The 10 Best Day Trips from Abu Dhabi
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 10 good day trips from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, led by Dubai, Sharjah, Al Ain City. The closest is Mohammed Bin Zayed City, about 30 min by car, and 2 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 10 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Abu Dhabi
- 1
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car115 km north-east of Abu DhabiKnown for آي إم جي عالم من المغامرات.
- 2
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car142 km north-east of Abu DhabiKnown for Pens Gallery.
- 3
Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car141 km east of Abu DhabiKnown for حديقة العين للحيوانات.
- 4
Dayrah, United Arab Emirates
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car129 km north-east of Abu Dhabi - 5
Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car94 km north-east of Abu Dhabi - 6
Dubai Investments Park, United Arab Emirates
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car99 km north-east of Abu Dhabi - 7
International City, United Arab Emirates
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car129 km north-east of Abu Dhabi - 8
Warīsān, United Arab Emirates
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car129 km north-east of Abu Dhabi - 9
Khalifah A City, United Arab Emirates
Half-day tripAbout 30 min by car21 km east of Abu Dhabi - 10
Mohammed Bin Zayed City, United Arab Emirates
Half-day tripAbout 30 min by car20 km south-east of Abu Dhabi
A sample day: Abu Dhabi to Dubai
- 07:30Leave Abu Dhabi
- 09:20Arrive in Dubai (1 hr 50 min drive)
- 09:35آي إم جي عالم من المغامرات
- 11:35Lunch
- 12:50Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Dubai
- 15:20Head back to Abu Dhabi
- 17:10Home in Abu Dhabi
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Abu Dhabi?
- The best day trips from Abu Dhabi are Dubai, Sharjah, Al Ain City, Dayrah, Jebel Ali. The closest is Mohammed Bin Zayed City, about 30 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Abu Dhabi?
- Mohammed Bin Zayed City is the closest, 20 km south-east of Abu Dhabi, roughly 30 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Abu Dhabi?
- 2 places are within about an hour's drive of Abu Dhabi: Mohammed Bin Zayed City (30 min), Khalifah A City (30 min).
- What is the biggest city near Abu Dhabi for a day out?
- Dubai is the largest city in day-trip range, 115 km north-east of Abu Dhabi and about 1 hr 50 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Abu Dhabi?
- For a weekend away from Abu Dhabi, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Sharjah (142 km, 2 hr 15 min), Al Ain City (141 km, 2 hr 10 min), Warīsān (129 km, 2 hr), International City (129 km, 2 hr). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Abu Dhabi?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Sharjah at 142 km, around 2 hr 15 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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