--- title: "Abu Dhabi Cruise Port" url: https://cruisello.com/destinations/middle-east-arabian-gulf/abu-dhabi description: "Opulence and tradition on an island in the desert" --- # Abu Dhabi ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช ยท United Arab Emirates ยท Middle East & Arabian Gulf > "Opulence and tradition on an island in the desert" ## At a Glance - **Avg. Ships/Day:** 1 - **Avg. Time in Port:** 15h - **Visiting Sailings:** 1 - **Cruise Lines:** 1 ## Peak Season Busiest months: Sept (1 sailing) ## About Abu Dhabi 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 40ยฐC), so plan outdoor time for mornings. Arabic coffee and dates are offered as standard hospitality; take them, it's rude not to. ## Quick Facts - **Currency:** AED (UAE Dirham) - **Language:** Arabic - **Timezone:** Asia/Dubai (UTC+4) - **Tipping:** 10-15% at restaurants ## Location Coordinates: 24.4712, 54.3256 - [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/cruise+terminal+Abu%20Dhabi/@24.47121,54.32559,13z) - [Open in Apple Maps](https://maps.apple.com/?q=cruise%20terminal%20Abu%20Dhabi&ll=24.47121,54.32559&z=13) ## Things to Do in Abu Dhabi Top-rated shore excursions that fit a typical ~15h port call. Prices are starting prices per person. | Tour | Rating | Duration | Fits Port Day | From | Provider | |------|------|------|------|------|------| | [Abu Dhabi: Desert Safari with BBQ, Camel Ride & Sandboarding](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/bb92164d-c24b-4fdf-b43c-a1e263e8e529.md?via=markdown) | 5โ˜… (3,094) | 6h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ62 | Viator | | [Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari BBQ Camel Ride and Entertainments](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/3ef1fa62-8690-4ff6-8507-e956bdfd71bb.md?via=markdown) | 4.9โ˜… (3,284) | 6h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ72 | Viator | | [Half-Day Desert Safari from Abu Dhabi](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/72ca8850-2a97-44a7-8cb7-51ecb7165e9c.md?via=markdown) | 4.9โ˜… (2,805) | 6h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ58 | Viator | | [Dubai Evening Desert Safari BBQ Premium Camp & optional Quad Bike](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/acddcb8e-9481-43ab-8693-d5ffe164c0d4.md?via=markdown) | 5โ˜… (2,458) | 7h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ50 | Viator | | [The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi Admission Tickets](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/eb067c41-8d2e-4224-8622-4d03d63573b9.md?via=markdown) | 5โ˜… (1,820) | 2h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ27 | Viator | | [Abu Dhabi: Morning Desert Safari with Camels and Sandboarding](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/9fff16bc-a77b-4c16-a754-36662af8c425.md?via=markdown) | 4.9โ˜… (1,365) | 4h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ56 | Viator | | [Desert Safari In Abu Dhabi With BBQ Dinner](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/452ed5ff-ad70-4386-b43d-89b90245e9d0.md?via=markdown) | 4.9โ˜… (1,474) | 6h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ52 | Viator | | [Dubai Private Evening Red Dunes Safari, BBQ & Premium Camp](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/7c13d341-a7d7-43cf-b010-2b1856422018.md?via=markdown) | 5โ˜… (1,110) | 7h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ249 | Viator | | [Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Camel Ride BBQ Dinner and Live Shows](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/904e2790-65d1-4dfb-9a5f-b0a7339e8e1e.md?via=markdown) | 5โ˜… (731) | 6h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ61 | Viator | | [Abu Dhabi Half Day City Tour - Sharing Experience](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/c84f5b9c-44ab-43a2-a156-784377dc9cdd.md?via=markdown) | 4.9โ˜… (653) | 4h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ41 | Viator | | [From Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Royal Palace & Etihad Tower](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/0f798ab9-8ae4-4988-8da1-103e3ee6694f.md?via=markdown) | 4.8โ˜… (681) | 6h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ82 | Viator | | [Dubai 4-Hour Red Dunes Safari, Camel Ride, Sandboarding & Falcon](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/7947e114-44d2-44d4-b47c-c2e055b353fb.md?via=markdown) | 5โ˜… (543) | 4h | โœ“ | โ‚ฌ30 | Viator | Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews. ## Nearby Ports - [Dubai](https://cruisello.com/destinations/middle-east-arabian-gulf/dubai.md): 71 nm - [Sir Bani Yas Island](https://cruisello.com/destinations/middle-east-arabian-gulf/sir-bani-yas-island.md): 94 nm - [Doha](https://cruisello.com/destinations/middle-east-arabian-gulf/doha.md): 159 nm ## Cruise Lines Serving This Port - [Norwegian Cruise Line](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/norwegian-cruise-line.md) ## Cheapest Available Sailing **[View this cruise โ†’](https://cruisello.com/cruises/red-sea-arabia-athens-to-dubai~NCL-SUN-20270905-21.md)** - **Price:** โ‚ฌ4,540 per person (โ‚ฌ9,080 total for 2 guests) - **Cruise Line:** [Norwegian Cruise Line](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/norwegian-cruise-line.md) - **Ship:** [Norwegian Sun](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/norwegian-cruise-line/norwegian-sun.md) - **Duration:** 21 nights - **Departure:** 2027-09-05 - **Itinerary:** Red Sea & Arabia โ€“ Athens to Dubai ## Browse Cruises - [All cruises visiting Abu Dhabi](https://cruisello.com/cruises.md?stopoverPorts=abu_dhabi) (1 sailing) ## Browse - [Middle East & Arabian Gulf cruises](https://cruisello.com/destinations/middle-east-arabian-gulf.md) - [All Destinations](https://cruisello.com/destinations.md) - [All Cruises](https://cruisello.com/cruises.md)