Best Things to Do in Abu Dhabi: Beaches, Museums and Family Places

When friends visit Abu Dhabi, or a family I am helping with a move wants to understand the city, these are the places I suggest. I have grouped them by type and kept opening hours and prices out — check each place's own site on the day, because both change.

Culture

Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat. The one place I would never skip. Jean Nouvel's dome filters sunlight into what is often called a "rain of light", and the galleries tell a story of human history across cultures rather than country by country. Allow at least half a day, and go late afternoon if you want the light at its most beautiful.

Combine it with the Saadiyat Cultural District around it, which continues to grow.

Beaches and resorts

Saadiyat Beach Club. A members' and day-pass beach club on one of the city's best stretches of sand — calm water, white beach, very relaxed. Good for adults; check whether day passes and children are accepted on the day you plan.

Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island. An all-inclusive resort on Saadiyat beach. Popular with families from the CIS for a staycation or a weekend. Day passes and packages vary.

Family places

Umm Al Emarat Park, Al Mushrif. A large, well-kept park in the city with gardens, a shaded botanical area, play areas and an animal barn for younger children. One of the most pleasant places in Abu Dhabi on a cooler evening.

VOX Cinemas, Yas Mall. Yas Mall's multiplex is a reliable option for families in summer, and the mall itself is a good half-day with children. Combine it with the Yas Island parks — our Yas parks guide explains how to plan them.

Food and evenings

Zuma, Al Maryah Island. The Abu Dhabi outpost of the Japanese izakaya-style restaurant, inside The Galleria on Al Maryah Island. Lively, good for a group dinner. Book at weekends.

Hakkasan, Emirates Palace. Modern Cantonese cuisine inside Emirates Palace. Go for dinner and arrive early enough to see the hotel itself — the building is a landmark in its own right.

The Galleria, Al Maryah Island. A waterfront mall next to ADGM with restaurants along the promenade. Easy for an evening walk with views of the Al Reem skyline.

How to choose

A note on Astana Real Estate

People sometimes search for us in maps alongside restaurants and parks. We are a property brokerage, not a place to visit — although you are welcome at the office in Al Nahyan by appointment if you are looking for a home.

My take

What I like about Abu Dhabi for families is that the big pleasures are close together and rarely crowded: a museum in the morning, a beach in the afternoon, a park in the evening. If you want to understand the city's shape before choosing where to live, start with Abu Dhabi from above.