Take a Budget Trip to Abu Dhabi

Where to stay?

The UAE is known for its expensive and glamorous hotels but there are plenty of great family-friendly accommodations especially around areas like Al Danah and Al Zahiyah. You can find budget hotels close to the airport like the Premier Inn Abu Dhabi; they even have an ‘all you can eat’ breakfast for 1 AED ($ 0.27).

How to get around?

Abu Dhabi has a robust public transport system with buses that connect the city extensively. The fares are very reasonably priced between 2 AED ($ 0.54) to 4 AED ($1.09). Abu Dhabi is a good place to get around on foot, especially at night when the scorching temperatures take a nosedive. You can also hire a bicycle through the ADCB Bike share scheme. There are bike stations across the city (especially around the Corniche and city centre) and it costs 20 AED ($ 5.45) for a day’s hire.

Where to eat?

Abu Dhabi is a melting pot of cuisines from all over the world. You’ll find falafel (fried chickpeas and fava beans patty) and shawarma shacks in every neighbourhood as well as a host of Indian/Pakistani restaurants serving a variety of budget-friendly vegetarian and meat dishes. Our favourites are the Ponderosa Steakhouse, Royal Rajasthan and Rolls ’n’ Rice. If you have a sweet tooth then look out for bakeries, around the central Khalidiya, Al Zahiyah, and Al Markaziyah districts.

You can also party pretty cheap here; the area around Abu Dhabi and Dubai is filled with luxury hotels, plush bars and big-name restaurants and competitions are fierce. Several establishments run promotions to attract customers, which can lead to drinks being discounted up to 50% on certain nights of the week. Several bars also run has ‘ladies’ night’ on Wednesdays where you can get all sorts of deals from 2 free drinks to bottomless prosecco.

What to see?

You can do a lot in Abu Dhabi for free or a nominal fee; from sightseeing to budget shopping, there is something here for everyone.  Head down to The Corniche beach, an 8 kilometre stretch of pristine white sands to enjoy excellent views and world-class facilities; the water is warm and shallow, perfect for a paddle.

Visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and admire its gold decor and floral murals. The mosque boasts of having the world’s largest hand-woven carpet and one of the largest collections of mosaics in the world. It has an open-door policy so anybody can visit and take part in the free guided tours. Just make sure to dress modestly since it’s a religious place of worship!

You can also take a desert safari starting in the afternoon and be back by evening. Prices start from 200 AED ($54.45) and you can experience driving in the dunes, camel riding, and traditional performances during evening meals.

There is so much to do in Abu Dhabi, book your flight today!