Abu Dhabi City Tour: Mosque & Heritage Village Highlights

Six Abu Dhabi landmarks in half a day without arranging transport

A half-day shared city tour of Abu Dhabi covering the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Heritage Village, Etihad Towers, Emirates Palace, the Dates Market and the Corniche. Dress codes are strict at the mosque and palace: women need loose, long clothing that covers arms and legs, plus a head covering (a long abaya and scarf are provided for the mosque if needed), and men must cover their shoulders and knees.

Step-by-step itinerary

Abu Dhabi half-day city tour

• Visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
• Tour Emirates Palace hotel
• Explore Abu Dhabi Dates Market
• Visit Abu Dhabi Heritage Village
• Photo stop at Etihad Towers
• Drive along Abu Dhabi Corniche

Stops and time spent at each 4 stops

1. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Entry included 1h 30m
2. Abu Dhabi Heritage Village Entry included 30m
3. Etihad Towers 10m
4. Abu Dhabi Corniche passing by

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• entry to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Abu Dhabi Heritage Village.
• a visit to the Dates Market.
• a photo stop at Etihad Towers.
• a scenic drive along the Corniche.
• a visit to Emirates Palace.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• a professional live guide in English or Hindi.

Times

• Every day 09:00 14:30

Another time? ›

Before you book

Group Up to 20

Live guide English and Hindi

Audio guide English and Hindi

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to 3h before

Ages Adult (11 and older) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Infant seats available

Operated by Riyago Tourism

Prices and times updated today

Need assistance?Message us on WhatsApp or by email›

Traveler reviews

4.91 ★★★★★ Exceptional 679 verified traveler reviews 94% rated it 5 stars

5 ★ 636

4 ★ 32

3 ★ 5

2 ★ 3

1 ★ 3

Read all the reviews ›

The experience

An air-conditioned vehicle takes you to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the UAE's most recognizable landmarks and named after the nation's founder. The mosque operates on different schedules depending on the season: during Ramadan, Saturday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Outside Ramadan, it opens Saturday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and again from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. The tour operator provides a long abaya and scarf for women if needed. Men must ensure their shoulders and knees are covered or entry will be refused.

After the mosque, the route stops at Emirates Palace, an opulent hotel that stands as an icon of Abu Dhabi's luxury architecture, then at the Abu Dhabi Dates Market, a working marketplace where dates, a staple of Middle Eastern culture, are bought and sold alongside other local goods. You'll stop at the Heritage Village, a living museum showing how people lived in the UAE before rapid modernization. Note that it is currently under renovation. The tour includes a photo stop at Etihad Towers, the modern skyline symbol, and a scenic drive along the Corniche, where you see the waterfront and city views from the vehicle. Bottled water is provided throughout.

Up to six passengers ride in a Toyota Previa (7-seater). Larger groups get a vehicle sized to the party. Inside the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a guide accompanies you only when the booking has more than two passengers.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Hindi.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and why is it significant?

Ranked among the UAE's best-known landmarks, the mosque honors Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who founded the country, served as its first president and was closely involved in building it. It is a major cultural and architectural landmark that represents the nation's heritage.

What should I wear when visiting the mosque and palace?

Women must wear long loose clothing with arms and legs fully covered, and must cover their heads at all times. The tour operator provides a long abaya and scarf if needed, which must be returned after the visit. Men must cover their shoulders and knees. Failure to do so will result in refused entry, and the operator cannot provide clothing for men.

What does the Heritage Village show?

The Abu Dhabi Heritage Village works as a living museum, showing how people in the UAE lived before the country's rapid modernization. It is currently under renovation but remains part of the tour itinerary.