The UAE is a fantastic place to vacation. Its year round good weather, little rain and vast choice of hotels, attractions and restaurants attract many visitors. But many often wonder where to stay, Abu Dhabi vs Dubai?
Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai are amazing destinations to visit. They both have much to admire, but are very different to each other in many ways, Both destinations share the all the charms the UAE is famous for however. The best choice to stay when visiting the UAE depends on the type of vacation you are looking for.
So, both are great places to visit but that doesn’t solve your problem! Here is all the information you need to know before deciding where to spend your vacation between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE and one of 7 emirates and is situation in an island off the Persian Gulf. The city is very wealthy and there is a luxurious feeling about it. It is not the destination to stay on a budget, as there is a lack of cheaper of end accommodation. Those looking to stay in luxurious hotels, with world class service, food and facilities will be at home here.
In comparison to Dubai, it is less built up and has a much quieter atmosphere, which is suited to families. For families, there is a wealth of attractions. Yas island is a great place for families to visit and is home to parks such as Ferrari world, Warner Brothers World and Yas Waterworld. Yas island is also home to the Marina F1 track, which is a must see for motor sport fans.
Despite being less built up in comparison to Dubai, there are still many amazing buildings and sights to admire. Abu Dhabi has a fantastic blend of modern skyscrapers with older, more traditional architecture. Fans of skyscrapers and modern buildings will enjoy the Emirates towers. These towers are very luxurious and impressive looking.
A big attraction and one of the things I loved most about Abu Dhabi was its blend of modern city life and traditional cultures. Aside from its modern skyline and hotels, you can really experience more of traditional culture of the UAE here, vs Dubai.
One of the top sights and a must see attraction in Abu Dhabi is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. This is the largest mosque in the UAE.
The building is absolutely breathtaking. The impressive architecture is a blend of historical and modern influence. For me, this blend perfectly sums up Abu Dhabi.
Another fantastic site in the city is the Emirates Palace, which is a luxury hotel operated by the Mandarin Oriental Group. The hotel is one of the most expensive in the world. People on a more realistic budget can still enjoy the traditional islamic architecture and world class facilities by purchasing a day pass.
Aside from architecture there is a wealth of excursions to do, which are very family friendly. There are speed boat city tours, mangrove tours and desert trips with camel riding to name a few. The speedboat city tour is a great way to view the city and its architecture.
Abu Dhabi shares many similarities to Dubai, such as impressive malls, beaches and modern buildings but blends this perfectly with traditional muslim culture. The city is less crowded than Dubai, with less western tourists making a perfect location if you are looking to experience the culture of the UAE, in a more laidback quieter setting.
Dubai
Dubai is a vast and spectacular cuty. It is one of the most popular cities in the world. Dubai is one of the fastest growing cities. In only 40 years, it has exploded from a small gulf emirate to a global hub for business and tourism.
Like Abu Dhabi, it is one of 7 Emirates in the UAE. It is famous for its luxurious hotels, restaurants, incredible nightlife, shopping, attractions and world class business. Its shares many of the modern similarities Abu Dhabi has, only more, more and more. But of course with more of everything, it attracts more people. Dubai is far more crowded that Abu Dhabi.
Dubai is a modern city and has more ‘western’ feature. Fans of traditional culture may prefer Abu Dhabi for this reason. Where it lacks historic traditional architecture, it makes up for with a mass of incredible modern and stunning buildings and landmarks.
Like Abu Dhabi, Dubai is very expensive and has many vast, world class hotels, restaurants and attractions. As there is more of everything in Dubai, it can be more suitable for people on a budget. Travellers have more options vs Abu Dhabi when it comes to eating out and accommodation, making it easier to seek out cheaper options. Dubai is still not a preferred choice if you are on a budget however.
Dubai has a wealth of attractions and sites, which are suited to families also. A must see attraction is the Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building. This is a stunning spectacle, located downtown next to Dubai Mall. There are tours to the viewpoint on the 148th floor, offering stunning views of downtown. The Tower overlooks a stunning lake where are boat trips, where you can enjoy the world class water fountain shows while on the lake. This is expensive but a great way to see the fountains away from the crowd.
Dubai has many more attractions such as desert safaris, Zoo, aquarium, ice skating rink and many boat/jet ski tours where you can view the city in all its glory. Dubai also has many beaches, which are very popular. If you are travelling with a family, there is no shortage of things to do!
Being larger and far busier with tourists, Dubai has a very good nightlife scene. Dubai is home to many cutting edge nightclubs, bars and restaurants making it very popular with couples and groups. Fans of nightlife will certainly prefer the options Dubai has to offer vs Abu Dhabi.
Similarly to Abu Dhabi, Dubai is home to world class hotels and resorts. There is more choice in Dubai however. Fans of luxurious hotels can choose between downtown skyscrapers, beach resorts or even stay in a resort on the iconic palm. As with Abu Dhabi, the service, food and attractions are are top notch and is really the very best you will experience.
Abu Dhabi vs Dubai? How to get there?
As with the attractions, hotels and restaurants both cities have a world class airline. Just like the cities, the main difference is size and scale between them.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi airport is the second largest airport in the UAE and is home to Etihad airways, the second largest carrier in the UAE. They have a very modern fleet of economical Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350 jets. Etihad serves most worldwide hubs in Europe and Asia, with its fleet of 80 jets. Travellers from the west coast of USA will have to connect to Etihad via the east coast. The airline has world class service and offers superb cuisine and comfort.
Dubai
Dubai airport is one of the worlds largest and busiest, which is is home to Emirates. As with most things in Dubai, they have a much larger fleet of 250 aircraft serving all major cities in all continents using huge double decker Airbus a380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. As with Etihad, the comfort, service and cuisine is second to none.
These airlines are also among the most expensive, like most things in the UAE. There are cheaper options to the UAE via other carriers and connection options.
Abu Dhabi vs Dubai, which one is best?
Both destinations are amazing places to enjoy a vacation. The answer to this question, depends purely on what you are looking for in a vacation.
Fans of luxurious hotels, food, service, amazing attractions and hot weather all year round will be at home in both locations. Both locations are also great for families. So, if this appeals to you, which one will suit you best?
Those who prefer to experience culture, with a more laidback and calm atmosphere will prefer Abu Dhabi. It is a great place to experience amazing parks, attractions, restaurants and luxury hotels and shopping malls without the crowds of Dubai.
Those families and couples who seek a more lively, action packed and busier metropolis will prefer Dubai. There is always something to do here, with no end of choice of activities if you don’t mind the crowds.
Dubai is also a very western city, with many western tourists – again fans of culture will prefer Abu Dhabi.
Dubai is better suited to travellers on a budget, as there is more selection and variation offering more some cheaper options to the more high end establishments.
Those of you who are looking for nightlife will love Dubai. There are nightlife options in Abu Dhabi, but Dubai is far more suited in this area.
Abu Dhabi vs Dubai – Why not do both?
A great option if are undecided and looking to treat yourself, is to do both. The cities are relatively close and only around a 1 hour drive apart.
I am more of a fan of relaxing, so on a recent trip to the UAE I travelled to Abu Dhabi. Spent 5 days relaxing, taking in the culture and sights. Then travelled by car to Dubai where I spent 2 days in the downtown area taking in the Burj Khalifa, Mall and the breathtaking skyline. This a great blend of culture, modern wonders, relaxation and exploring.
How did you find cost to eat and drink vs. Dubai?
I had a half board package with the hotel, which I highly recommend. It works out far cheaper than eating out and quality of meal options in the hotels is excellent.
However, food is just as expensive as Dubai and as most options are within hotels, it can be more expensive to eat in Abu Dhabi without half board. In Dubai, due to size and scale, there are many cheaper options in the malls for example.