Hey there, I’m Jess ✨. On The Signature, I share reflections on beauty, routines, travel, wellness, culture, and everyday life. For those drawn to a calmer, more intentional way of living, I send a free newsletter each month on the 7th. You're welcome to join.
My husband frequently travels to Dubai for work. I eventually took the opportunity to join him and made it a long weekend getaway. And as we were in Dubai for the weekend, we decided to visit Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
A few things I did not know: that Abu Dhabi was a part of the larger Abu Dhabi Emirate, one of the 7 Emirates that compose the UAE. It's also the biggest and most populated. And what makes it an even more fascinating place to visit: Abu Dhabi is an Island. Or, to be precise, it is a little archipelago, linked to the mainland with several stunning bridges.
Only 140 kilometres away, we made it a day trip and decided to experience Abu Dhabi in a nutshell, focusing on one or two attractions per major area. We booked a car with driver for the day and left our hotel by 8AM. There was no traffic on that Saturday morning and we arrived at our first landmark a bit before 10AM.
Jess
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
This is the first major landmark just as you arrive to Abu Dhabi. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was the first mosque I have ever visited in my life and I think I started from the greatest in the world? I am sure it will be hard to top.
Once you park the car in the underground of the Mosque, you welcome the air-conditioned air that comes from the bright white hallways ahead of you, as you are about to enter... a shopping centre? To get to the ticket booths to get your tickets - on the day we visited, it was free! - you must pass by several shops selling perfume, clothes and souvenirs as well as a full on food court. I am sure that in peak times, the place might burst, but it was empty.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque façade and garden, May 2026
After crossing the vast underground halls, you get to the courtyard that makes you take the Grand Mosque in. It is an absolutely majestic sight with the huge domes, the marble arcades, the intricate minarets, the reflection pool. It was such a unique experience for me.
What surprised me the most was the high level of attention to detail for the most ornate of walls, ceilings, chandeliers where the Mosque itself is bereft of objects of worship.
That is a different experience from Catholic or Orthodox churches which are filled with objects, from statues to gold utensils. Furthermore, the grand hall has the most gorgeous chandeliers and the biggest tapestry I have ever seen in my life. It was handmade by 1200 artisans in the span of 2 years. An absolute work of art.
Amazed at the level of detail in the walls, ceilings, doors, windows
As the sun was scorching hot, any time we would be outdoors we could pick an umbrella. So clever and useful!
The umbrella baskets, ready to use if you are outdoors | A photograph of the Mosque from the sky | A model of the Grand Mosque you can find in its underground, May 2026
We did not have time to visit, but opposite the Mosque, you can find a memorial called Wahat Al Karama, built to honour local war soldiers. It is said that it provides the best view of the Mosque at sunset.
Breakwater
After visiting the Grand Mosque, we decided to stop for a coffee at the opulent Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental.
We went to their tea salon Episodes, which has different areas all decorated with artificial pink trees, making it a coquette experience. We had the famous Golden Cappuccino with Oat Milk, a Peanut Butter and Pistachio Milkshake and the Jasmine Pearl dessert, filled with juicy peach.
Coffee break at Episodes tea room at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Abu Dhabi, May 2026
Just a couple of minutes away from the MO, you reach Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace. After you park your car, you get in the visitor centre, get your ticket and get in a small shuttle that frequently runs from the main gate to the palace and the return.
From the bus, we could appreciate the majestic architecture of the palace, with its beautifully ornamented domes with gold decorations.
The palace is impressive on the outside and even more so once you are inside, where a Grand Hall overwhelms you with its size, grandeur and beauty. The amount of intricate detail in every surface is beyond this world. Every place you look is gorgeous and majestic. I could feel my neck starting to hurt as I could not stop looking up at all the details. On one of its wings, it harbours an impressive library with over 50 000 works.
Downtown Abu Dhabi
Although we did not stop Downtown, we followed the beautiful beachfront Corniche, where locals walk, run and relax before and after the sun is scorching hot. From the Corniche, we could appreciate the Abu Dhabi skyline with its skyscrapers. Although there are many buildings and more being built, there are fewer skyscrapers in Abu Dhabi than in Dubai. The city feels more spread in its territory with smaller buildings and a sunnier sky.
Souq Al Mina arcades, with several shops and restaurants, May 2026
Al Mina
Between Downtown Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat, we stopped for lunch at Souq Al Mina. This restaurant is located in a former port that was more recently converted into a restaurant and shop area which is quite up and coming. The restaurant my husband chose was Ryba and when we entered, we had a sign of immediate quality and genuine good food: only Emirati families were eating there. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with fishing artefacts and olive trees, honouring its location.
The most gorgeous meal at Ryba restaurant in Souq Al Mina in Abu Dhabi, May 2026
We had the most amazing seafood, with a grilled shrimp platter and a lobster biryani. It was the most gorgeous meal. A few steps away, you can find the Jlato ice cream shop, famous for its pistachio affogato (ice cream with coffee). It was delicious.
J.Lato pistachio affogato and vanilla scoop, Souq Al Mina - May 2026
Saadiyat Island
After our meal, we headed to Saadiyat Island. Fast becoming the cultural hub of the whole Gulf region, it is the place to be for anything Museum-related.
With the Louvre Abu Dhabi as a landmark, under construction are the soon to open Guggenheim museum and Zayed Museum, whose impressive structure looks like the wings of a falcon, the national bird of Abu Dhabi.
We had first intended to go to the Louvre, but Saturday afternoon wasn't the best time as traffic in the area made a stop a harrowing decision. Also, with so little time in AD, we wanted to make the most of visiting a bit of everything instead of staying for a few hours in the same spot. And the Louvre deserves a proper stop, which we will do in a future visit.
Moreover, we could see that this neighbourhood is undergoing massive development, with low-rise glass and concrete building, overlooking the sea. It reminded me of some coastal areas of the Algarve. I can imagine it becoming a great place to live. Can you imagine waking up, getting to your balcony and seeing the sea and oh, there is the Louvre? I mean!
Yas Island
If Saadiyat Island is the cultural hub, Yas Island is the leisure capital of the world. With several attractions such as Sea World and Warner Bros attraction park, my Formula 1 loving heart was most interested in checking out the Yas Marina Circuit, where the last race of every season occurs on a December evening, with historical unforgettable racing just before the annual winter break.
As the circuit was closed, the best viewing point was the W Hotel, the only hotel in the world that is inside a F1 racing circuit. We stopped for a drink and to relax, before heading back to Dubai. We also promised to come back... for a race? Who knows!
Close to the Yas Marina Circuit - and seen from the sky when an Abu Dhabi F1 race is about to start - there is the impressive Ferrari World theme park, dedicated to racing. Worth a proper future visit as well!
Overall, is a day trip to Abu Dhabi worth it?
Absolutely, and I would say the reverse is also true. If you are staying in Abu Dhabi, a day trip to Dubai is also worth it.
It would be impossible to say we saw all of Abu Dhabi. But as the title mentions, a day trip allowed us to get to know Abu Dhabi in a nutshell. Next time the city is mentioned or shown on TV, we will feel more familiar with it.
This day trip made me understand a bit more of what moves the Emirati (progress and infrastructure), what they long to invest in (Abu Dhabi being a cultural and entertainment hub) and what grounds them (their culture and their history). I left with only one certainty in mind: I will be back and it will be for longer than 12 hours!
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