Day trips · Dubai
Abu Dhabi Day Trip: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi & Corniche
The capital in a day: the largest mosque in the UAE, the Louvre's rain-of-light dome, a Corniche lunch and the Emirates Palace — in a private vehicle from Dubai.
Highlights
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with a guide who knows the quiet hours
- Louvre Abu Dhabi entry included
- Corniche lunch with Gulf views
- Emirates Palace and Qasr Al Watan photo stops
- Private air-conditioned vehicle from Dubai
Overview
Abu Dhabi is 90 minutes from Dubai and completely different in mood — greener, calmer, grander. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the reason most people go: 82 domes, the world's largest hand-knotted carpet, and courtyards of white marble that photograph like a dream in the late-morning light. Our guide handles dress-code requirements (abayas are provided free at the mosque) and prayer-time scheduling.
After a Corniche lunch we visit Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, where Jean Nouvel's dome filters sunlight into a 'rain of light' over galleries spanning 7,000 years. We finish with a photo stop at Emirates Palace and, in season, a drive past Qasr Al Watan before heading back to Dubai.
Gallery
Itinerary
- 108:00
Departure from Dubai
Pickup from your hotel; 90 minutes on the E11.
- 209:45
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Guided visit, ~90 minutes. Modest dress required; abayas provided.
- 312:00
Corniche lunch
Set lunch at a waterfront restaurant (halal).
- 413:30
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Two hours under the dome.
- 515:45
Emirates Palace & Qasr Al Watan
Photo stops on the way out.
- 617:30
Back in Dubai
Drop-off at your hotel.
What's included
- Private vehicle with driver-guide
- Louvre Abu Dhabi ticket
- Set lunch on the Corniche
- Bottled water
Not included
- Qasr Al Watan entry (optional, USD 20)
- Gratuities
174 reviews
يوم مرتّب ومريح، المرشد أخذنا للجامع في وقت هادئ والصور طلعت رائعة. اللوفر يستحق الزيارة.Good to know
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From the encyclopedia
Know before you go
Landmarks · DubaiSheikh Zayed Grand MosqueAbu Dhabi's white-marble mosque with 82 domes, the world's largest hand-knotted carpet and room for 40,000 worshippers — free to visit, 80 minutes from Dubai, and the usual reason for an Abu Dhabi day trip.
Culture & customs · DubaiDubai Dress CodeWhat to wear in Dubai, honestly: relaxed on beaches and in hotels, shoulders and knees covered in malls and old town, full cover in mosques — and stricter during Ramadan.
Transport · DubaiNol CardDubai's contactless transport card — one tap pays for the metro, tram, buses, water buses and public parking. Visitors want the Silver card; the Red ticket is for one-off trips.
Transport · DubaiDubai MetroThe driverless metro that runs 90 km through Dubai on two lines — the Red Line from the airport past Downtown to the Marina and Expo City, and the Green Line around the Creek — clean, cheap and air-conditioned.
Transport · DubaiAbraThe wooden water taxi that has crossed Dubai Creek for a century — five minutes from Bur Dubai to Deira for AED 1–2, and still the cheapest, most atmospheric ride in the city.
Practical · DubaiUAE Dirham (AED)The currency of Dubai and the UAE, pegged at 3.6725 to the US dollar since 1997 — so prices are stable, cards work everywhere, and you rarely need much cash.You may also like
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