Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, has seen great transformation in the last few years.

The bustling city lies on a T-shaped island in the Arabian Gulf, with an estimated population of one million people – 80% of which are from the expatriate community. The city prides itself on being one of the richest emirates while still preserving its extensive Arabian culture and history.

Find out more about Abu Dhabi’s captivating culture, breath-taking luxury, exhilarating adventure and plan what you will be doing when staying in Abu Dhabi, by visiting visitabudhabi.ae.

Things to Do in Abu Dhabi 

Abu Dhabi is an emirate packed with things to do, from fun days out at theme parks to exploring culture in some of the finest museums. 

Ferrari World 

Abu Dhabi is home to Ferrari World, the world's first Ferrari branded theme park. In the park you’ll find rollercoasters and other thrilling rides and even have the opportunity to drive a Ferrari. You can also try your hand at engineering or negotiating the corners of the Fioriano track, all on the cinematic motion-based simulator.

Yas Waterworld

 Yas Waterworld offers visitors heaps of adventure and is a fantastic way to stay cool under the sun. Have the time of your life on the waterslides with your family or friends. There are more than 40 different slides and attractions, so if you’ve come for adventure, you’ve come to the right place!

Warner Bros. World

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is a world-class indoor theme park offering 29 thrilling rides along with shows and interactive attractions based on super heroes and super villains from the DC Universe, including Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.

Sea World 

Get ready for more than 100,000 animals and 75 interactive experiences and rides, and learn all about the One Ocean that connects us all.

Louvre Abu Dhabi 

Abu Dhabi’s own Louvre Museum - The ‘Louvre Abu Dhabi’ is an impressive 24,000 square-metre branch of the famous Parisian museum on Saadiyat Island. The museum is housed in a futuristic building that is designed by architect Jean Nouvel, who also designed the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris. 

The emirate reportedly paid a $525 million license fee for the rights of the ‘Louvre’ brand. In return, France supplies expertise and art works from its most prestigious museum. Each piece of art will be on loan to the ‘Louvre Abu Dhabi’ for a period of two years.

Formula One 

Abu Dhabi secured the right and privilege to host a Formula One Grand Prix back in 2009. The Yas Marina circuit is on Yas Island, a man-made island of around 6,000 acres that is part of a sophisticated drive to boost tourism, including a shopping mall, golf courses, a polo field and theme parks.

The track is about 5.6 kilometres long and is divided into a three-kilometre permanent circuit for the public, and a 2.6 kilometre city layout, exclusively for Formula One racing.

Business in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi International Airport is around 20.5 miles from Abu Dhabi city centre, with the journey to the airport lasting around 30 minutes by car.

Abu Dhabi is an attractive place to do business, thanks to the establishment of the Free Zones, free trade areas which offer businesses a range of perks and help Abu Dhabi to achieve its aim of diversifying the economy. These include 100% foreign ownership rather than the obligation to start your business with a locally based business partner and also exemption from a variety of taxes, such as exemption from taxes on imports and exports.

Free zones that may be of interest to business people entering Abu Dhabi include the Khalifa Industrial Zone, which features a superb transportation infrastructure; the Masdar City Free Zone and Science and Technology Park, with a focus on clean and sustainable energies and technologies; and Twofour54, a media free zone designed to position Abu Dhabi as a key player in the Arabic media content creation industry.

Learn more about living and working in Abu Dhabi by visiting adro.gov.ae