Best Places to Visit in Abu Dhabi

Whether for the purpose of business or leisure, several Dubai residents regularly travel to Abu Dhabi via multiple modes of transport. Besides being a neighbouring emirate of Dubai, Abu Dhabi is also a popular destination for weekend getaways and road trips. Even though it may take only a few hours to reach Abu Dhabi from Dubai, you may end up facing a few difficulties if you are not ideally prepared for this trip.

Being governed by a separate authority, Abu Dhabi has its own set of rules given the troubles caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This piece covers everything that a traveller coming from Dubai to Abu Dhabi would need to keep in mind including Dubai to Abu Dhabi travel restrictions today, top things you can do in Abu Dhabi, and more.

Best Places to Visit in Abu Dhabi

Louvre Abu Dhabi: If you are interested in the history of the entire world civilisation beginning from the Neolithic era, this glorious museum is your go-to place. The Louvre is one of the most beautiful museums in the Middle East and a great place to visit when you travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.
Mangroves of Abu Dhabi: If a laid-back vacation is on your mind, kayaking in the mangroves towards the east of Abu Dhabi can be a fun choice to make. You can find several kayaking tours for Abu Dhabi mangroves for both days and nights. From the available list, you can choose and book one when you plan your Abu Dhabi travel.
Saadiyat Island: Visiting Abu Dhabi on a long-weekend trip? Then the sandy beaches of Saadiyat Island are your ideal place to be. Soak up the sun, relax under attractive beach umbrellas, enjoy delicious food at the on-beach restaurants, and visit the sun lounges in an environment secured by on-duty lifeguards.
Ferrari World: Your travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi can be considered incomplete without visiting the Ferrari World, especially if you are a car enthusiast. Kids can test out some newly rolled rides while thrill-seeking adults can take a ride on the Flying Aces roller coaster.
Cruising in Abu Dhabi: If you are weary of the in-emirate and road trips on your travels from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, it may be a time to check out the cruising options. Besides kayaking, you can book cruise tours as well for your Abu Dhabi travel plans.
Yas Beach: Another perfect spot for your beach getaway travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi is Yas Beach on Yas Island. A rather popular choice among families given the full range of facilities and sports options available, you can rent out any type of sports material of your preference for your beach-cation.
Warner Bros World: If theme parks attract you, the Warner Bros World in Abu Dhabi will check all the boxes in your fun checklist. Roller coaster rides, 4D interactive content, rides for young ones, and more are available here to make your travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi a pleasant experience.
Dessert Dune Day Trips: As per travel enthusiasts, no trip taken in the emirates is complete without an adventurous desert safari on the itinerary. Dessert dune day trips in Abu Dhabi will cover that for you. You can head to the Empty Quarter desert towards the south of Abu Dhabi for a magical experience.
Observation Deck: Abu Dhabi counters the infamous Burj Khalifa of Dubai with a beautiful skyscraper of its own, widely known as Observation Deck. You can enjoy tea and snacks here while enjoying the beautiful landscape ahead when you travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.
Yas Waterworld: Rarely will you discover anything better than enjoying chilling water in the scorching heat of summer months. Head to Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi for a first-hand experience of one of the best waterparks in the UAE flooded with fun slides, thrilling rides, food, and more.

Best Time to Go to Abu Dhabi from Dubai

The Autumn and spring season can be generally considered the best time to visit Abu Dhabi. The weather is pleasant in the mentioned seasons – not too cold, not too hot - and you can easily visit most of the places in the emirate without worrying about the weather.

Overall, however, there is no set rule for when you can travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. For instance, the usually 1 hour and 20-minute drive between the two is perfect for a cold winter road trip adventure. Additionally, there are some fun getaway places for your much-needed summer break. Consequently, the only aspect you need to take care of is choosing the right places to visit as per the weather.

Top Airlines to Travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

Some of the top airlines in Dubai and Abu Dhabi can be Emirates, Etihad Airways, Flydubai, Air Arabia, and so on. Besides these, several international airlines are available at your service as well, with the list including Air India, SpiceJet, Pakistan International Airlines, etc. Some other options consist of British Airways, Gulf Air, and Egypt Air. Ultimately, you should pick a flight that suits your schedule and budget the best.

Travel Insurance Plans for Abu Dhabi Travels

Even if you will be travelling only a few hours back and forth from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and back, getting a travel insurance plan remains a crucial part of your journey. Given below are some of the top inbound travel insurance plans that you can explore for your travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi:

1. Orient Insurance Annual Plus Inbound Plan

The maximum sum assured is AED 150,000
Cover a maximum of 92 days per trip during the tenure
Includes emergency medical treatment coverage, Covid-19 quarantine expenses, medical evacuation, trip and baggage cover, and more

2. Alliance Insurance Inbound Plan

Offers a maximum assured sum of AED 150,000
Single trip cover with a maximum of 90-day long coverage
Covers travellers up to the age of 80 years under certain conditions
Offers several benefits including emergency medical treatment coverage, medical evacuation, quarantine expenses coverage, baggage and trip-related coverage, and more

3. Allianz Inbound Plan

AED 150,000 is the maximum assured sum offered
Covers only single trips for a maximum of 90 days
Offers loss of money and loss of travel document coverage of AED 300 each
Additional covers include a maximum of AED 300 for dental expenses, AED 7,500 for medical repatriation expenses, emergency medical expenses trip, baggage-related coverage, and so on

Why Do You Need Travel Insurance for Abu Dhabi Travels?

The key function of insurance plans is to financially protect you in case an emergency or an unexpected problem arises suddenly. While the possibility of an adverse event is always there, its impact could be more severe if you are away from home. For this reason, it is essential to get travel insurance for both small and big trips.

Most travel insurance plans in the UAE provide cover for baggage loss or delay, flight cancellations, lost luggage on the trip, medical emergencies, and more. With such a vast range of coverage, travel insurance is an excellent choice to protect your financial interests and ensure that you don’t lose money if the trip doesn’t go as planned.

Abu Dhabi Entry Rules from Dubai When Flying

As per the Abu Dhabi Covid rules, fully vaccinated people don’t need to get tested before flying to Abu Dhabi. This guideline came into effect on February 26, 2022.
Children under the age of 12 are also not required to take an RT-PCR test.
Unvaccinated travellers are required to get tested for Covid-19 a maximum of 48 hours before their flight. Such travellers would be allowed only if their test result is negative.
If you were recently infected with Covid-19, you will need a recovery certificate to board your flight. The recovery certificate must be at most 30 days old and shall have a valid QR code for scanning.
On-arrival tests are not mandatory anymore when you land in Abu Dhabi. However, you will be required to take a test if you want to activate the Al Hosn application on your phone. Al Hosn green status is mandatory to get access to public spaces in Abu Dhabi.
The additional RT-PCR test in Abu Dhabi costs AED 40.
You do not need to get a re-test while in the emirate.

Abu Dhabi Entry Rules from Dubai for Public Spaces

RT-PCR tests are mandatory to get access to public places in Abu Dhabi. Similarly, a green status on the Al Hosn application is mandatory.
Vaccinated people must take an RT-PCR test as soon as they enter Abu Dhabi.
The test shall be taken every 14 days to maintain the green status on the application.
Since you will be a Dubai resident, you must take all booster shots as per the schedule to ensure the status on the Al Hosn app stays green.
Anyone exempted from taking the vaccine officially must take the RT-PCR test every 7 days to ensure that Al Hosn stays green.
All children younger than 12 years travelling to Abu Dhabi from Dubai are exempt from the test and are allotted green status on the Al Hosn app.
12 to 15-year-old children are not required to get vaccinated to come to Abu Dhabi. However, they have to get tested to get the green status on the Al Hosn application.

Mask-Wearing Protocols in Abu Dhabi

Everyone in Abu Dhabi visiting all indoor public spheres must wear face masks.
Wearing a face mask in outdoor public places is optional.
Physical distancing norms have to be followed properly in indoor public spheres.
The following groups and categories of people are exempt from wearing face masks in public places in Abu Dhabi:
- Children younger than 2 years of age
- Anyone with severe disabilities - the concerned person may be required to submit a proper medical report for the same
- Anyone with respiratory problems and symptoms - the individual here must be able to present a medical report stating their illness which makes wearing masks difficult for them

Additional Abu Dhabi Entry Rules from Dubai for Vaccinated People

Only the vaccinations approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) are accepted as valid in Abu Dhabi.
You are required to download the ICA UAE Smart application on your phone and attach your vaccination certificate to validate it. You can also validate your exemption from vaccination using the same application.
As soon as you validate your vaccination certificate, a text message will arrive on your phone as confirmation. This message will also contain a link to download the Al Hosn application.
If you have taken an RT-PCR test upon your arrival in Abu Dhabi from Dubai, you can either wait at the airport or wait for the results at your accommodation.

Additional Abu Dhabi Entry Rules from Dubai for Unvaccinated People

Certain public areas are only open to fully vaccinated people in Abu Dhabi. If you have not completed your vaccination or are yet to get booster shots, you may not be able to enter such spaces.
RT-PCR test upon arrival is not mandatory anymore. However, you can take the test if you wish to do so. The testing facility at Abu Dhabi airport is still active.
Quarantine is also not required for unvaccinated travellers in Abu Dhabi. As long as you have your negative RT-PCR test and green status on the Al Hosn application, you are good to go.

Public Safety Initiatives at A Glance in Abu Dhabi

You can enter public places in Abu Dhabi by either showing green status on the Al Hosn application or by presenting your complete vaccination certificate.
A negative RT-PCR test taken upon arrival will grant you green status to enter public spaces if you are unvaccinated.
Face masks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces like malls and movie theatres. In such places, social distancing is also required to be maintained properly at all times.
It is optional to wear face masks in outdoor public spaces like parks.
People with medical reasons for not wearing masks, disabilities, and children under the age of 2 are not required to wear a face mask in public spaces.

Venue Capacity in Abu Dhabi

As per Abu Dhabi Covid rules, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) has lifted the capacity or maximum attendance bans on indoor public spaces in Abu Dhabi as of February 15, 2022.
Venues like cinema halls and shopping malls are allowed to function at full capacity.
However, Abu Dhabi authorities have directed the indoor venues to function at 90% capacity.
The capacity regulations are subject to change as per the decisions taken by NCEMA and local Abu Dhabi authorities.

Abu Dhabi Entry Rules from Dubai for Recently Recovered Covid-19 Patient

People who have recently recovered from Covid-19 infection can also indulge in their travel aspirations for Abu Dhabi travels. All recently recovered Covid-19 patient must bring their recovery certificate which is dated no longer than the date of departure of their flight to Abu Dhabi. Notably, you do not have to take the RT-PCR test upon arrival in the emirate if you don’t plan to visit any public places during your travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. Other than that, it is necessary to maintain the green status on your Al Hosn app to travel to public places in Abu Dhabi.

Key Takeaways

Your travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi will be a short trip yet filled with fun and pleasant experiences, given that you plan it properly.
While packing lightly should be the aim, get all essentials and don’t forget your travel insurance plan for Abu Dhabi travels.
Abu Dhabi Covid rules are always subject to change depending on the severity of the infection spread. However, ensure that you keep checking for the latest update on this space.
Keep your tests, vaccination certificates, and recovery certificates handy to get a green pass on the Al Hosn app. Keep taking your mandatory RT-PCR test every 14th day to maintain the status.
Choose the places you visit in Abu Dhabi as per your interests as well as the season in which you visit the emirate.

If you want to buy a travel insurance plan before beginning your journey, it is recommended to check out multiple plans before selecting one. For exploring and comparing the best travel insurance plans in the UAE (and buy one) in one place, visit the ‘Travel Insurance’ section on policybazaar.ae.

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