10 Best Things to Do in Abu Dhabi in Winter
Make the Most of Your Winter in Abu Dhabi!
The best things to do in winter in Abu Dhabi offer both adventure and relaxation. The cooler season is an especially good time for activities like dune bashing in the Arabian Desert, and the waters of the Arabian Gulf stay pleasantly warm all year round, meaning beachgoing and scuba diving are always on the table.
From exhilarating desert safaris to up-close wildlife encounters, the winter season is ideal for exploring the city’s outdoor attractions. Natural marvels offer quiet respite from the excitement of the city. From the gulf to the desert, Abu Dhabi offers great ways to spend your winter vacation.
What are the best things to do in Abu Dhabi in Winter?
1. Corniche Beach
The city’s favorite beach and boardwalk
Good for: Families, Couples, Budget
The popular Corniche comprises a 1-mile (1.6-km) stretch of sand and 4 miles (6 km) of waterside promenades overlooking the Arabian Gulf. Abu Dhabi’s year-round sunny skies and warm waters make this an ideal place to relax in the winter season.
The beach is Blue Flag certified for safety and cleanliness and offers well-maintained facilities. It’s divided into 3 zones: Al Sahil, the Quiet Zone, and the Family Beach, which provides sun loungers and a play area for children. Lay down your towel and sunbathe on the soft sands or go for a swim in the calm, clear waters of the gulf.
Corniche Beach
2. Sheikh Zayed Festival
A grand ode to Emirati heritage
Good for: Families, Nightlife
The Sheikh Zayed Festival is an annual celebration of Emirati and world culture. The festival grounds are filled with pavilions dedicated to different Emirates, where artisans demonstrate traditional crafts like weaving and pottery. Daily performances feature falconry shows, parades, and traditional Emirati music and dance. For a miniature world tour on the festival grounds, explore the Global Village, where countries from around the world showcase their cultures and cuisines.
The festival runs from mid-November through mid-March and is held 25 miles (40 km) east of the city center in Al Wathba. To catch one of the festival’s spectacular, record-breaking fireworks displays, pay a visit on New Year’s Eve or other holidays.
Location: Al Wathbah, Al-Wathba South, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Sheikh Zayed Festival
3. Desert Safari
A wild ride through the desert
Good for: Adventure, Unusual
What better way to experience the vast and stunning landscapes of the Arabian Desert than on a safari with a local guide? Several tour agencies in Abu Dhabi organize forays into the dunes tailored to visitor interest. These outings typically include sandboarding and the popular dune bashing, in which skilled drivers take travelers on a rollercoaster ride over the dunes in 4x4 vehicles. The cooler temperatures of winter offer ideal conditions to venture out into the desert.
As the day winds down, safaris often conclude with a Bedouin-style camp, where you’ll enjoy a barbeque under the starry sky.
Desert Safari
4. Scuba Diving
Sunken ships and synthetic reefs
Good for: Adventure, Couples, Group
Abu Dhabi has plenty of opportunities to dive with marine life and explore shipwrecks off its coast. The waters around the archipelago are warm year-round, with the winter months providing the best visibility. Diving schools offer courses for all levels, including 4-day intensive diving certifications led by PADI-certified instructors.
Divers can encounter barracudas, rays, and angelfish as well as some corals and sea anemones. Wreck dives offer haunting explorations of sunken ships reclaimed by marine life. For those not yet ready to dive, opt for a snorkeling excursion where you can swim with sea turtles in their natural habitat.
Scuba Diving
5. Qasr Al Muwaiji and Al Ain Oasis
Day trip to the Garden City
Good for: History, Photo, Adventure
In the middle of the desert lies Al Ain, an oasis city known for its significant greenery and several historical landmarks such as the Qasr Al Muwaiji fort. The city’s stark contrast with the surrounding desert is exemplified in the Al Ain Oasis, a verdant park populated with 147,000 date palm trees. The oasis is crisscrossed by a traditional falaj irrigation system which has been used for millennia.
Qasr Al Muwaiji, a 100-year-old fort in the city center, played an important role in the history of the UAE and is a beautiful example of mudbrick architecture. Tour the fort’s courtyards and watchtowers, then step inside to explore a museum that tells the story of the fort’s role in Emirati history.
Qasr Al Muwaiji and Al Ain Oasis
6. Mangrove National Park
Wildlife encounters in a serene mangrove forest
Good for: Adventure, Families
Abu Dhabi’s stunning Mangrove National Park is a short drive from just about anywhere in the city center. This dense mangrove forest is highly valued for its role in protecting the city and purifying the air and water and also serves as a serene spot to escape from the skyscrapers and recharge your batteries.
Visitors report seeing crabs, dolphins, and hundreds of bird species as they explore the mangroves. Rent a kayak to paddle around on your own or take a private boat tour with a local guide who can provide information about the ecology and biodiversity of these important forests. If taking a kayak, venture out in high tide for the best experience.
Location: FC4G+M3J, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Open: Daily from 10 am to midnight
Mangrove National Park
7. Watching the sunset from Jebel Hafeet
Unforgettable golden sunsets over the desert
Good for: Adventure, Budget, Photo
At 4,068 ft. (1,200 meters), Jebel Hafeet is the second tallest mountain in the United Arab Emirates. It’s located on the outskirts of Al Ain, about a 90-minute drive from Abu Dhabi, and the breathtaking 360-degree views from the top make it well worth the trek.
As you approach from the west, the slanting limestone mountain rises dramatically from the desert, jagged peaks cutting against the sky. Travelers can ascend by car along a paved road with 21 hairpin turns, which is an adventure in itself, or attempt a challenging 5-mile (8-km) hike. Start your day with a picnic in nearby Green Mubazzarah Park and make the ascent in the late afternoon, just in time for the sunset.
Location: 11 Jabal Hafeet St, Jabal Hafeet, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Watching the sunset from Jebel Hafeet
8. Al Forsan International Sports Resort
Horseback riding and paintball tournaments at a top-tier recreation center
Good for: Adventure, Families, Unusual
Al Forsan International Sports Resort is a massive recreational complex centrally located in Khalifa City. The sports center offers a wide range of activities and facilities, including cycling and jogging tracks, shooting ranges, and a wakeboarding cable park.
Head to the Motor Sports Centre for go-karting on a CIK-approved professional circuit; there’s also a dedicated track for young children. The resort is an excellent place to learn or practice equestrian sports, with a prestigious riding school that offers training at all levels. For a day of games with family or friends, take your crew to the indoor and outdoor paintball arenas or challenge each other at the resort’s archery range.
Location: Street No.12 near Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Open: Daily from 7 am to 11 pm
Phone: +971 (0)800 9900
Al Forsan International Sports Resort
9. House of Artisans
For arts and crafts lovers
Good for: Unusual, Photo, History
House of Artisans is an exciting culture center that showcases UAE’s rich heritage, crafts, and products created from materials harvested from the desert, oases, coast, and sea. The crafts have been shared through generations and are important components of the Emirati identity.
The center organized workshops where you can experience centuries old skills in action. You’ll witness women creating the beautiful and complex talli embroidery on cushions or weaving date palm fronds into hand-held fans, or mahafah. You can also purchase products as unique souvenirs and mementoes to take home. To dive even deeper into the magic of these crafts, book a private tour.
Location: Palace - next to Al Hosn - Al Hisn - W3 - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
Open: Saturday–Thursday from 9 am to 8 pm, Friday from 2 pm to 8 pm
House of Artisans
10. Founder’s Memorial
A city art piece and cultural landmark
Good for: Photo, Budget
The Founder’s Memorial is a stunning tribute to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates. The centerpiece of the memorial is The Constellation, an innovative monument with 1,300 geometric shapes suspended on 1,000 cables. Viewed from particular angles, the shapes align to reveal a 3-dimensional portrait of Sheikh Zayed.
The Constellation is surrounded by several gardens with walking paths; the Heritage Garden features a variety of plants native to the UAE. Visit this peaceful public space after dark to see the Constellation with its ethereal evening glow.
Location: Al Ras Al Akhdar, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Open: Daily from 9 am to 10 pm
Phone: +971 (0)2 410 0100
Founder’s Memorial
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