🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
“Opulence and tradition on an island in the desert”
Avg. Ships / Day
Avg. Time in Port
Peak Season
Not really a peak season
57 sailings over the next 12 months
Based on cruises available on Cruisello
Abu Dhabi's skyline is all gleaming glass and construction cranes, but the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the thing that actually stops you in your tracks. It's enormous: white marble, gold leaf, one of the world's largest chandeliers hanging over hand-knotted carpets. It's open to visitors outside prayer times (modest dress required, abayas provided for women). The new cruise terminal at Port Zayed is well designed, with a wooden lattice roof inspired by dhow boats. The Corniche waterfront runs for several kilometres and has a decent beach. Heritage Village recreates traditional Emirati life and is free to enter. Taxis from the port are cheap and plentiful. The souks are more sanitised than what you'd find in Marrakech, but the spice and carpet sections are still worth wandering through. Temperatures run extreme in summer (regularly above 40°C), so plan outdoor time for mornings. Arabic coffee and dates are offered as standard hospitality; take them, it's rude not to.
Top-rated shore excursions that fit a typical ~14h port call
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews.
Starting prices per person. We may earn a commission when you book through our partner links — at no extra cost to you.
5-Day Forecast
Sail to Abu Dhabi for $948pp
Compare 53 upcoming sailings.
