Abu Dhabi with Kids: Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

Our trip details

• Length of stay: 6 hours
• Accommodation: N/A
• Type of trip: day trip, family trip with baby/toddler (15 months old)
• Month visited: May
• How we got in/out: drive in/out (private tour via car)
• How we got around: car (via private tour)
• Additional places visited on the same trip: Dubai, Oman

Things To Do in Abu Dhabi with Kids

• Sheikh Zayed Mosque – crown jewel of Abu Dhabi, stunningly beautiful inside and out, check hours, conservative dress code (they’ll provide abaya/clocks if necessary)
• Presidential Palace (Qasr Al Watan) – now you can visit part of the palace and it looks amazing, we were only able to drive by the complex 
• Abu Dhabi Corniche – walk along the beautiful waterfront 
• Corniche Beach – clean and calm beach, great for families
• Emirates Palace – opulent hotel dripping in gold and marble, coffee served with 24k gold flakes, used to house an ATM that dispensed gold bars
• Etihad Towers – a group of 5 modern mixed-use towers, spot them across from the Emirates Palaces entrance

• Louvre Abu Dhabi – a joint project with France, the museum focuses on bridging the gap between Eastern and Western art
• UAE Heritage Village (نادي تراث الإمارات – القرية التراثية) – replica oasis village showcasing traditional architecture, culture, and crafts  
• Mina Zayed Dates Market – shops and stands selling a variety of dates and other foods
• Yas Marina Circuit – Formula 1 race track, view the track or check out their experiences and events for more excitement
• Ferrari World – Ferrari themed amusement park for the whole family
• Yas Waterworld – Emirati-themed water park
• Yas Island – if you plan to visit multiple Yas Island attractions, consider a multi-park ticket
• The National Abu Dhabi Aquarium – largest aquarium in the Middle East
• teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi – immersive, responsive, experiential art exhibit

Food Ideas for Abu Dhabi, UAE

• Al Fanar Restaurant – casual authentic Emirati cuisine
• Meylas – female-owned, food truck serving and honoring authentic Emirati cuisine and culture
• Observation Deck at 300 – enjoy tea and light dining while you check out Abu Dhabi from above in the Etihad Towers observation deck
• Al Maqam in Arabian Nights Village – about a 1.5-hour drive outside central Abu Dhabi, but worth it if you’re looking for an authentic Arabian dining experience in a desert setting, including live music, belly dancers, henna, picturesque desert dunes, and more 
• You easily find a variety of Middle Eastern and other international options, but Emirati cuisine isn’t as abundantly available as you might expect. 
• Most every place offers delivery, keep this in mind if you would prefer to eat in your hotel but not at their restaurant.
• Alcohol is only allowed to be served inside hotel restaurants and bars.

Top Tips for Abu Dhabi, UAE

• Consider the timing of your Abu Dhabi visit, whether the weather will be bearable and if it will be Ramadan. 
• Abu Dhabi was built for cars, not pedestrians, taxis are the easiest way to get around.
• Abu Dhabi is slightly more conservative than Dubai, but nothing extreme. Try to dress moderately. 
• Most everywhere is family-friendly and kid-friendly in Abu Dhabi, even fancier establishments.
• They are constantly working on new attractions and developments in Abu Dhabi, check out anything new that might open before your trip.

Is Abu Dhabi Worth Visiting with Kids?

Even though we only had about 6 hours in Abu Dhabi, I’m glad we made the trip from Dubai. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was the clear highlight for me and remains one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve visited.

Abu Dhabi was also very manageable with our 15-month-old. We used a private car tour, which made it easy to move between sights without worrying about transportation or a car seat, and we never felt out of place bringing a toddler along.

There is significantly more for families to do in Abu Dhabi now than there was during our visit, particularly around Yas Island. If I were planning another UAE family trip, Abu Dhabi would still make the itinerary, and I’d want more time to explore.

Keep planning your UAE and Oman trip

If you’re staying in Dubai and considering Abu Dhabi as a side trip, read more about exactly how we handled our day trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi with a baby, including why we chose a private tour and how we handled transportation with a car seat.

You can also continue planning with my family-friendly Dubai itinerary. We spent 4 nights in Dubai on this same trip and used it as our base before visiting Abu Dhabi.

Want to venture a little farther? We continued from the UAE to Oman, which ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip. Start with my 2 days in Oman with a baby for our firsthand trip experience, or browse my family-friendly Muscat itinerary for more ideas.

Traveling internationally with a baby? Head over to my Baby Travel hub for more help with flights, packing, sleep, feeding, destinations, and the other logistics that come with bringing a little one along.