Abu Dhabi Holidays 2025/2026

For an insight into the old and the new UAE, Abu Dhabi is the perfect destination. You’ll find everything from towering sky-scrapers to grand mosques, historical fortresses to desert day trips!

Abu Dhabi is very similar to Dubai mimicking its shopping scene and high-end vibes, but it also has so much to offer visitors when it comes to discovering Emerati culture.

Abu Dhabi Mall is in prime position on the waterfront, and lines up a host of big retail names and plenty of tasty restaurants covering a variety of cuisines. There’s a range of budget and designer brands, including much loved stores you can find back at home like Boots and Clarks! If you’re after something special, you can enjoy stores like Balmain, Polo Ralph Lauren and Carolina Herrera. 

Foodies will be in their element, as the mall offers up plenty of tasty places to rest your feet and refuel. For a sit-down meal to fill up ready for more shopping, take your pick from tasty slices in Pizza Hut, Asian delights in Wagamama or authentic American chain, Hardee’s. If you’re wanting to take home some little treats, or need a small bite before heading to your next shop, why not try Laudrée for French patisseries, Krispy Kreme for legendary donuts or Häagen-Dazs for a chilled scoop or two?

Fun Filled Festival

Each year, visitors flock from near and far to witness the festivities of Abu Dhabi festival – a month-long celebration of art and culture. Onlookers can expect to enjoy dance shows, musicians and opera singers, as well as art exhibitions and workshops. The popular festival has seen events being hosted right across the UAE in honour of the special occasion.

Whether you’re a lover of music or art, film or dance, there’s something for everyone throughout the festival and full events calendars for each year can be found online.

Soak Up The History

The heart of Abu Dhabi’s got its fair share of cutting edge architecture, but among the skyscrapers and swanky buildings is a historic gem. The Qasr al-Hosn fortress was built out of coral and sea stone in the 1700s and has undergone a renovation project to keep it in the best possible condition. Parts of the fortress have been turned into a museum, so when you’re not exploring the inner fort you can see artefacts that have been around for centuries.

No settlement existed at Abu Dhabi town before 1761 and the modern emirate of Abu Dhabi was created with the formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971.

Exciting Excursions and Activities

With so much to see and do, Abu Dhabi has plenty of organised tours, excursions and activities for you to get stuck into. If you fancy taking to the seas, you can climb aboard a traditional dhow boat at the harbour, and you’ll have widescreen views of the city as you bob out into the Persian Gulf. You can even book romantic dinner cruises or high-speed, speedboat sightseeing trips. 

Abu Dhabi is also home to Warner Bros World, one of the world’s biggest indoor theme parks, which brings together all legendary characters from the studio under one roof. It has 9 state-of-the-art rides, interactive family-friendly attractions, unique live entertainment, multiple dining options and exclusive shopping outlets, it is the perfect family outing. Tickets, including transfers, are available to book via TUI Musement.