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Calm, clear water and a sandy beach on the Abu Dhabi Corniche, with a line of towers along the shore in the distance

Where to stay in Abu Dhabi

Photographed in 2014. Photo: Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Places to stay in Abu Dhabi

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About Abu Dhabi

By road, Yas Island is about 17 km from Zayed International and the old centre around Qasr Al Hosn about 43 km. Hotel bills carry a 4% tourism fee and a 4% municipality fee, holiday homes a 6% tourism fee, and Mawaqif charges for street parking from 8:00 to midnight except on Sundays.

United Arab Emirates. Guide last checked .

Facts and rules

Last checked . Each fact links to its source.

Airport
Zayed International (AUH); by road about 17 km to Yas Island, about 37 km to Saadiyat Island and about 43 km to Qasr Al Hosn in the centre. Source
Hotel fees
A tourism fee of 4% and a municipality fee of 4% of the invoice issued to the guest, since 1 September 2023, when the fee of AED 15 per room per night was cancelled. Source
Holiday home tourism fee
6% of the total invoiced to and collected from the guest, itemised on the invoice and shown on price lists. Source
VAT
5% on hotel apartments and serviced units; the lease of a residential building is exempt. Source
Holiday home licences
Since 1 January 2026 a holiday home needs a DCT licence to be listed online, the licence number must be visible on the listing, and shared units may not be listed. Source
Hotel check-in
Since Circular No. 6/2026 every licensed hotel must use DCT's Smart Check-In programme, which verifies guests in line with Abu Dhabi Police guest registration requirements. Source
Parking with a rental car
Mawaqif: standard bays AED 2 an hour or AED 15 a day, premium bays AED 3 an hour for at most four hours, from 8:00 to midnight; free on Sundays and public holidays. Multi-storey car parks charge around the clock. Source
Entry, UK visitors
A free visitor visa on arrival, valid for up to 90 days over 180. Passports need 6 months of validity on arrival. Source
Entry, EU visitors
Up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa under the EU and UAE visa waiver agreement, which does not cover Ireland or paid work. Source
Entry, US visitors
A no-fee visa on arrival for personal travel of 30 days or less; an extension is at the discretion of immigration officials. Source
Monthly stays
A holiday home may be let by the day, week or month, only as a whole unit, and the guest terms grant occupation for temporary accommodation only; electricity and water come without extra charge. Source
Leases (Tawtheeq)
Leases fall under Law No. 20 of 2006 and are registered under Resolution No. 4 of 2011 in the Tawtheeq system, whose fees Resolution No. 49 of 2018 lists. Source
Emergency numbers
Police 999, ambulance 998, fire 997 Source

Areas of Abu Dhabi

The white round watchtower and crenellated wall of Qasr Al Hosn, the old fort in the centre of Abu Dhabi, with glass towers behind
Photographed in 2019. Photo: Darthjipsu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Downtown and the Corniche

The centre of Abu Dhabi island, around Qasr Al Hosn, the oldest stone building in the city, and the Corniche, an 8 km waterfront with cycle and walking paths, cafés and the Corniche Beach. It suits a first visit, a city break on foot along the water and a stay of a month in an apartment.

Abu Dhabi airport (AUH)
about 43 km
The Corniche
about 4 km

Car and parking

Mawaqif bays cost AED 2 an hour or AED 15 a day in standard bays and AED 3 an hour in premium bays, from 8:00 to midnight, free on Sundays and public holidays. Resident bays are for permit holders from 21:00 to 8:00, so do not leave the car there overnight.

Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands

Al Reem is a natural island 600 m off Abu Dhabi island, built up with residential towers; Al Maryah beside it is the central business district, with The Galleria mall, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and two five-star hotels. It suits a business trip or a month in a tower apartment close to the centre.

Abu Dhabi airport (AUH)
about 42 km
Qasr Al Hosn
about 8 km

Car and parking

The Mawaqif pages do not name the islands, so parking depends on the building; ask for a space before booking. DCT's rules send holiday home guests to the space allocated to the home, or to public parking nearby where there is none.

A wide, almost empty white sand beach on Saadiyat Island in the morning, with small waves on turquoise water
Photo: Tms2007, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Saadiyat Island

A natural island 500 m off Abu Dhabi island, still being built as a mixed residential and leisure district around the Saadiyat Cultural District, with the Louvre Abu Dhabi on the island. It suits a beach hotel stay with museums nearby.

Abu Dhabi airport (AUH)
about 37 km
Qasr Al Hosn
about 16 km
Louvre Abu Dhabi
about 7 km

Car and parking

The Louvre Abu Dhabi has a visitor car park and paid valet (via GetCar); elsewhere parking is the hotel's or the building's, so ask before booking.

Yas Island

An artificial leisure island of 25 km2 with the Yas Marina Circuit, home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009, and Ferrari World. The closest area to the airport, it suits theme parks, race weekends and early flights, less so the old centre.

Abu Dhabi airport (AUH)
about 17 km
Qasr Al Hosn
about 35 km
Yas Marina Circuit
about 6 km

Car and parking

Parking at the parks is free (via GetCar). The island is about 17 km and 24 minutes from the airport (via GetCar), so a car does the airport run and the drive to the centre.

Grand Mosque and Khor Al Maqta

The area on the mainland side of the Maqta channel around the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the country's largest mosque, finished in 2007. It sits between the island and the airport, which suits a stay split between the centre and Yas Island.

Abu Dhabi airport (AUH)
about 29 km
Qasr Al Hosn
about 15 km

Car and parking

The mosque has its own car parks and bans parking at its facilities from 23:00 to 4:00 (via GetCar). Hotel parking otherwise; ask before booking.

Date palm trunks and grass in the Al Ain Oasis, with a stone-lined falaj irrigation channel running between the trees
Photographed in 2016. Photo: Flounder Lee, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Al Ain

The largest inland city in the Emirates, on the Omani border, with the Al Ain Oasis, which DCT lists among its UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It suits a night or two away from the coast.

Abu Dhabi airport (AUH)
about 148 km
Qasr Al Hosn
about 162 km

Car and parking

Al Ain is on the E22, about an hour and forty minutes from the Corniche, and the Al Ain Oasis is free and open from 9:00 to 19:00 (via GetCar). The Mawaqif pages read do not say whether their tariff applies here.

Guides

Questions

Which area of Abu Dhabi is best for a first visit?

Downtown and the Corniche, on Abu Dhabi island, for the beach promenade and Qasr Al Hosn, or Saadiyat Island for a beach hotel near the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Yas Island is the closest area to the airport, about 17 km by road.

What fees are added to a hotel bill in Abu Dhabi?

A tourism fee of 4% and a municipality fee of 4% of the invoice, under DCT Abu Dhabi's Circular No. 9/2023, plus VAT at 5%. The old AED 15 per room per night was cancelled from 1 September 2023.

Must an Abu Dhabi holiday home listing show a licence number?

Yes. From 1 January 2026 a unit needs a DCT licence to be listed, the licence number must be visible on every listing page, and shared units may not be listed.

Is street parking free in Abu Dhabi on Fridays?

No. Mawaqif charges from 8:00 to midnight every day except Sundays and public holidays: AED 2 an hour or AED 15 a day in standard bays, AED 3 an hour for at most four hours in premium bays.