Abu Dhabi
Museums on the water, festival season at Al Wathba and the largest desert in the Gulf.
Abu Dhabi is the capital and the largest emirate by far, and it offers the broadest range in the UAE: world-class museums on Saadiyat, a Formula 1 circuit and theme parks on Yas Island, protected mangroves, a long Corniche and, inland, the dunes of Liwa and the Empty Quarter. The 2026-27 season is one of the busiest yet, with Frieze Abu Dhabi, the Guggenheim opening on 11 December, the Grand Prix on 3 to 6 December and Sheikh Zayed Festival running until 14 March.
The city itself is easy: wide roads, plentiful taxis and a compact centre. The distances are in the emirate, not the city, so decide whether you are doing a city break or travelling out to Al Ain, Liwa or the desert.
Experiences in Abu Dhabi
Events in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Comedy Season
A run of international comedy shows with Russell Peters, Morgan Jay, Mo Amer and Maz Jobrani announced, and more to come.
Abu Dhabi Festival 2026, autumn programme
The autumn leg of the 23rd Abu Dhabi Festival runs from 10 October to 19 December 2026, opening with the UAE National Orchestra at Etihad Arena and closing at Louvre Abu Dhabi with Dhafer Youssef. Hans Zimmer plays on 13 November.
Traditional Handicrafts Festival
Master artisans, live craft demonstrations and a cultural market showcasing Emirati traditions.
Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial
New commissions bring contemporary art into public spaces, opening first in the Al Ain Region and then in Abu Dhabi, with works remaining on display into 2027.
UFC Abu Dhabi Showdown Week: main card
A week of UFC events in Abu Dhabi with open workouts, weigh-ins and fan zones, culminating in the main card with title and trilogy fights at Etihad Arena.
Sheikh Zayed Festival 2026-27
Abu Dhabi's biggest heritage-and-entertainment festival opens its 2026-27 season at Al Wathba on 30 October and runs for 136 days to 14 March 2027, with new music and theatre, art and photography exhibitions and a redesigned aerial light show.
Frieze Abu Dhabi 2026 and Abu Dhabi Art Week
Frieze Abu Dhabi makes its debut on 19 to 22 November 2026 at Manarat Al Saadiyat, the same week as NOMAD Abu Dhabi (18 to 22 November, Old Abu Dhabi Airport) and the opening of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial in the city on 15 November.
Maritime Heritage Festival
Performances, artisan demonstrations, storytelling and coastal cuisine celebrate the emirate's seafaring and pearling past, now in its fifth year.
Abu Dhabi: common questions
How many days do you need in Abu Dhabi?+
Three days covers Saadiyat, the Grand Mosque and Yas Island at a relaxed pace. Add a day for Al Ain or a night in the desert.
Is Abu Dhabi worth visiting if you have been to Dubai?+
Yes. It is calmer and more cultural, with the Louvre and Saadiyat museums, mangroves and the largest desert in the Gulf.
What big events are on in Abu Dhabi in 2026-27?+
Sheikh Zayed Festival (30 October to 14 March), Frieze Abu Dhabi (19 to 22 November), the Grand Prix (3 to 6 December), the Guggenheim opening (11 December) and the Liwa International Festival (11 December to 2 January).
Next door
Part of the UAE Experiences guide to Abu Dhabi and its neighbours.
Want a private version of this?
We run a private desert camp at Al Khatim, 50 minutes from Abu Dhabi city and 90 from Dubai. One booking a day, nobody else on the dunes. Tell us the occasion and the number of guests and we will send a proposal within a working day.
- 4.9 from 60 Google reviewsGuests, wedding parties and corporate planners.
- 500+ events since 2012Our own licensed camp at Khayal Al Sahra. See the camp
- A proposal in one working dayItemised, with a real figure, not a brochure.