Abu Dhabi Day Trip from Dubai Price 2026: Shared, Private and With Tickets

Quick answer: A shared Abu Dhabi day trip from dubai price is AED 145 to 250 per person. A private Abu Dhabi tour costs AED 750 to 1,000 for the whole car, for 8 to 9 hours. Attraction tickets are extra. They range from free, at places like the Heritage Village and BAPS Mandir, to around AED 345 for a day at Ferrari World.

Abu Dhabi is close enough to Dubai for a day trip, but far enough that you'll want the day planned well. This guide covers what each type of tour really costs, what the main attraction tickets add, and which combinations work on a shared tour and which need a private one. Prices are in UAE dirhams and were checked in October 2026.

Prices and inclusions

Shared Abu Dhabi trip price

AED 145 – 250 per person

On a shared tour, you travel with other guests and follow a fixed plan: some photo stops, some drive-throughs, and proper visits at the main sights. The price depends on the vehicle and the season.

• Included: hotel pickup and drop-off in Dubai, an air-conditioned vehicle, the driver, and the planned stops
• Not included: attraction tickets, meals and personal expenses

Private Abu Dhabi tour cost and inclusions

AED 750 – 1,000 per car

On a private tour, the car and driver are yours for 8 to 9 hours, and the route is built around you. Skip what doesn't interest you, stay longer where you're enjoying yourself, and stop for lunch when you're hungry. That freedom is what you're paying for.

• Included: an exclusive car and driver for 8–9 hours, pickup and drop-off anywhere in Dubai, and a fully flexible route
• Not included: attraction tickets, meals and personal expenses
• Extra time: AED 50 – 100 per hour if your day runs past the standard tour time

For a family or group of five, a private tour at AED 750 works out to AED 150 per person. That's about the same as a shared seat, with the car to yourselves.

Abu Dhabi day tour from Dubai with Ferrari World

On a shared tour, Ferrari World is a photo stop only. You'll see the famous red roof on Yas Island, but there isn't time to go inside.

To actually ride the coasters, you need a private tour. Most people spend four to five hours in the park, which doesn't fit a shared plan. The park usually opens around 11 am, and many of the big rides have a 130 cm minimum height, so check this if you're travelling with children.

Total cost = private tour + Ferrari World ticket per person

Tickets bought online in advance are often cheaper than at the gate. If you want two Yas Island parks in one day, a multi-park pass usually costs less than two separate tickets, but realistically one park is enough for a day trip from Dubai.

Abu Dhabi day trip from Dubai with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Grand Mosque is on almost every Abu Dhabi tour, and you can do it two ways.

a) Shared: The mosque is a planned stop of about 1 to 1.5 hours, part of a set itinerary. It's enough time to walk the courtyard, see the main prayer hall and take your photos.

b) Private: Here, it depends entirely on you. Some guests book a private tour just to see the mosque and come straight back to Dubai. Others make the mosque the first stop and build the rest of the day around it: the Corniche, Qasr Al Watan, the Louvre, or whatever they choose.

The mosque charges a small visitor fee: AED 10 for tourists, AED 5 for UAE residents and AED 8 for visitors with a tour operator. Everyone needs to book a free online pass first, and our drivers help you do that on the way. For the dress code, timings and tips, read our Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque guide.

Abu Dhabi city tour and BAPS Mandir cost

The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Mureikhah is free to visit. It sits just off the E11 highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, so it's easy to add on the way there or back.

On a shared tour, the Mandir isn't part of the standard plan. If everyone in the group agrees, we can arrange a stop. If not, it isn't possible, because the route has to work for all guests.

On a private tour, you can simply add it. There's no ticket, so the cost is just the private tour price.

Before you go:

• Register online in advance at mandir.ae or through the Mandir app. There's no walk-up entry.
• Bring your passport or Emirates ID. Physical documents only; a photo on your phone isn't accepted.
• Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 8 pm. It's closed to visitors on Mondays.
• Dress modestly. No shorts, short skirts or sleeveless tops, and avoid tight or see-through clothes.

Abu Dhabi city tour with the Louvre from Dubai: prices and plan

The Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island is one of the best-value tickets in the city. Adults pay about AED 65, and children under 18 go free. Plan around two and a half to three hours inside. It's closed on Mondays.

Because of the time it needs, the Louvre fits a private tour, not a shared one.

Total cost = private tour + Louvre tickets

A plan that works well: Grand Mosque in the morning, the Louvre around midday, when it's too hot to be outside, then the Corniche and Emirates Palace in the late afternoon.

Day trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and SeaWorld: prices

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi on Yas Island is a full day out on its own. Plan on four to six hours to see the main areas. The park opens around 10 am, and the standard ticket is about AED 375 per person for guests aged 3 and above.

As with Ferrari World, it only works on a private tour, because the time needed doesn't fit a shared plan.

Online ticket deals are common, so the final ticket price is often a little lower. We'll confirm the current price when you book.

Cost of a day trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi with Qasr Al Watan

Qasr Al Watan is the working Presidential Palace, and you can go inside the great hall, the library and the gardens. Tickets are about AED 65 for adults and AED 30 for children. If you stay into the evening, the Palace in Motion light show costs about AED 25 for adults and AED 12 for children.

Give it about one and a half to two hours. It's right next to Emirates Palace, so it pairs naturally with a Corniche drive.

A proper visit inside fits a private tour. On a shared tour, Qasr Al Watan is usually a photo stop at the gates.

Price of an Abu Dhabi tour with the Etihad Towers Observation Deck (74th floor)

The Observation Deck at 300, on the 74th floor of Etihad Towers, has one of the best views over the Corniche, Emirates Palace and the Gulf. A viewing-only ticket is about AED 65 for adults and AED 30 for children aged 6 to 12. There's also an afternoon tea option at about AED 115.

The deck mainly opens in the morning and early afternoon, so it needs to be timed into your day. That's easiest on a private tour.

Abu Dhabi tour itinerary

Shared Abu Dhabi full-day sightseeing plan

This is how a typical shared day runs. Exact times depend on your pickup area and traffic.

1. Pickup in Dubai from your hotel, home or the cruise terminal
2. Drive to Abu Dhabi: usually 1.5 to 2 hours
3. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: the main visit of the day, about 1 to 1.5 hours
4. Emirates Palace and Etihad Towers: photo stops
5. Heritage Village: a short walk through a reconstructed oasis village
6. The Corniche: a drive along the waterfront
7. Saadiyat Island: a drive past the Louvre and the cultural district
8. Ferrari World on Yas Island: a photo stop outside
9. Carpet and dates market: time for local shopping
10. Drive back and drop-off where you were collected

Private Abu Dhabi city tour: attractions you can choose

On a private tour, you pick your own mix. Here are the most popular, with a rough idea of how long each takes:

A realistic private day fits one big attraction, like a theme park or the Louvre, or two to three smaller ones, alongside the mosque and photo stops.

Things to know before planning your Abu Dhabi day trip

Free and paid tourist attractions in Abu Dhabi

Free: BAPS Hindu Mandir (registration needed), Heritage Village, the Corniche and its beaches, the outside of Emirates Palace, Wahat Al Karama memorial, and Marina Mall.

Paid: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (a small visitor fee), Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan, the Etihad Towers Observation Deck, Ferrari World, SeaWorld, Warner Bros. World and Yas Waterworld.

A day built around the free sights plus the mosque costs little beyond the tour itself.

Best day to tour Abu Dhabi

Tuesday to Thursday is usually the easiest. Here's why:

• Monday: the Louvre Abu Dhabi and BAPS Mandir are closed to visitors
• Friday: the Grand Mosque closes to visitors from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm for prayers, so plan the mosque early or late
• Weekends: the theme parks and the mosque are busier

In terms of season, November to March is the most comfortable. From June to September, start early and keep the middle of the day for indoor places like the Louvre or the theme parks.

Travel time from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

The drive is about 140 km. It usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours each way, depending on where in Dubai you start and the traffic. From Dubai Marina or Jebel Ali it's quicker; from Deira or Dubai airport, allow the full two hours. The BAPS Mandir is roughly halfway, which makes it an easy stop on the way.

Abu Dhabi tour exclusion list

On both shared and private tours, these are not included:

• Attraction tickets (theme parks, the Louvre, Qasr Al Watan, the observation deck, the mosque visitor fee)
• Meals and drinks, apart from bottled water in the car
• Shopping and personal expenses
• A licensed tour guide inside attractions (your driver isn't a guide inside sites)
• Extra hours beyond the standard tour time on private tours (AED 50 – 100 per hour)
  

  Not sure what fits into your day? Message us on WhatsApp with your dates, group size and the places you'd like to see. We'll send back a realistic plan and the full price, in writing, before you book anything.

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