From the Burj Khalifa to the Grand Mosque

An abra crossing on the Creek and the souks of Deira, the 828 m Burj Khalifa above the Downtown fountain and, in Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with its 82 white marble domes, the Qasr Al Hosn fort and the Louvre on Saadiyat Island.

Day by day Open the itinerary in the app

Dubai → Abu Dhabi · 4–6 days

The route on the map, in the itinerary’s order.

United Arab EmiratesDubai
Days
2–3
When
Jan–Mar · Nov–Dec
Per person/day
Average 600–900 AEDMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
United Arab EmiratesAbu Dhabi
Days
2–3
When
Jan–Mar · Nov–Dec
Per person/day
Average 724 AEDMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.

Who it is for

For a first trip to the Emirates that wants more than Dubai’s towers: the mosque, the museums and the fort of Abu Dhabi.

Not for anyone hoping to see the cities on foot: in both, the sights are kilometres apart and linked by metro, taxi or bus, and from June to September the daytime high goes above 40 °C.

The strategy

Dubai comes first, with one day for the Creek and the souks and another for Downtown. Since 30 September 2026, Etihad Rail has linked Al Yalayis station in Dubai with Mohamed bin Zayed City station in Abu Dhabi in about an hour; the first weekend’s trains sold out, so buy the ticket ahead. The Abu Dhabi station is far from the centre, so allow for the Etihad Rail bus or van to the hotel. By car or taxi it is about 140 km on the E11. In Abu Dhabi, keep the Grand Mosque for late afternoon on the guided cultural tour and the Louvre for the next morning. You can fly home from Zayed International (AUH) or from Dubai, on the same train back. The trip works from November to March.

What you will see

Burj Khalifa, Dubai. A 828 m tower with 163 habitable floors, inaugurated on January 4, 2010, designed by Adrian Smith at SOM with a Y-shaped structure inspired by the Hymenocallis flower.
Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi. The oldest building in the city: the watchtower that guarded the well, from about 1790, became the Inner Fort in 1795, and the Outer Palace was added between 1939 and 1945.