My Wishlist
1.800.557.2841or Contact Your Travel Advisor
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi in the sunset

Abu Dhabi Vacations and Tour Packages

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Overview

Take a trip to Abu Dhabi on your United Arab Emirates Vacation

Abu Dhabi is located in the northeastern part of the Persian Gulf in the Arabian Peninsula and serves as the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The largest of all the emirates, Abu Dhabi makes up almost 87% of the country’s total area. Archaeological evidence suggests that civilizations have existed in Abu Dhabi since the third century BC. The origins of Al Nahyan family, one of seven ruling families in the UAE, was established in 1793. The emirate began to expand during the pearl trading days of the late 19th Century, however, this initial prosperity declined during the 1930s resulting in a massive financial blow. Everything changed for the emirate when, in 1958, oil was discovered and it has been said that with oil came the birth of modern Abu Dhabi.

Today Abu Dhabi is a cultural and commercial hub and is a centre for political and industrial activities in the UAE. It is the home of both the Abu Dhabi Emiri Family and the President. Once overshadowed by the construction boom of neighbouring Dubai, Abu Dhabi is now coming into its own as a luxury travel and business destination on Abu Dhabi tours. The development and urbanization of Abu Dhabi along with a high average income has helped to expand this emirate into a beautiful, diverse and multicultural metropolis. Despite offering a laid-back atmosphere, an Abu Dhabi vacation is an exciting one to remember.

At a Glance

Languages

Arabic

Currency

United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)

What do the experts say?

Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
For me, the best months are November to April. Anything in between that is too unbearably hot. Temperatures commonly reaching 50 degrees and higher are so unpleasant and even in Dubai, the little bit of humidity can make them dangerous. This is why even bus shelters on the streets are air conditioned, and very few people are actually outside during the daylight hours.
Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
Directly opposite of Dubai, on the eastern Golf of Oman, in the Emirate of Sharjah, lies Khor Fakkan. This beautiful little gem has mountains, clear blue water with white sand beaches and coral reefs. Shark Island, right off the Coast of Khor Fakkan, has some of the best snorkeling in the UAE.
Jodi Hartnell

Jodi Hartnell

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
For that Instagram shot, nothing beats the symbol for the Emirates that is the Burj al Arab hotel in Dubai. This is generally one of the most asked after spots, and where people can get the best photos. In reality, from the ground it is lovely, however, photos from the air on a helicopter pass show just how amazing this structure is and the effort that went into the world's only 7 Star hotel.
Jodi Hartnell

Jodi Hartnell

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
I always recommend that people go to the Camel races on Fridays, at Al Mormoon Race Track. Over the start line, there is a overhead walkway where you can watch the camels line up for their heats. As there is no gambling in the UAE, here the winners are the camels rather than the owners, and the camels are awarded the gifts.
Jodi Hartnell

Jodi Hartnell

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
Eid Al-Fitr or Eid Al-Adha are celebrated with large gatherings and public events. These are always accompanied by smiling, happy people with loads of new foods to try and sample. As the UAE has over 150 varieties of dates, and it seems that every single kind is brought out to celebrations and they are delicious!!

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is the largest mosque in the country. It was completed in 2007. The building complex measures approximately 290 metres/960 feet by 420 metres/1,380 feet. Covering an area of more than 12 hectares/30 acres, it was established as “a structure that would unite the cultural diversity of the Islamic world with the historical and modern values of architecture and art”. The library contains classic books and publications addressing a range of Islamic subjects such as science, civilization, calligraphy, and the arts including some rare publications dating back more than 200 years. The mosque is large enough to accommodate over 40,000 worshippers, while the main prayer hall can hold over 7,000. The courtyard, with its floral design, is considered to be the largest example of a marble mosaic in the world. The carpet in the main prayer hall is considered to be the world's largest carpet made by Iran's Carpet Company. The weight of this carpet is 35 tons. It is predominantly made from wool and took approximately two years to complete. There are 7 chandeliers, the largest of which is the second largest known inside a mosque and the third largest in the world.

Most Popular Time to Travel

Know when to go.

Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
Abu DhabiMostly Sunny
47°C / 116°F
0mm / 0.0"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.
-
Popularity rating

Travel Stories

Get Inspired About Your Trip to United Arab Emirates

Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.

With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.
Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
Newsletter signup visual
ExcellentBased on 5,220 Reviews
Verified
Ingrid did a phenomenal job creating a 22 day trip beginning in with 3 days in Turkey, that included a Turkish Bath and a private tour of the mosques, we then took a 10 day cruise through the Mediterranean, Greece, Croatia, plus a couple of other stops. We got off the cruise in Ravenna Italy our transportation was spot on picking us up (I would have to stay all of our transportation was impressive, always there, on time, very helpful) we traveled from Ravenna to Venice where we stayed for two nights. Venice is the only place we had a hiccup, we weren't sure if someone was meeting us at our Hotel to take us to the water taxi to get to the train station, we figured it out, made the train and all was good. Traveled to Florence, had the best time there with one of our most favorite excusions, stayed in Florence for two nights and then completed our trip with three nights in Rome. Rome is BUSY, I was not prepared for that but should of expected it. This is our second big trip planning through Goway Travel, I can not recommend enough, they are so detailed and take care of everything you need and everything you didn't know you needed. Paula Hall-Keefe
Verified
The booking processs was really easy. Katie was very communicative and was very responsive. Every change we asked for, she quickly replied. The room arrangements had a small hiccupp but Katie fixed it within minutes! All the excursions were a blast and well planned. The trip was a bucket list trip and was everything we hoped for. Alison H
Verified
Allan Birkett at Goway has been an absolute godsend! Over the past year, he has helped me plan numerous vacations—especially honeymoons—and has been an incredible partner every step of the way. He is always quick to respond, patient with my clients' frequent changes, and goes above and beyond to help whenever an issue comes up. His knowledge, professionalism, and dedication make my job as a travel advisor so much easier. I truly appreciate everything Allan does and highly recommend him to anyone looking for exceptional service. Thank you, Allan, for always being thereBrooke Echols
Verified
Our 2-week trip to Normandy, Switzerland and Italy after we disembarked from the Queen Mary 2 in Southampton in mid-May was superb. Michael Keon did an amazing job of putting together highlights for us to see and visit with the short time we had. All the train reservations, private and small group tours and transportations were very well coordinated, on time, and usually exceeded our expectations. Drivers were courteous and knowledgeable. Mike did a wonderful job getting everything coordinated, in spite of our almost “last minute” booking. I booked a month-long trip through GOWAY back in 1989 for Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, and they were superb then. So I tried them again, and found the entire organization to be even better. Mike was quick to respond to any questions that came up regarding booksings and times, regardless of the 6-hour time difference. Just superb! Although we had a nasty experience in Milan, GOWAY was very responsive and saw to our requests and our needs. Again, Michael Keon is the person who coordinated our travel. I will ask for Mike when I travel again with GOWAY. I recommend GOWAY highly. PJ Wheeler
Verified
A BIG THANK YOU to Goway Travel, Brooke Theron and all of the partners onsite. Our trip to Africa was incredible, memories that will last forever. Everything planned and more went perfectly. The guides, the excursions, the accommodations, everything, was just spectacular. Fortunately, everything ran on time, no delays, no problems. Thank you again!! Linda Irias
Verified
I have been blessed to have an amazing rep, Farooq Qaisar! He has helped me find the best spots for my clients to experience and when I am looking for something and just can't figure it out, he is able to put together something better than I was thinking. He my go-to and I am thankful for all his help over the years!Sherri
Verified
Goway helped plan our two week trip to Peru and they (Virginia in particular) did a great job. The on-site logistics with Condor Travel went very smoothly, and the trip exceeded our expectations overall. They proactively suggested changes to our initial itinerary which were welcomed. I would recommend them and would work with them again in the future.Kate O'Neill
Verified
I recently went on an African Safari with my brother-in-law and sister and another couple who I knew. The entire experience was absolutely unbelievable. The complete details were flawlessly coordinated from the transfers to the breathtaking lodges. Our guides Peter showed us Kenya and Maulid Tanzania were very knowledgeable and very sharp eyes for finding the animals. We were able to see the animals up close, learn a lot about the people, birds , vegetation etc. We had several sundowners in the bush really added to a magical experience with beautiful sunsets. I would highly recommend Goway to all my friends, they will not be disappointed. Thank you to Bijal for the excellent African Safari that you put together for us. You were wonderful.Nancy Hay
Verified
We enjoyed our trip very much. I was very pleased by the hotel, tours, and itinerary selections that Alice Teramoto made for us. It was all well organized and easy to follow. Thank you very much for helping us have a great experience in Peru.IN
Verified
Everything was planned perfectly. The excursions were so small and personal. Ask for Mark! I have already planned another trip back to the Oregon wine country with Mark. Claire
Follow Us On
instagramfacebook
Contact UsCustomer ServiceGeneral Inquiries
Featured in
Travel + LeisureAfarForbesSmithsonian
Accreditations & Memberships
USTOAASTA TOPASTATICOACTA
 
© Copyright 2026. Goway Travel