Abu Dhabi Skyline Tour
About the Tour
Retrace Abu Dhabi's impressive skyline from ancient pearl-diving villages to the bustling capital of the UAE characterised by glamorous palaces, residential villas and skyscrapers.
This walking tour starts on the promenade with spectacular views overlooking the city and the very landmarks you'll soon become acquainted with. You'll make your way to the Marina area before walking a section of the popular nine kilometres-long Corniche Street which was built on reclaimed land and offers a variety of leisure activities. Along the way, you'll see the white domed Qasr Al Watan palace, the sand-coloured Emirates Palace, a few heritage hotels, the two tallest skyscrapers in the city and a monument illuminated by more than 2,000 lights.
While you walk, you'll hear stories about the city's incredible emergence from the dunes, how the skyline was transformed in only a few decades and what its future might look like. You’ll also find out about:
The region’s early nomadic tribes
The rapid development of Corniche Road
How the land you’ll walk on was reclaimed from the sea
Innovative architecture that combats the desert heat
How oil transformed the economy
From breathtaking cityscapes to desert dunes that appear to have emerged from the sea, this tour provides the perfect introduction to the stories behind Abu Dhabi’s iconic skyline.
Music:
Chris Zabriskie – Candlepower
Lee Rosevere – Start the Day
Lee Rosevere – Here's the Thing
Desert City by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license
Tour Producer
Visit Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi has spent the last two decades quietly building one of the most compelling destination stories in the world, and Visit Abu Dhabi is where that story lives. The official tourism platform of the Department of Culture and Tourism, it covers the full sweep of what the emirate has to offer across three genuinely distinct destinations: a modern, cosmopolitan capital city, a dramatic interior of desert landscapes and oases, and a coastline of beaches, warm clear waters and desert islands that most visitors never expect to find here.
What comes through most consistently is the contrast. Abu Dhabi is a place where respect for the past informs everything being built for the future, where an ancient heritage city sits within reach of headline attractions, world-class cultural venues and a packed events calendar spanning the arts, sport, concerts and trade shows. Traditional Emirati hospitality and genuine architectural ambition occupy the same space without much friction, which is rarer than it sounds.
Visit Abu Dhabi exists to help travellers navigate all of it, with practical trip-planning resources alongside the kind of local insight that makes the difference between a good trip and a memorable one. Their seven audio tours, available in three languages, are a good place to start.
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Preview Location
Location 3
Dhow boat sculpture
From pearling and fishing to merchants trading in faraway ports, the sea has always been a refuge from the harsh desert climate and played a ... Read More
How VoiceMap Works
Major Landmarks
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Emirates Palace
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Qasr Al Watan
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Etihad Towers
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West Bay
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Breakwater
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Heritage Village
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Marina Mall
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Marina Eye
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Albahar
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Corniche Road
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start locationBreakwater Rd - Al Bateen - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates -
Total distance2km -
Final locationAl Bateen - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates -
Distance back to start location903.19m
Directions to Starting Point
This tour begins closer to the Marina Area of Abu Dhabi. To reach the starting point, park your car right across from the Radisson Blu Hotel at the public parking lot. If you’re using a taxi, ask them to drop you off there as well. When ready, walk along King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street towards the Marina. The tour starts on the extended pavement half-way through the street.
Tips
Places to stop along the way
Marina Mall, Marina Eye, Nation Towers Shopping Mall, Al Bahar
Best time of day
Since this is a walking tour, we recommend doing it during the day so that you can benefit from the magnificent views. However, during the summer season, we recommend walking closer to sunset.
Precautions
The direct sunlight and typical hot weather of this region present few challenges. Thus, we recommend bringing along a bottle of water, good walking shoes, a hat and sunblock. Most importantly, be careful as you cross the streets and make sure to only use the dedicated pedestrian crossings.
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