Outdoors · Abu Dhabi · United Arab Emirates
8 best outdoor things to do in Abu Dhabi
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Slywire, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Corniche promenade and beach, Yas Waterworld and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 23–30 hours across 7 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 23–30 hours
- Areas
- Corniche, Yas Island and Saadiyat Island
Outdoors in Abu Dhabi
Waterfront · Corniche
1.Corniche promenade and beach
Rent a bike near the western end and ride towards the Breakwater at sunset for skyline views.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Views
- Active
Theme park · Yas Island
2.Yas Waterworld
Arrive at opening in summer and claim a shaded cabana or lounger before midday.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Active
Aquarium · Yas Island
3.SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
Check the day's show schedule on arrival and plan the realms around the shows you want to see.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Beach · Saadiyat Island
4.Saadiyat Beach
Combine a morning at the Louvre Abu Dhabi with an afternoon here; the two are about 10 minutes apart by taxi.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Nature
Nature · Eastern Mangroves
5.Mangrove kayaking at Eastern Mangroves
Book a sunrise or late-afternoon tour; in summer the midday glare off the water is intense.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Jubail Island
6.Jubail Mangrove Park
Visit at high tide, when water fills the channels beneath the boardwalk and wildlife is more active.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Sweihan Road
7.Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital
It is near the airport, so it fits well on an arrival or departure day.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
- History
- Nature
Aquarium · Khor Al Maqta
8.The National Aquarium at Al Qana
Pair it with an evening visit to the Grand Mosque, about five minutes away by taxi.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Corniche | Corniche promenade and beach | 1–3 hours |
| Yas Island | Yas Waterworld and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi | Full day + Full day |
| Saadiyat Island | Saadiyat Beach | Half a day |
| Eastern Mangroves | Mangrove kayaking at Eastern Mangroves | 1.5–2 hours |
| Jubail Island | Jubail Mangrove Park | 1 hour |
| Sweihan Road | Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital | 2 hours |
| Khor Al Maqta | The National Aquarium at Al Qana | 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 1 free, 2 low cost, 3 mid-priced, 2 expensive. Book ahead for Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital. The longest visit is Yas Waterworld; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital: Visits are by guided tour only; book ahead through the hospital.
How to fit them into 6 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Corniche): Corniche promenade and beach, at least 1 hour.
- Half-day 2 (Yas Island): Yas Waterworld, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Yas Island): SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Saadiyat Island): Saadiyat Beach, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Eastern Mangroves and Jubail Island): Mangrove kayaking at Eastern Mangroves → Jubail Mangrove Park, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 6 (Sweihan Road and Khor Al Maqta): Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital → The National Aquarium at Al Qana, at least 4 hours.
The best months to be outside
- January: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 2 rainy days, busy crowds. Peak season: sunny, warm days and cool evenings that may need a light jacket.
- February: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 2 rainy days, busy crowds. Some of the most comfortable weather of the year for sightseeing and outdoor dining.
- December: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 2 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak season with mild days and festive events; book hotels early for National Day and the New Year.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Saadiyat Island — Museum district and a long natural beach about 15 minutes north-east of downtown
- Yas Island — Theme parks, the F1 circuit, Yas Mall and a waterfront dining strip
- Khor Al Maqta — Canal-side hotels and Souk Qaryat Al Beri facing the Grand Mosque
More of Abu Dhabi
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Abu Dhabi?
Corniche promenade and beach. An 8-kilometre seafront promenade with separate walking and cycling paths, playgrounds, cafés and lawns runs along the island's north-western shore.
+Which of these are free in Abu Dhabi?
Corniche promenade and beach.