6 Spectacular Activities You Have to Try at Least Once in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is steadily building a reputation as another must-visit tourist destination in the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East.

Its stunning beaches, beautiful parks and natural attractions, fascinating cultural and historical monuments, and magnificent architecture make Abu Dhabi a place with plenty to offer to both tourists and locals.

But with so many places to visit in Abu Dhabi, you may get confused as to where to go and what fun activities to do first.

Whether you’re visiting Abu Dhabi for pleasure or business, don’t miss the chance to try these fantastic activities, which will surely be ingrained in your memory for a long time and make you want to return to this city again:

Go on exhilarating rides at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.

Without a doubt, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the most famous theme park in Abu Dhabi. It is the first and only Ferrari-branded theme park in the world, making it one of the best attractions you should visit at least once in your lifetime.

Covering over 86,000 square metres of land in Yas Island, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi has several rides and features based on or reminiscent of the iconic Italian automotive company.

The most popular ride in the park, which you should go on at least once, is the Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest rollercoaster. It can go from a speed of 0 to 240 kilometres per hour in 4.9 seconds and heart-pounding heights of 52 metres.

Another exhilarating ride you shouldn’t miss is Flying Aces, which has the world’s highest roller coaster loop.

Other must-try rides include the Turbo Track, Fiorano GT Challenge, Turbo Tower, and Bell’ Italia.

As the only Ferrari-branded theme park in the world, skipping this place while you’re in Abu Dhabi would be a big miss.

Beat the heat at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi.

With warm temperatures nearly all year round, immersing yourself in and getting splashed with cool water is something you’ll love doing here.

Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi has everything you need to cool down and have fun in this city. This water park has over 40 rides, slides, and attractions, making it one of the go-to destinations for both locals and tourists even after the summer.

Yas Waterworld’s most sought-after rides are the:

• Dawwama, the largest six-person tornado water coaster in the world.
• Bubbles Barrel, the world’s largest surfing sheet wave.
• Liwa Loop, the first freefall drop waterslide in the Middle East.
• Bandit Bomber, the only suspended water park rollercoaster in the world.
• Cinesplash, an immersive cinema experience where you sit on moving seats and get wet while watching a movie.
• Amwaj, the GCC’s largest wave pool with four different wave patterns.

Additionally, your visit to Yas Waterworld won’t be complete without going on the Al Raha River, Hamlool’s Humps, Sebag, Slithers Slide, Jebel Drop, and Yadi Yas.

Unleash your inner child at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is an indoor park featuring everyone’s all-time favourite Warner Bros. cartoon characters, including Scooby-doo, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and the rest of the Looney Tunes gang.

The park also highlights some of the most popular DC superheroes such as Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and the Flash.

It is the best place to unleash your inner child, interact, and have fun with these characters as you explore their worlds.

The park’s most popular rides and attractions include The Jetsons Cosmic Orbiter, Cartoon Junction Carousel, Batman: Knight Flight, The Riddler Revolution, Green Lantern: Galactic Odyssey, and Justice League: Warworld Attacks.

Watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Since 2009, Abu Dhabi has been hosting the Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit.

The Yas Marina Circuit, which is located in Yas Island, was designed by renowned German race driver, engineer, and circuit designer, Hermann Tilke. It is one of the best places to visit in Abu Dhabi and home to the F1 night race — one of the most exciting racing events in the competition.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a three-day event packed with a variety of exciting activities, including concerts, festivals, and other special events. The best part of joining the festivities is watching the main race, where you can witness first-hand the various racers duke it out for a place at the podium and earn those highly-coveted points.

When there are no races, you can also try the Driver/Passenger Experience, which allows you to drive or take the passenger seat on a Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin GT4, Chevrolet Camaro, Yas Radical SST, Formula Yas 3000, or Toyota 86 Drift Car, and race around the circuit.

Be awed by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world and Abu Dhabi’s most famous landmark.

Aside from being a key religious site, it also serves as an important educational and cultural hub in the city and the UAE.

The mosque combines Mameluke, Ottoman, and Fatimid architectural and design elements to create a harmonious, modern mosque.

The mosque’s 82 domes, two minarets, and marble and gold façade are a sight to behold. The intricate detailing, domes, columns, Swarovski-clad chandeliers, and blue-tiled pools won’t fail to catch your eye as well.

The mosque takes on a more majestic and remarkable appearance at dusk and night. Because of this, you will do well to visit the place as the sun is about to set.

Immerse yourself in art at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Since its opening in 2017, the Louvre Abu Dhabi has been a popular destination for art lovers around the world.

The museum is a collaboration between the United Arab Emirates and France in an effort to create another place where people can learn more about and immerse themselves in both past and present artworks.  

The Louvre Abu Dhabi consists of 12 permanent galleries arranged chronologically. They aim to show and trace the entire history of humankind’s artistic accomplishments, from the Neolithic period to the present.

Aside from the galleries, the museum hosts four temporary exhibitions annually that showcase the thematic approach of its permanent collections.

For a unique experience, consider going on a kayaking tour around the museum building to have a better view of the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s spectacular architecture.

No matter how long you’ll be staying in Abu Dhabi, immerse yourself in these experiences to get the most out of your visit and cross a few things off your bucket list.