafat Day: Second day of the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Al Hijri : Islamic New Year.

July and August: Summer sales period, with discounts on hotels and attractions.

Prophet Mohammed's birthday.

Please note that the exact dates of celebrations are subject to moon sightings and may therefore vary.

Guided tours

Big Bus Tour: One, two or five-day package. Tours the city with various stops. People can hop on and off at will. www.bigbustours.com/en/abu-dhabi/abu-dhabi-bus-tours/

Guided tours of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Presidential Palace, Qasr al Hosn... We recommend the services of our author, Hugues, who loves to share his passion for the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Tel / WhatsApp: +971 586 333 814

Smokers

Smoking is permitted in Abu Dhabi, except: inside or near schools, universities and government buildings; inside shopping malls. Restaurants generally have smoking and non-smoking sections.

Tourist traps

Abu Dhabi is so regulated that tourist attractions are not very common. A few attractions or dinner cruises may be for some, but this is a matter of personal judgement. Also, beware of bogus phone calls from the Police or the Post Office, where swindlers try to get your visa card numbers. Be careful, too, and don't give your payment card to a gas station attendant or a waiter in a restaurant. Respect speed limits.

What's very local

Habits and customs:

If you enter someone's home, leave your shoes at the door and avoid showing the soles of your feet.

Culturally, the left hand is used for personal hygiene. It is therefore inappropriate to shake hands with it. At dinner or lunch, you should always eat with your right hand. It is also used for shaking hands.

It is not advisable to address or shake hands with an Emirati woman unless you are invited to do so. Don't take photos without her permission.

Don't show affection in public. Holding hands is fine, but doing more is an offence. However, we can see young Emirati couples holding hands in the malls.

Emiratis are very calm, they don't understand a person who loses his or her temper. Swearing or making impolite hand gestures in public can get you into trouble.

Ramadan:

The date of Ramadan varies according to the lunar cycle. It begins when the first crescent of the new moon is visible in the sky, and is announced the day before for the following day by a committee of Imams.

During the month of Ramadan, it is forbidden to eat (or even chew gum), drink or smoke in public. Malls are open. More and more restaurants are also open. Always check opening hours during Ramadan.

Dress code:

Dress respectfully towards Emiratis. Bermuda shorts, tank tops and skirts above the knee are tolerated. Be careful, however, in certain government areas (police stations, for example), where women's shoulders and knees must be covered at the very least. However, women are not obliged to wear the veil (niqab and/or abaya). For men, it's not uncommon to be refused access in Bermuda shorts. Away from the pool or beach, bathing suits are disrespectful and could get you into trouble. Bikinis are permitted, but topless (monokini) is forbidden on beaches. During the month of Ramadan, we adopt a more conservative dress: to go to iftars and Suhoor, long dresses with long sleeves are more appropriate.

Alcohol:

Simply being drunk in a public place is punishable by imprisonment. If you have an accident and it's proven that you've been drinking, even a little, you'll go to prison. You can buy alcohol in specialist supermarkets. The "alcohol" card is no longer valid.