Abu Dhabi day trip guide
Abu Dhabi is an easy day trip from Dubai: our own tours plan on about 90 minutes on the road each way. Most visits are built around the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which visitors have to book ahead, with Qasr Al Watan or the Louvre Abu Dhabi after it. This guide sets out the rules each place publishes, the ways to get there, including the new train, and the official prices next to ours.
| If you | Go with |
|---|---|
| Want it all arranged | Our full-day Abu Dhabi city tourHotel pick-up in Dubai, the Grand Mosque, Heritage Village, BAPS Mandir and photo stops at Ferrari World and the Corniche, in about 9 hours. |
| Want the palace or the Louvre as well | Our Cultural Heritage tourA guided Grand Mosque visit, then Qasr Al Watan with Qasr Al Hosn and the House of Artisans, or the Louvre, admission included, in about 11 hours. |
| Prefer your own pace | A private transferDoor to door from Dubai; plan on about 90 minutes each way. |
| Want to try the train | Etihad Rail, from 30 SeptemberEtihad Rail says its Dubai station is scheduled to open on 30 September 2026; trains arrive at Mohamed bin Zayed City station, which connects to Abu Dhabi's buses and taxis. |
| Are going on a Friday | The Grand Mosque before 11:00 or after 14:30On Fridays it is open to visitors from 09:00 to 11:30 and from 14:30 to 20:30. |
| Are going on a Monday | The Louvre, not BAPS MandirBAPS Mandir is closed on Mondays; the Louvre is open from 10:00 to 18:30. |
| Have children under 18 | Louvre Abu DhabiUnder-18s go free, and the ticket includes the Children's Museum. |
Visitors must book the visit in advance and get an online access pass; worshippers can walk straight in. The mosque is open to visitors from 09:00 to 20:30 every day except Friday, with last entry at 20:00. On Fridays it opens from 09:00 to 11:30, last entry 11:00, and again from 14:30 to 20:30. Hours differ in Ramadan.
The dress code asks for modest, loose clothing. Women need clothes that reach the ankles, sleeves to the wrists and their hair fully covered; men should cover their legs and avoid sleeveless, tight or see-through tops. Personal photos are allowed; professional equipment needs a permit.
Qasr Al Watan's ticket covers the palace halls and the Palace in Motion light show, which runs for about 15 minutes each night from 20:00; last entry to the show is 30 minutes before it starts. Knees and shoulders must be covered, and there is no re-entry.
Louvre Abu Dhabi opens at 10:00 every day. Its galleries close at 18:30 from Monday to Thursday and at 20:30 from Friday to Sunday, and the dome stays open until midnight. Adults pay AED 70, and under-18s go free. Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours there.
Our tours plan on about 90 minutes on the road each way. Our 11-hour Cultural Heritage tour pairs the Grand Mosque with either Qasr Al Watan or the Louvre; our 9-hour city tour adds photo stops and Heritage Village instead of a second ticketed visit.
Seeing the mosque, the palace and the Louvre in one day is possible on your own, but tight. If you try it, go from Friday to Sunday, when the Louvre's galleries stay open until 20:30, and remember that the Grand Mosque closes to visitors from 11:30 to 14:30 on Fridays.
Etihad Rail's passenger trains have run between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah since 30 June 2026, arriving in Abu Dhabi at Mohamed bin Zayed City station. Etihad Rail says its Dubai station is scheduled to open on 30 September 2026.
When we checked on 23 September, Etihad Rail's booking site still listed only its Abu Dhabi and Fujairah stations, so there were no Dubai fares or times to quote yet. At MBZ City, Etihad Rail and Abu Dhabi Mobility say the train connects with the city's buses and taxis, so plan the last stretch to the mosque as well.
Fridays: the Grand Mosque closes to visitors from 11:30 to 14:30. Mondays: BAPS Mandir is closed, while the Louvre is open. BAPS Mandir also needs online registration, made only after you arrive in the UAE, and a passport or Emirates ID at the gate.
Qasr Al Watan charges AED 65 for adults and AED 30 for children, and the Louvre AED 70 for adults, with under-18s free. The Grand Mosque and BAPS Mandir are booked online in advance instead.
Our prices for Qasr Al Watan and the Louvre are on their cards above, and our combo ticket for both is in the list below. Both our day tours include the Grand Mosque, and the Cultural Heritage tour includes admission to Qasr Al Watan or the Louvre.
From
AED 289
From
AED 45
From
AED 57
Yes, if you are visiting rather than praying: visitors must book ahead and get an online access pass. Worshippers enter directly.
Yes, from 09:00 to 11:30 (last entry 11:00) and from 14:30 to 20:30 (last entry 20:00).
Women need loose clothes to the ankle, sleeves to the wrist and their hair covered. Men should cover their legs and avoid sleeveless or tight tops.
Yes. Its own site lists Monday to Thursday, 10:00 to 18:30, and Friday to Sunday, 10:00 to 20:30.
Yes, under-18s go free. Adults pay AED 70.
Etihad Rail says its Dubai station is scheduled to open on 30 September 2026. Until then its trains run between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.
AED 65 for adults and AED 30 for children, according to Visit Abu Dhabi, and the ticket includes the Palace in Motion show. Our price is on the Qasr Al Watan card above.
Our tours plan on about 90 minutes each way.
Rules, hours and official prices checked on each place's own website on 23 September 2026. They change, especially in Ramadan, so check before you go. Sources: Grand Mosque visiting hours · Grand Mosque etiquette · Qasr Al Watan ticket · Qasr Al Watan FAQ · Qasr Al Watan opening hours · Visit Abu Dhabi: Qasr Al Watan · Louvre Abu Dhabi: plan your visit · Visit Abu Dhabi: Louvre Abu Dhabi · BAPS Hindu Mandir: visit · Etihad Rail: passenger service begins · Etihad Rail: new stations · Etihad Rail stations
