United Arab Emirates
Flights to Abu Dhabi
The UAE’s capital, with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi and a calmer pace than Dubai.
Abu Dhabi at a glance
The essentials for planning the trip, with recent fares and the local time.
- Main airport
- Zayed Intl (AUH)
- Best time to visit
- November to March
- Approx. flying time
- About 14h from New York · About 7h 30m from London
Don’t miss
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
- Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island
- The Corniche waterfront
Flight tip: The Grand Mosque enforces its dress code at the door, so cover arms and legs fully before you go.
Flight times to Abu Dhabi
Approximate nonstop flying time, distance and time difference from each city we cover. Each city links to its route guide or a live search.
- From London7h 30mDistance: 5,520 km (3,430 mi)Search flights from London
- From Birmingham7h 30mDistance: 5,620 km (3,490 mi)Search flights from Birmingham
- From Manchester7h 30mDistance: 5,680 km (3,530 mi)Search flights from Manchester
- From Boston14hDistance: 10,730 km (6,670 mi)Search flights from Boston
- From New York14hDistance: 11,030 km (6,850 mi)Search flights from New York
- From Chicago15hDistance: 11,690 km (7,260 mi)Search flights from Chicago
- From Atlanta15h 30mDistance: 12,240 km (7,610 mi)Search flights from Atlanta
- From Los Angeles17hDistance: 13,480 km (8,380 mi)Search flights from Los Angeles
Flying times are estimates for a nonstop flight between the main airports; distances are straight-line between them.
Getting from the airport to Abu Dhabi
Each airport, how far it is from the centre, and the quickest and cheapest ways into town.
- Airport buses A1 and A2to the city centre, Al Zahiyah and Khalifa Street
- Taxito anywhere in the city
A 3-day plan for Abu Dhabi
A first visit, day by day, with the main sights in an order that saves time on the move.
- Day 1
Grand Mosque and palaces
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
- Qasr Al Watan
- Emirates Palace
- Dinner on the Corniche
- Morning
- Visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the morning, dressed to its dress code.
- Afternoon
- See Qasr Al Watan and Emirates Palace on the waterfront.
- Evening
- Dine on the Corniche.
- Day 2
Saadiyat Island
- Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Saadiyat Beach
- Manarat Al Saadiyat
- Sunset on the water
- Morning
- Spend the morning at Louvre Abu Dhabi.
- Afternoon
- Relax on Saadiyat Beach.
- Evening
- Watch the sunset from the water, then eat on the island or in the centre.
- Day 3
Corniche and Yas Island
- The Corniche
- Heritage Village
- Etihad Towers
- Yas Island
- Morning
- Walk or cycle the Corniche, then see the Heritage Village.
- Afternoon
- Go up to the Etihad Towers viewing platform, or head to Yas Island for the theme parks.
- Evening
- Have dinner at Yas Marina.
Where to stay in Abu Dhabi
The neighbourhoods that suit a first visit, and who each one is best for.
The Corniche and city centre
Best for first visitsA waterfront promenade with beaches, cafés and towers, close to the old centre and the Heritage Village.
Saadiyat Island
Best for beaches and museumsHome to Louvre Abu Dhabi and a long beach, with resort hotels.
Yas Island
Best for theme parks and the Grand PrixTheme parks, a marina and the Yas Marina Circuit, with large family hotels.
When to go to Abu Dhabi
The months with the best weather, and the cheapest month to fly in recent fares. A guide to the seasons, not a forecast.
November to March
- JanJanuary: Best
- FebFebruary: Best
- MarMarch: Best
- AprApril: Good
- MayMay: Mixed
- JunJune: Mixed
- JulJuly: Mixed
- AugAugust: Mixed
- SepSeptember: Mixed
- OctOctober: Good
- NovNovember: BestCheapest
- DecDecember: Best
- Best weather
- Good
- Hot, cold, wet or stormy
- Cheapest month to fly from New York, in recent fares
Cheapest month to fly to Abu Dhabi
Lowest round-trip fare per person found recently for departures in each month, from New York. Months with no recent fare aren’t shown.
Know before you go to Abu Dhabi
Money, tickets, safety and manners: the small things that make the first day easier.
Dress for the Grand Mosque
Entry is free, and the dress code is strictly enforced at the door. Cover arms and legs fully and, for women, hair.
Taxis and the Darbi app
Use licensed taxis or ride-hailing apps. Buses are run by Abu Dhabi Mobility, which publishes routes on its Darbi app.
Plan around the heat
From about May to September, do outdoor sights early or after sunset. Most sights, malls and museums are air-conditioned.
Respect local law
Public drunkenness, public displays of affection and photographing people without asking can cause trouble. Check GOV.UK’s UAE page before you go.
Bring your prescription
Some common medicines are controlled in the UAE. Carry a copy of your prescription and check the rules before you pack.
Check the bill
Many restaurants add a service charge. If there isn’t one, 10 to 15% is a normal tip for good service.
What to eat in Abu Dhabi
Local dishes and drinks worth trying, and where people go for them.
Machboos
Spiced rice with chicken, lamb or fish, the Emirati home dish, served at Emirati restaurants and Qasr Al Hosn events.
Luqaimat
Small fried dumplings drizzled with date syrup, sold hot at heritage cafés and festivals.
Shawarma
Spit-roasted chicken or lamb in flatbread, from the cheap cafeterias off the Corniche.
Arabic coffee and dates
Light, cardamom-scented gahwa poured in small cups with dates, the traditional welcome, offered in hotels and cafés.
Camel milk chocolate
A local souvenir made from camel milk, sold in Emirati chocolate shops and gift stores.
Day trips from Abu Dhabi
Three well-known days out, with the usual journey time each way.
Dubai
About 1 hour 30 minutes by car, longer in traffic
The Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the old creek, easy to combine in one long day.
Sharjah
About 2 hours by car
A calmer emirate with a restored Heritage Area, museums on Islamic art and civilisation, and a grand mosque.
Liwa Desert
About 2 hours by road
Huge dunes at the edge of the Empty Quarter, reached by road and best with a driver or a local operator.
Abu Dhabi: questions travellers ask
Short answers first, with the official page where it matters.
November to March. Winter is the best time for beaches, the Corniche and outdoor sights. From around May to September the heat is intense, so days are spent indoors and in the shade, though hotels are often cheaper. Ramadan changes the pace of the city, and its dates move each year.
Zayed International Airport (AUH) is the main airport, about 30 km from the city centre, with nonstop flights from UK airports and several US cities, mainly on Etihad. Dubai International is about a 1 hour 30 minute drive away, so check which airport your fare uses.
From London, it’s about 7h 30m nonstop; from New York, about 14h nonstop. These are rough guides worked out from distance; scheduled times vary by airline, direction and connection.
It depends on your passport, so check the official page before you book: GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates entry requirements. Rules change, so check them again shortly before you travel. Travelling on a US passport? The State Department’s country pages at travel.state.gov list the entry requirements for US citizens. GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates entry requirements (opens in a new tab)
Taxis and ride-hailing are the simplest way around. Buses run across the city on a Hafilat card, and Abu Dhabi Mobility publishes routes on its Darbi app. The sights are spread out, so plan by area.
Two to three days. It also works as a day trip from Dubai.
Yes, entry is free. The dress code is strictly enforced, so cover arms and legs fully, and women should cover their hair.
Yes, for the Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi and a quieter feel. It’s about 1 hour 30 minutes from Dubai by car, so it works as a day trip or a separate stay.
Costs depend on how you travel, so we don’t quote prices. Hotels are often cheaper from about May to September, when the heat is extreme.
British citizens with a full British passport get a free visit visa on arrival in the UAE. Check GOV.UK’s UAE entry requirements for the length of stay and passport validity.
Yes, in licensed hotels, bars and restaurants. Drinking in public places is illegal, and being drunk in public is an offence.
Before you go
Our guides to the rules and choices that matter for a trip to Abu Dhabi.
Booking tips
Self-transfer flights: what “separate tickets” means and when the saving is worth it
A self-transfer can be much cheaper, but you’re on your own if the first flight is late. How to spot one, what you give up and how much time to leave.
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Baggage and packing
Can you take a power bank on a plane? The 2026 rules for UK and US flights
Power banks go in your hand luggage, never your checked bag. The 2026 UK limits, the US rules, how to work out watt-hours, and using one on board.
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Booking tips
When to book an international flight (and when waiting pays off)
How far ahead to book long-haul and short-haul flights, why flexible dates matter more than the day you book, and the rules that protect you after you pay.
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Plan the rest of your trip to Abu Dhabi
Our partners for the rest of the journey. You book and pay with them directly.
- Places to stayCompare hotels and apartments for your dates.Find hotelswith our sister company, Wicket Travel Holidays (opens in a new tab)
- Car hireCompare rental cars from the airport or the city.Compare carswith our sister company, Wicket Travel Holidays (opens in a new tab)
- Airport transferBook a fixed-price ride from the airport to your hotel.Book a transferwith Kiwitaxi (opens in a new tab)
- Tickets & attractionsSkip-the-line tickets for museums and sights.See attractionswith Tiqets (opens in a new tab)
