Abu Dhabi Private Tour: Sheikh Zayed Mosque & Emirates Palace

A driver arrives at your Dubai hotel to take you across the border into Abu Dhabi's landmarks

You're picked up from your Dubai hotel and driven to Abu Dhabi for a private tour that hits the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, then branches into your choice of Emirates Palace, Qasr Al Watan, Etihad Towers, the Heritage Village, the Louvre, or Ferrari World. Lunch happens at Marina Mall. Bottled water is included, and you return to Dubai in the evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque1h · entry included
2. Emirates Palace30m
3. Qasr Al Watan30m
4. Abu Dhabi Heritage Village30m
5. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi1h

Abu Dhabi city tour and return

• Pick up from Dubai hotel
• Drive to Abu Dhabi
• Visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
• Visit Emirates Palace
• Visit Qasr Al Watan (optional)
• Visit Etihad Towers (optional)
• Visit Abu Dhabi Heritage Village
• Buy dates as gifts
• Visit Louvre Abu Dhabi (optional)
• Visit Ferrari World Abu Dhabi (optional)
• Return to Dubai via Sheikh Zayed Road

The experience

The pickup happens at your hotel in Dubai, and then you're crossing into Abu Dhabi for the day. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque comes first: the largest in the country, and the architecture stops you. White marble, intricate tilework, courtyards that open up in ways you don't expect. It's the kind of place where the scale of it hits you before you even step inside. After that, the tour moves through the city's other main draws: Emirates Palace sits on a private beach and looks like something from another era, all Arabian hospitality and gilt detail. Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace, is a working government building that's also a cultural landmark. You can choose whether to stop there or skip it depending on what interests you.

What makes this Abu Dhabi private tour different is the flexibility. You're not locked into a fixed route. The itinerary includes the Grand Mosque as the anchor, but then you pick from the other options: Etihad Towers for the skyline views, the Heritage Village if you want to see artisans working with pottery and glass, the Louvre if you're there for the art, or Ferrari World on Yas Island if you want something louder. Marina Mall works as a lunch stop in the middle. The driver and guide work around what you actually want to see, not what fits a schedule. You get bottled water throughout the day, and the whole thing is wheelchair accessible if that matters for your group.

The drive back to Dubai runs along Sheikh Zayed Road: the E11, which stretches 558 kilometers across the UAE and is one of the most famous roads in the world. You'll see it from the car, the city falling away behind you as you head back. It's the kind of day where you're not rushing between stops. You're choosing them, which changes how it feels.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Dubai.
• private transport to Abu Dhabi.
• visit to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
• choice of optional stops at Emirates Palace, Qasr Al Watan, Etihad Towers, Heritage Village, Louvre Abu Dhabi, or Ferrari World.
• lunch stop at Marina Mall.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• return transport to your Dubai hotel.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleInfant seats available

Operated by Emirates Trips

Is this one for you?This works well if you want to see Abu Dhabi's main sights without arranging your own transport or managing entry times. The private format means you skip the group-tour pace and pick what actually interests you.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Hindi, Arabic and Urdu.

Can I customize which Abu Dhabi attractions to visit?

Yes. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the main stop, but you choose from Emirates Palace, Qasr Al Watan, Etihad Towers, the Heritage Village, the Louvre, or Ferrari World depending on your interests.

Is hotel pickup from Dubai included?

Yes, pickup from your Dubai hotel is included, and you're returned there at the end of the day.

How long is the tour?

The itinerary covers a full day in Abu Dhabi, with travel time from Dubai included.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup, transport to Abu Dhabi, entry to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and bottled water. Entry fees to optional attractions like the Louvre or Ferrari World are separate.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible, and specialized infant seats are available if needed.

Can I visit Ferrari World on this tour?

Ferrari World on Yas Island is an optional stop you can add to your itinerary instead of other attractions.