For couples · Abu Dhabi · United Arab Emirates
Romantic things to do in Abu Dhabi
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Slywire, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Abu Dhabi suits couples who like sunsets, beach resorts and polished dining. The best moments are at golden hour: on the beach, at the Grand Mosque, or on the water. Couples tend to stay in Ras Al Akhdar and the Breakwater.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 6
- Couple-friendly sights
- 4
- Area for couples
- Ras Al Akhdar and the Breakwater
- Best months
- November–March
Romantic ideas
1.Sunset at the Grand Mosque
Watch the white marble turn gold and then glow under its lighting as night falls; the reflecting pools are especially photogenic.
2.Dinner at Souk Qaryat Al Beri
Canal-side restaurants at Khor Al Maqta face the illuminated Grand Mosque across the water.
3.Dhow dinner cruise
Traditional wooden dhows cruise along the Corniche in the evening with dinner on board and the skyline lit up.
4.Night in the Liwa desert
A desert resort near Liwa offers dune walks at sunset and clear starry skies far from city lights.
5.High tea above the city
Afternoon tea at the Observation Deck at 300 or at Emirates Palace makes a calm, classic outing.
6.Sunrise mangrove paddle
Kayak through the quiet mangrove channels of the Eastern Mangroves as the sun comes up.
Sights couples love
Museum · Saadiyat Island
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Walk the waterfront promenade under the dome at the end of your visit; the light patterns are strongest in the late afternoon.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Couples
Architecture · Ras Al Akhdar
Emirates Palace
Dress smart-casual; beachwear and very short clothing are not suitable in the lobby and cafés.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Couples
Viewpoint · Ras Al Akhdar
Observation Deck at 300
Go about an hour before sunset to see the city in daylight and as the Corniche lights up.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Beach · Saadiyat Island
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
Where couples should stay
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and beach
Ras Al Akhdar and the Breakwater
The western end of the island holds Emirates Palace, the Etihad Towers and the Qasr Al Watan presidential palace, with the Breakwater and its Heritage Village facing the Corniche skyline. Hotels here are among the grandest in the Gulf, with private beaches and long pools. It suits travellers who plan to spend much of the day at the hotel.
- Good
- Landmark hotels with private beaches; Next to Qasr Al Watan; Sunset views along the Corniche
- Watch out
- Very expensive; Few independent restaurants within walking distance
- Nearby
- Emirates Palace, Qasr Al Watan, Etihad Towers, Heritage Village
Romantic day trips
- Liwa Oasis and Moreeb Dune (About 2.5–3 hours by car) — Liwa's crescent of date-farm villages sits at the edge of the Rub' al Khali, the Empty Quarter, among some of the largest dunes in Arabia.
- Desert safari (About 1 hour each way by 4x4) — Afternoon tours drive into the dunes inland from the city for dune bashing, sandboarding and a short camel ride, then finish at a camp with a barbecue dinner and henna.
- Sir Bani Yas Island (About 2.5–3 hours by car plus a short boat ride) — A nature-reserve island in the western region, Sir Bani Yas is home to the Arabian Wildlife Park, where Arabian oryx, gazelles, giraffes and cheetahs roam.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Machboos, Harees and Thareed. Tap water is safe but most restaurants serve bottled water, which is charged; ask for local brands to keep costs down.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Abu Dhabi romantic?
Abu Dhabi suits couples who like sunsets, beach resorts and polished dining. The best moments are at golden hour: on the beach, at the Grand Mosque, or on the water.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Abu Dhabi?
Sunset at the Grand Mosque: Watch the white marble turn gold and then glow under its lighting as night falls; the reflecting pools are especially photogenic.
+Where should couples stay in Abu Dhabi?
Ras Al Akhdar and the Breakwater: Palace hotels and landmark towers at the western tip of the island.