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
41°C / 106°F
4mm / 0.1"
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 5,137 Reviews
Verified
Our trip was great and your partners in Egypt met and exceeded our expectations. Having the guides and drivers was a new experience for us but absolutely invaluable We would recommend Goway to anyone.joe levack
Verified
Thanks very much Alice Teramoto for organizing such a fantastic trip for us!!!! Everything went very smoothly, including our 15 flights and we loved all the experiences, activities and accommodations that you arranged for us. Everything was top notch!!!Shelley Murphy
Verified
We had an amazing trip to Southeast Asia. We would like to thank Goway for organizing a memorable vacation. The tour guides were very personable, kind, respectful and knowledgeable about their countries. It was nice to be able to ask them questions and hear about their daily lives. They went above and beyond to make our trip as enjoyable as possible. We were so glad our tours were private as the guides were very flexible in accommodating us as I often could not fully participate after spending time in a hospital with food poisoning. We enjoyed our time in Singapore. The driver who drove us from and to the airport gave us a compressive overview of daily life in Singapore. It was fascinating to hear how home ownership, retirement and driving was so different there. The accommodations were excellent, the staff were all very kind and helpful. We have to particularly commend the staff at the Siesta Classic Ma May in Hanoi. Ann at reception was so kind to my husband when I was in the hospital asking him regularly how I was doing and arranging late checkout without being asked. And Suzie our Hanoi tour guide for rearranging a tour time for my husband then dropping him off at the hospital. She also managed to take me to see the Ho Chi Minh property on our way to the airport as I had missed so much of Hanoi. I would also like to thank Aurel Vion, the Goway representative from Paris, who personally called me while I was in the hospital to enquire how I was doing, cancel our Halong cruise and arrange an extra night in the hotel for my husband. It was much appreciated. Hoang was super flexible with our tours in Hue and Hoi An as I was still very weak having just gotten out of hospital. We really enjoyed our visit to the private pottery museum and meet the owner and our ride on the Perfume River in a private boat and our voyage through the mountain pass to Danang. Andy, the tour guide who picked us up from the Boutique Hoi A Resort helped us avoid the long lineups in the Danang airport, again very appreciated. Tuan our tour guide in Saigon was also very accommodating. We really enjoyed our days with him relaxing on our private sampan to Cai Be and our trip to Can Tho to visit the floating markets. He also took us to the War Remnants Museum on the way back to Saigon as we had missed our tour of the Cu Chi tunnels because our flight in Danang was delayed 4 hours. And poor Phil in Bangkok, he tried his best with the culinary tour. Unfortunately after the food poisoning we were being very cautious in what we ate. We did appreciate his tour of Chinatown and the great meal of Pad Thai. He also provided us with excellent directions so we could take the subway, skytrain and ferry by ourselves. We will never forget how we were able to experience and appreciate cultures much different than ours. We have only good things to say about Goway and certainly always recommend the company to all we know. We have already had an acquaintance of ours book a trip with the company. And lastly we must thank Katherine Samsonkinai for arranging another excellent vacation. We will certainly continue to recommend her and will be calling her again to organize our next big trip. Linda Graham
Verified
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Egypt. We were a small group trip with only three people. The guides and transfers from Emeco were excellent.Always on time and very knowledgeable. Our transfer went smoothly due to these guides. They were very efficient and made sure we didn’t have to wait in lines too long. The Sun Goddess was a beautiful riverboat and all of our meals were excellent. One suggestion is to include tips . We were always trying to find the right amounts for tips. Also the times for most excursions were very early in the morning….5:30 or 6:00 and that was not on our itinerary. I understand the early times to avoid the crowds. All in all we were very pleased with GoWay and would use them again in the future. Thinking of South Africa Safari. Also would like to thank our agent Elise for answering all of my questions and concerns. We felt very safe in Egypt. Sue Scarborough
Verified
As a travel agent, it was very easy to work with Goway. They were very responsive, especially Osvaldo Gonzalez, even when the client wanted to make in-destination changes a day or two prior. My clients absolutely enjoyed everything about their trip to Costa Rica - they specifically mentioned that all the drivers and guides they had were excellent, friendly, and knowledgeable. I would not hesitate to use Goway again for a custom trip to Costa Rica. Shawna Woods Roy
Verified
We, three couples, all enjoyed our time in Peru, despite the small amount of time we had, and the fact one person had injury while on the cruise prior to arriving in Lima. We did want to experience Machu Picchu without spending as many days as others usually do, since we had been traveling prior to that already. Kajal at Goway was able to tailor a well packed three-day private tour for our small group of six. Every detail, from the moment we got off the cruise ship, to Cusco, to Machu Picchu, and back to Lima airport hotel, was well taken care of. Kajal was very efficient in helping with the requested itinerary, and in staying on desired budget, as well answered all questions in timely fashion. We were able to accomplish what we were not sure if possible, all thanks to Kajal at Goway. Our experience in Peru was very positive. We felt the tours organized by Goway had enabled us to have great and impressive exposure to Peruvian culture and important historical sights - all 31 hours in 3 days!!! Condor Travel in Peru took care of us every step of the way. Every person we came across was very courteous, willing, and helpful. Help was always there and questions answered quickly via Whatsapp. All in all a great and positive experience we would highly recommend.KM
Verified
I want to personally thank my Travel Agent Alice Teramoto who organized two spectacular trips for me! One to Australia and most recently Vietnam and Cambodia. She nailed it! I can’t express my gratitude enough! Both trips were flawless and hassle free! Every experience exceeded my expectations! I spent my 60th Birthday in Vietnam on the Lunar New Year which was a complete thrill! I highly recommend Alice and will definitely book with her again soon! Thanks so much Alice ♥️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Avril
Verified
Mary G. was an absolute pleasure to work with. I partner with Goway often for Europe and typically have my go to rep, so stepping outside of that for a New Zealand itinerary had me a little unsure at first. That hesitation quickly disappeared. Mary stepped in with confidence, handled all of my moving pieces with ease, and truly understood the level of detail I needed to take care of my clients. She delivered a beautifully curated itinerary that exceeded expectations, and most importantly, my clients had an incredible experience in New Zealand. I’m so grateful to have her as a resource and look forward to working together again.Nichole Pierce
Verified
Joanna was amazing!!! She was able to set up a ten day trip for me in Sydney in a matter of a couple of weeks. All accommodation and tours were amazing and the 24 hour help center was great and where able to call up the tour company and have them come and still pick be up when I had a mixup with the reservation. Would definitely recommend Goway to any friends and family and will definitely be using them again.Erica Wolff
Verified
I cannot sing Erin’s praises enough! She planned an action-packed two-week New Zealand itinerary that hit every single stop on our bucket list. Every experience was truly first-class and luxurious. While I found myself being price-conscious initially, once I saw the incredible quality of the experiences she curated, I knew it was going to be the trip of a lifetime. A huge thank you to Erin and Go Way Travel for making my 50th birthday so epic. We’ll definitely be reaching out for our next big adventure!Michelle
Follow Us On
instagramfacebook
Contact UsCustomer ServiceGeneral Inquiries
Featured in
Travel + LeisureAfarForbesSmithsonian
Accreditations & Memberships
USTOAASTA TOPASTATICOACTA
 
© Copyright 2026. Goway Travel