Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is the federal capital and centre of government in the United Arab Emirates and is the largest city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and one of the most architecturally modern city's in the world.

Introduction

With a population of just under 1.5 million, Abu Dhabi is the headquarters of numerous oil companies and embassies. With only 420,000 UAE nationals in the entire emirate, each has an average net worth of US$17 million (64M dirham). The city features large gardens and parks, green boulevards lining all the streets and roads, sophisticated high-rise buildings, international luxury hotel chains and opulent shopping malls. Long viewed as a staid bureaucratic outpost entirely lacking in neighboring Dubai's pizzaz, things started to change radically in 2004 after long-ruler Sheikh Zayed passed away and his son Sheikh Khalifa took over. Since the reforms, Abu Dhabi has since grown into one of the premier city's in the Gulf, rivalling nearby Dubai and Doha. Like Dubai and Doha, foreigners far outnumber Emiratis in Abu Dhabi. As such, despite the fact that Arabic is the official language, English is the de facto lingua franca and most Emiratis will speak it to communicate with the immigrant workers who work for them.

Etymology

"Dhabi" is the Arabic word for a particular antelope species of gazelle that was once common in the Arabian region. "Abu" means father; hence, Abu Dhabi means "Father of the Dhabi".

Orientation

Most of Abu Dhabi is on a wedged-shaped island connect by two bridges to the mainland. Street addresses in Abu Dhabi are simultaneously very logical and hopelessly confusing. Many roads have traditional names, like "Airport Rd", which may not correspond to the official names, like "Maktoum St" and the city is divided into traditional neighborhoods like "Khalidiyya". However, by recent decree and the city has been split up into numbered "zones" and "sectors", with all roads in each sector numbered, First St, Second St, etc. and the vast majority of street signs only refer to these. The system of main streets is straight forward enough once you realize that the odd numbered streets run across the island and the even numbers run along it. So First Street is in fact the Corniche and the odd numbers continue out of town to 31st Street which is near the new Khalifa Park. Airport Road is Second Street and the even numbers continue to the east through to 10th Street by Abu Dhabi Mall. On the west side of Airport Road and the numbers go from 22nd Street to 32nd Street by the new Bateem Marina. Alas, confusion is caused by the local streets, which are on green signs (main streets are on blue signs) and are also called First, Second, etc. Most local residents opt to ignore the system entirely and the best way to give instructions is thus navigating by monuments, if taking a taxi, odds are you will get to "behind the Hilton Baynunah" much faster than "Fifth Street, Sector 2".

Travel to Abu Dhabi

Travel by plane to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi International Airport

Abu Dhabi International Airport IATA Flight Code: AUH The UAE's second busiest airport (after Dubai) and the home base of Abu Dhabi's flag carrier Etihad Airways. Etihad Airways has been expanding rapidly and now flies from many locations from Australia to Europe and the United States. The airport is separated into Terminal 1 (the original terminal), Terminal 3 (a new terminal mostly dedicated to Etihad Airways) and a smaller Terminal 2. Terminal 1 provides a slightly dingy appearance and a stunningly bizarre blue-lime tiled mushroom canopy that awaits you at the gates. Terminal 2 has no aerobridges, relying on buses to take passengers to and from their planes. Terminal 3 is much newer and has improved shopping and gate access. All Flights from terminal 3 are Etihad, but not all Etihad flights leave from Terminal 3. In particular Flights to and from the US utilize the older terminal. A fourth major terminal is expected to open in 2019. To/from the airport:
Al Ghazal taxis travel to the city at a flat rate of 75 dirham and take around 40 minutes.
Metered taxis are now allowed to pick up passengers at the airport. A trip into Abu Dhabi town center will cost 60-70 dirham. Metered taxis can also bring passengers to the airport. The taxi stand is at the end of a long walkway from the main terminal. Passengers must turn left when leaving the arrivals area and travel through a long passageway to the curb area, where a covered platform next to the taxi stand is provided. Expect long lines at the taxi stand during the evening and late night hours.
Public bus route A1 also heads to the city every 30–45 minutes 24 hours a day and costs 3 dirham. This leaves from outside T3: Go to the lower level and spot the Etihad busses right in front of you. 10 metres on the right is a sign saying "Bus Stop". The Etihad bus and the public bus use the same bus stops and the public bus will just stop as the very first one of the line. Be warned, that airport information may say that there is no public bus and to take a taxi. The bus used to depart from the upper level but due to traffic it was changed to the lower level. The terminus in the city is Al Ittihad Plaza bus station, next to the British Embassy.
If you are flying on Etihad or some partner airlines, complimentary shuttle buses are provided at regular intervals to Dubai and Al Ain ). These depart from the main vehicle park at the front of the airport, by the vehicle hire offices: follow the Etihad Shuttle signs. In Dubai, you can also check in at the Etihad Travel Centre, that is close to Noor Bank station.
Ethiad first and business class passengers can avail complimetary Mercedes chaffuer service under similar conditions as the bus from to/from anywhere in the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai International Airport

A viable alternative is to fly to Dubai International Airport (IATA Flight Code: DXB) in the neighbouring emirate of Dubai and continue onward by bus or by taxi. To/from Dubai International Airport:

A metered Dubai International Airport taxi direct to the Abu Dhabi downtown will cost about 300 dirham.
To get a bus, you will have to go to one of several bus stations in Dubai to catch the Emirates Express to Abu Dhabi. See #By bus|By bus section below

By road

The five-laned E11 highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is the nation's heaviest-traveled route and the 130-km journey can be covered in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. While there is a national speed limit of 120 km/h, you can speed up to 140 km/h without triggering speed cameras. This speed is wildly exceeded by some drivers. Stay out of the leftmost lane and drive carefully, mainly at night. If you hire a vehicle in Abu Dhabi, chances are that the vehicle will warn you if go above 120 km/h. Depending on the vehicle, it might just be a flashing light or an accompanying, continuous, shrill beep. If you get annoyed by this, you might not want to exceed 120 km/h. To travel directly into Abu Dhabi from Dubai on E11, keep to your left at Al Shahama and follow the E10 highway, which passes Yas Island (exit at the E12 highway) and Al Raha Beach on the way to the Sheikh Zayed Bridge into Abu Dhabi. This bridge connects directly to Salam Street (8th Street), a wide megahighway along the northern shore of Abu Dhabi Island. As an alternative to the Zayed Bridge and there are ramps off E10 that connect to the Maqta Bridge, which leads to 2nd Street (Airport Road) and to 4th Street (East Road or Muroor Road). During off-peak periods and these routes run fairly quickly into the city

Parking

Parking within the city is monitored by Mawaqif, which also supply the parking meters. Parking meters have displays in English and Arabic. The minimum fee is 2-4 dirham. Parking areas in Abu Dhabi are clearly marked; yellow and grey for no parking, blue and black for standard fare and blue and white for premium fare. In the central area and there are limited parking garages (some are in malls such as Khalidiya which are generally free of charge). You can get into Abu Dhabi from the other Emirates of Dubai, Sharjah, etc., by bus. The Emirates Express between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is operated jointly by the Abu Dhabi and Dubai municipalities. The 130-km route takes around two hours. The buses operated by Dubai's RTA are luxury buses that charge 25 dirham for the onward journey to Abu Dhabi and 25 dirham for the return journey. The Abu Dhabi transport buses charge 15 dirham each way. The first bus departs from the Abu Dhabi main bus terminal on the junction of Hazza bin Zayed the First (11th) Street and East (4th) Road at 05:30 and the last leaves at 23:30; they leave at 30-minutes intervals, or if the bus gets full sooner. From Dubai and the buses leave from 05:30 and run until 23:30, from the Al Ghubaiba station in Bur Dubai (opposite Carrefour Shopping). If you hold an Emirates flight ticket and arrive to or depart from Dubai International Airport and the airline offers a complimentary extension of your trip to/from Abu Dhabi. Busses depart from Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 and arrive to Emirates Abu Dhabi office located in Al Sawari Tower

Best way to travel in Abu Dhabi by a Taxi

You can flag down any metered taxi on the street in Dubai or any other place in the United Arab Emirates and ask to go to Abu Dhabi. The cost between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is about 250 dirham. From Abu Dhabi, taxis cost about 200 dirham to Dubai.

Getting around in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi hasn't got much in terms of public transport; there will be plenty of traffic jams

Best way to travel in Abu Dhabi by a Taxi

Taxis are a good way to get around if you don't have a car. Abu Dhabi's taxis are relatively cheap. The main taxis are silver with yellow signs on the top. Flag fall costs 5 dirham, 5.50 dirham at night (22:00 to 06:00) (2022). You can flag one down from anywhere in Abu Dhabi. Alternatively, you can book a taxi in Abu Dhabi by calling 600535353, for a 4-dirham booking fee. Taxis will charge you 1.82 dirham per kilometer (2.93 dirham per mile) and 50 fils for every minutes of waiting. Taxis are monitored using GPS and are not allowed to give above certain speeds. These change depending on where the taxi is. Newer-looking black cabs also go around town sometimes. These are airport taxis, which you can get on at Abu Dhabi airport and get off anywhere in the city for 60-100 dirham. You can recognise them with their coloured signs on the top, displaying text in English and Arabic. You are not expected to tip taxi drivers, but gratuity will be extremely appreciated. The main bus station in Abu Dhabi is on Hazaa Bin Zayed Road. You can get buses here going to the different points within the city as well as inter-city buses. The bus stand also serves as a taxi stand, for inter-emirate taxis. The inter-city buses and airport buses are easy to locate at the bus terminal and well signposted. The route services depart from various stops in the vicinity and not all enter the bus terminal proper. There is no directional signage or and no maps. The fare system is simple: 2 dirham for a single ride, 4 dirham for a day pass, 30 dirham for a week pass, or 40 dirham for a one-month Hafilat pass. Tickets can only be loaded on disposable or reusable smart cards. No cash is accepted by the drivers. The dark bluish green buses are air-conditioned but not wheelchair accessible. Passengers can board and alight at the designated stops along the route. These locations can be identified by the temporary Department of Transport bus stop poles. Beware: bus stops that do not have the DoT bus stop sign may not be served as not all bus stops along the route are used. Hafilat smart cards can be purchased from ticket machines which can be found at the main bus station and in the Abu Dhabi Mall area. Machines are unremarkable and hard to spot, thus ask local residents.

Route 5: Al Meena to Marina Mall via Abu Dhabi Mall and Hamden Street. Every 10 min, 06:30–23:30.
Route 7: Abu Dhabi Mall to Marina Mall via Zayed the 1st Street (commonly called Electra). Every 10 min, 06:30–23:30.
Route 8: Tourist club to Break Water via Hamdan Street, Zayed the 2nd (via 4th) Street, Airport Road, Al Manhal Street. Every 20 min, 07:15–23:30.
Route 32: Sports City Carrefour to Marina Mall via Airport Road, Bus Station and Zayed the 1st Street. Every 10 min, 06:00-22:40.
Route 54: Sports City Carrefour to Abu Dhabi Mall via East Read, Bus Station and Hamden Street. Every 10 min, 06:00-23:00. The older bus service, operated by the Abu Dhabi Municipality, operates bus routes within city and to the other emirates. The routes within the city are very few. The buses are modern and air-conditioned. The services are as punctual as feasible and operate more or less around the clock and charge 2 dirham for travel within the capital. The front few seats are reserved for women, men should move towards the back of the bus

Travel by vehicle to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has a reputation for reckless drivers. They can pull out in front of you, change lanes at random and texting while driving is common. On the other hand and the ban on drunk driving is very strictly enforced; one glass of is enough to land you in jail for a month. If you do decide to take the plunge, beware that the street numbering system is unusual and it can take weeks to get used to it. U-turns are allowed at almost every intersection. When the left lane signal turns green, you simply have to swing a U-turn and come back. Whatever other flaws drivers here may have and they do not run red lights. There are cameras at many intersections, fines are high (about 550 dirham) and residents who are not citizens can be deported for running too many red lights. When the light starts flashing, that taxi in front of you will jam on the brakes and you should, too. When the light turns green, however, expect someone behind you to honk at you instantly to get you moving. Despite excellent roads and a traffic signal system, vehicle accidents remain the largest cause of deaths in the United Arab Emirates

Walk in Abu Dhabi

While walking in Abu Dhabi is not a problem for local residents, tourists from colder climates will suffer from the heat and sun. The temperatures can exceed 45°C in the summer. While staying inside or using a vehicle is a good idea, if you have to walk, try to do it night, when it is cooler. Plus and there won't be a sun to give you sunburn. If you have to go during the day, wear plenty of SPF 50 sunblock, wear a hat and light clothing and try to keep in the shade as much as feasible

By bicycle

There is a separated cycleway that runs almost the entire length of the Corniche, as well as around Yas Island and other parts.

Sightseeing Tips

Abu Dhabi offers little in the way of historical or cultural sights but it certainly isn’t lacking in attractions and many of them are free.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - مسجد الشيخ زايد الكبير - The 8th largest mosque in the world, boasts a total of 82 domes. On Fridays, it is closed to the public and open only for worshippers. You can get there by public bus #54. Make sure to ask the bus driver to tell you when you get there. The public bus stop is 100 m before the mosque and after that is no stop for the next 5 km. As it is a place for worshippers, dress conservatively. In particular, women must cover their head and ankles (if they're wearing sandals). Appropriate black dress is available at the mosque. You will avoid the queue for the clothing if you wear shoes, a long dress or trousers and take a scarf to cover your head/hair. Clothing is also available for men, but will likely be unnecessary. Even when taking photos outside the mosque, women who are inappropriately dressed will be challenged by security.
Qasr al-Hosn - قصر الحصن - The oldest stone building in Abu Dhabi, this small fort was first constructed in 1761 and served as the royal palace from the late 18th century until 1966. The site is neighbored by boards and the building itself is not open to the public.
Corniche Road - The city's main avenue, it curves around the coastline along Abu Dhabi's stunning waterfront that stretches for miles from the breakwater near Marina Shopping Mall almost up to the Mina Zayed port. The shoreline is lined with a walkway for the entire length, skyscrapers, lovely beaches, parks and other landscaped areas. There are many activities like go-kart riding, playgrounds and even stages for shows. Come in the evening and you'll feel as if all of Abu Dhabi has come here for their evening walk.
Yas Island - Has a Formula 1 race track, Ferrari World (a Ferrari-themed park home to the fastest roller coaster in the world), Yas Waterworld, a shopping mall and a hotel
Flagpole - At 123 m, thit is among the world's tallest flagpoles and you won't miss the massive UAE flag flying from it. It is on Marina Island across from Marina Mall.
Louvre Abu Dhabi - Art and civilization museum exhibits artworks from Musée du Louvre and other French collections. Opened in November 2017 and the largest art museum in Arabian peninsula with 24000|m2, including 8000|m2 of galleries

Parks

Abu Dhabi has several large green spaces, many of which include play areas and equipment for children and the city is studded with lovely fountains, swathes of neon light and the occasional sculpture.

Khalifa Park - The best park by far, built at a cost of US$50 million. It has an aquarium, museum, train, play parks and formal gardens

Cultural events

Abu Dhabi Cultural Centre - A landmark in the Emirates, it holds cultural events and workshops throughout the year. It has a well-stocked library, children's programs, art exhibitions, benefits and other culture-related activities that are the hallmark of any city. It's well worth a look.
Manarat al Saadiyat - An exhibition space and cultural centre with galleries, a theatre and a restaurant, opened in 2009 and with works by contemporary artists from around the world.
UAE Pavilion - Sand dune-inspired exhibition centre designed by Norman Foster

What to do as a Muslim in Abu Dhabi

Swimming Nearly all hotels and private clubs in Abu Dhabi offer swimming facilities, in the form of private beaches. You can pay for a day's use, or for a year's. Another, notably cheaper, option is The Club, an organization geared towards expatriates.
Lessons Some hotels also offer dance lessons, aerobics classes and other physical entertainment.
Desert safari trips are a tourist but fun experience. They must be booked ahead, but can often be booked as late as the day before, most hotel receptionists can arrange this for you. Trips start late afternoon and end at night. You will be collected from your hotel and driven to the desert in a 4x4 vehicle. Most packages include a bone-rattling drive over the dunes, a short camel ride, a mediocre Arabic buffet and a belly dancer. The belly dancer is normally only included if there are enough of you in your party so enquire at the time of booking. Another option would be renting/buying a 4x4 and joining the many growing 4x4 clubs in the United Arab Emirates. Most popular off them is the Abu Dhabi 4x4 offroad club 4x4.com AKA AD4x4 that offers a free learning experience for all newcomers. The club consists of all nationalities and is active with over 2,000 members and schedule trips weekly to suit all levels of driving skills.
The official sport of the Emirates is shopping and Abu Dhabi offers plenty of opportunity in this area.
Helicopter Tour Board a l6-seater Eurocopter EC130 B4 and Discover Abu Dhabi from a birds' eye view with Falcon Aviation Services. Tours operate daily from 09:00 to 17:00 from the Marina Mall Terminal. Reservations recommended (tours can be booked on an individual or private basis)
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dabhi, which is about 30 min away from the capital. Watch a Formula One race and is the second Grand Prix arena after Bahrain.
Warner Bros World - one of the worlds biggest indoor amusement parks, featuring six themed areas; Gotham City, Metropolis, Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch and Warner Bros Plaza.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is a compulsive shopper's dream. There are several malls, most of which have the same stores as other malls. Besides establishments aimed at local residents, malls also include popular foreign chain stores, as well as designer places. Many visitors will be surprised at the female fashion dichotomy - while local custom calls for women to be covered in public, most stores sell short skirts and halter tops alongside the more sedate floor-length skirts and high-necked shirts.

Abu Dhabi Mall 24.495812,54.383215 in Tourist Club Area, adjacent to the Beach Rotana Hotel
Marina Mall in the Water Breaker area near the magnificent Emirates Palace. It also contains one of two Carrefour hypermarkets in the city. Has a musical fountain and ceilings that thunder and rain.
Yas Mall - Opened in 2014 next to Ferrari World on Yas Island. Thit is the biggest mall in Abu Dhabi and the 16th biggest mall in the world. It has the first Lego store in the United Arab Emirates. It is connected to Ferrari World.
Al Wahda Mall - 24.470159,54.372610 in the downtown (11th and 4th Streets) - A large, modern mall. Shops are high-end and the food court is extensive and a large LuLu Hypermart in the basement.
Khalidiyah Mall - Khalidiya Mall is small but a nice place to visit. The droll fashion stores may grip you for maybe several seconds, but then the obvious lack of things to do kicks in, however the food court is popular, alongside New York Fries, Chili's and a Dunkin' Donuts + Baskin Robbins. Downstairs there is an extortionate Krispy Kreme and Starbucks (Please do not support Starbucks as Starbucks supports Israel. Shun this coffee and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand.) and a what looks to be an Indian/Arabian cuisine restaurant, which seems good but looks to be unpopular.
Shams Boutik Reem Island, connected to Sunday and Sky Towers -A growing mall built around the community of Reem Island. It contains a growing number of good shops, including a supermarket with selected Halal food, three restaurant, serveral fast food restaurants on the first floor, a café, a kids play area, a nail salon, a bookstore and more. Despite, this, it is placed in a area that isn't busy and is not very popular.
The Mall - World Trade Center Abu Dhabi & WTC Souk Khalifa bin Zayed the First Street crossing Sheik Rachid bin Saeed St, Al Danah 24.4880,54.3568 at foots of Burj Mohammed bin Rahid tower- Nice architecture in the Mall and Souk. There are also many small, independent stores around the town. On the bottom floor of one building, a person can purchase fancy Chocolates, computer parts, antiques and clothing. It is better to purchase things such as carpets, art, native jewellery and antiques at the independent or souk-like places than at the malls, as the price will be lower and the shopkeepers more willing to negotiate. Bargaining is a big part of shopping in the Emirates, but be prudent. Don't bargain at Marks and Spencer or Hang Ten. Save your discounting skills for independent shops dealing in antiques and the like. Shopping in most places can be frustrating, as the assistants will follow you around the store. Thit is partly due to their concept of what constitutes good service and partly because there is a shoplifting problem. Most will not be intrusive, but some employees can be very pushy and overly obsequious. Smile and thank them often and you're more likely to be left alone after a bit. In carpet stores - or anywhere that sells tapestries, Indian antiques and the like don't feel too pressured to buy and don't be shocked if they start unrolling beautiful rug after beautiful rug at your feet. You are under no obligation to buy, no matter how much time they spend with you, however the pressure will be very steady and shyer shoppers may want to travel in packs for comfort's sake. Grocery stores such as Spinney's, Carrefour and the Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society are affordable and stocked with Western goods. Examine all products before purchasing. Prices in Abu Dhabi tend to be very competitive. In January 2018 and the United Arab Emirates introduced a Value Added Tax of 5% on most products aside from basic food items. General discount season - end of the year and midyear. These are the time where you can get some branded items with a very low price, maybe last season's stock.

Halal Food and Restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Please be informed that on some destination such as Abu Dhabi we had no local Muslim that has researched some of the area. If you are a Muslim/Muslima and have been to Abu Dhabi or would like to maintain the eHalal Guide to Abu Dhabi, please contact us at guides@ehalal.io and email us your updates.

Although Abu Dhabi hosts a wide range of palates and ethnicity's and there is not much variety when it comes to cuisine. Indian food is relatively cheap and there are a few Chinese chain restaurants with reasonable prices. Hotel restaurants are the most expensive. The city is home to all manner of fast food like McDonald's (Please do not support McDonald's as McDonald's supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant) and Hardees, but there is little call for most people to eat at those places. The fun thing about Abu Dhabi is that most places, from tiny falafel kiosks to grand hotel restaurants to Burger King (Please do not support Burger King as Burger King supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant),, deliver anywhere in the city. Delivery is quick and reliable and doesn't cost extra. All food is certified Halal Vegetarians will find the city's selection of meals very satisfying. Vegetable and bean-heavy native dishes and the array of splendid pure Vegetarian Indian cuisine and the ready availability of fresh salads make eating in Abu Dhabi a stress-free experience. Strict vegans may have a little difficulty communicating their precise demands, but most places offer vegan dishes and are always willing to accommodate a paying client. The best choice for pure vegans is one of many Indian Vegetarian restaurants like Evergreen, Sangeetha in the Tourist Club area. Check the Islamic calendar to determine whether you will be visiting during the month of Ramadan. Since Muslims fast during daylight hours, restaurants are, by law, closed during the day. It is also against the law to eat or drink anything, even water, in public. Tourists (and non-Muslim residents) have been arrested and given fines for violating this law. Large hotels generally have one restaurant open during the day to serve meals to non-Muslims. During the evening, however, it's quite a different story, as the festive atmosphere of iftar (breaking the fast) begins and residents gather for lavish, Thanksgiving-like meals. As long as you don't mind tiding yourself over in private and the evening meals are magnificent.

The Olive Branch Mafraq - Abu Dhabi 24.33041,54.62360 ☎ +971 2 659666 - Open 24 hours daily serving buffet and an à la carte menu Buffet serving times: Breakfast 06:00-10:30, Lunch 12:30-15:30, Dinner 19:00-23:00 - Mafraq’s all day restaurant serves up fresh Mediterranean cuisine borrowing influence from various regions, including France, Spain and Türkiye. The buffet is prepared with the freshest of ingredients and the interior décor is equally breezy and funky.
Old fish market - One of the city's few remaining authentic spots, where you can obtain fresh fish cooked with your choice of Sauce and accompaniments. Some of the cheapest, but not necessarily best, food in the city can be found in many Indian restaurants. Portions are almost always generous, prices low and quality excellent. Set meals of Rice, fish Curries, lentil Curries (dhal), peppery soup (rasam), a vegetable side dish and perhaps a small fried fish, served on a large steel tray (thali) with little steel bowls for the accompaniments, can go for as low as 5 dirham.
Arabian Palace | The decor is basic and the food, while affordable and filling, is forgettable, but the shisha here is excellent. Puff up a pipe, order their excellent "lemon with mint" drink and gaze at the skyscrapers.
Anand Vegetarian Restaurant | Hamdan Street behind Dunia Finance Building and Al Mansouri Plaza ☎ +971 2 6775599 - Thit is a pure veg Gujarati (North Indian) style restaurant. The demand for Puri Bhaji, a deep fried bread and potato and check pea dish, is so great that you will have to wait your turn but it's worth it. There is a special part for ladies and families. Friday lunch with sweets and as much Puri as you want for only at 12 dirham. Sometimes you will have to wait for 10 min to get a roti.
Nalas Aappakadai Restaurant | Behind the NDC building on Salam Street - Speciality for Aappam & excellent South Indian food from the Chettinad cuisine, Chinese & Tandoor
Cettinad Restaurant | Behind Eldorado cinema/National cinema, in between Hamdan and Electra St, next to Abudhabi Floor Mill ☎ +971 2 6777699, +971 2 6780002 - Authentic Chettinad food available at reasonable price. Also serving North Indian, Chinese, Tandoor and Mughalai food. Both Vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods are available. Cettinad Restaurant branch is next to the taxi station flyover traffic light, on the back isde of Brightway advertisement building, +971 24454331, +971 2 4454332
Al Safadi 24.4716085,54.3450511 Sheik Zayed Road Khalidiya Area 50 dirham - In an older building in one of the older and more walkable parts of Abu Dhabi. Shawarma sandwiches for 10 dirham each. Each main dish comes with a huge plate of greens, pickles, peppers and Lebanese bread.

Where to stay

Hotels in Abu Dhabi used to be half the price of those in Dubai but no longer, with many hotels charging above 500 dirham per day. However, all are well-tended and host to first class restaurants, pools and other high-end hotel facilities.

Cope in Abu Dhabi

Embassies & Consulates in Abu Dhabi

Being the national capital, Abu Dhabi hosts a large number of embassies. A majority of them are clustered in the Embassies District (Al Safarat) south of the Al Bateen Executive Airport and in the adjacent Al Ma'ared Area, west of Rabdan Street and south of Shk Rashid bin Saeed Road (Road #18); and the adjacent Capital Centre south of Al Karamah Street surrounding the Exhibition Centre. There are others further northwest in Al Danah, Al Markaziyah and in other parts of the city as well. If corresponding by mail/post use their PO box address as mail is only delivered to a PO Box with no post codes. If delivering to a street address with DHL, FedEx, UPS or another private courier be sure to include recipient's phone number so that the delivery driver can call for directions or clarification on the address. Some or most countries maintain an additional consulate in Dubai and only offer consular services from their Dubai consulate or from both locations.

Abu Dhabi Halal Travel Guide

Dubai an hour and a half drive down the highway
Al Ain just 90 minutes away - The UAE's largest oasis.
Liwa Oasis two hours from the city - Stunning desert dunes.
Kish Island - Iranian tourist island

Abu Dhabi

From Halal Explorer

Contents

Introduction

Etymology

Orientation

Travel to Abu Dhabi

Travel by plane to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi International Airport

Dubai International Airport

By road

Parking

Best way to travel in Abu Dhabi by a Taxi

Getting around in Abu Dhabi

Best way to travel in Abu Dhabi by a Taxi

Travel by vehicle to Abu Dhabi

Walk in Abu Dhabi

By bicycle

Sightseeing Tips

Parks

Cultural events

What to do as a Muslim in Abu Dhabi

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Abu Dhabi

Halal Food and Restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Where to stay

Cope in Abu Dhabi

Embassies & Consulates in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Halal Travel Guide