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City tour · Private 4x4 SUV · Full day from Dubai

Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai

A full day in the capital with your own driver-guide: inside the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace, Etihad Towers, the Corniche and Yas Island. Private 4x4 SUV from your Dubai hotel and back, AED 700 per car.

G 4.9 ★★★★★ 501+ Google reviews·DET licensed since 2010
Private SUV · full dayAED 700 / car
8–10 hours
up to 7 guests
WhatsApp
No payment now · free cancellation 24h · free hotel pickup
8–10 hoursFull day, from Dubai
Private 4x4 SUVJust your group, up to 7
Pay on the dayNo card needed to book
Free cancellationUp to 24h before pickup
At a glance

The tour in one table.

TourPrivate full-day Abu Dhabi city tour from Dubai, just your group
Duration8–10 hours, including about 1.5 hours each way by car
DistanceAbout 140 km from Dubai to Abu Dhabi
PriceAED 700 per car for the full day
Per personFor 4 guests: about AED 175 each
Group size1 to 7 guests per SUV, second car for bigger groups
PickupAny hotel or address in Dubai or Sharjah, at the time you choose
Car and guidePrivate air-conditioned 4x4 SUV with an English-speaking driver-guide
IncludedFuel, parking, tolls and bottled water
Not includedGrand Mosque entry (AED 10 per tourist), Qasr Al Watan and theme park tickets, meals
PaymentNothing upfront. Pay your driver on the day, cash or card (+5%)
CancellationFree up to 24 hours before pickup
OperatorDubai Desert Ventures, DET-licensed since 2010, 4.9 from 501+ Google reviews

Prices, opening times and fees checked 17 October 2026.

The route

Your day, stop by stop.

9 stops · 8–10 hours

  1. Hotel pickup in Dubai
    Start

    Private 4x4 SUV from your Dubai or Sharjah hotel, about 1.5 hours down the coast road.

  2. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
    Visit

    Inside visit with time to walk the courtyard and prayer halls. White marble, 82 domes and one of the largest carpets in the world. Entry fee extra.

  3. Qasr Al Watan
    Optional · ticket extra

    The presidential palace. Entry ticket not included, add it on the day if you want to go in.

  4. Emirates Palace
    Photo stop

    The gold-domed palace hotel on the waterfront.

  5. Etihad Towers
    Photo stop

    The five towers from Fast & Furious 7, with the city view.

  6. The Corniche
    Drive past

    The long waterfront drive with the beach on one side and the skyline on the other.

  1. Heritage Village
    Visit

    A walk through traditional Emirati life: crafts, a souk and the old ways.

  2. Marina Mall or Dates Market
    Visit

    Your pick: mall stop or the dates market for gifts to take home.

  3. Saadiyat & Yas Islands
    Drive past

    Drive past the island museums and Yas, ending at Ferrari World.

  4. Ferrari World
    Photo stop

    The red roof from outside. Park tickets are not included.

  5. Back to your Dubai hotel
    Finish

    Same car and driver, about 1.5 hours back.

Order can change with traffic and opening times. It’s your car, so ask your driver-guide to skip, swap or stay longer.

Sample schedule

A typical day, hour by hour.

  1. Pickup in DubaiYour driver-guide meets you at your hotel.
  2. Sheikh Zayed Grand MosqueAbout 1.5 hours inside the courtyard and prayer halls.
  3. Qasr Al Watan or the palacesGo inside the presidential palace (ticket extra), or stop at Emirates Palace and Etihad Towers.
  4. Lunch breakYour choice of place, not included in the price.
  5. The Corniche and Heritage VillageThe waterfront drive, then traditional Emirati crafts and a small souk.
  6. Dates Market or Marina MallYour pick, for gifts or a coffee.
  7. Saadiyat and Yas IslandsPast the island museums to the Ferrari World photo stop.
  8. Drive back to DubaiAbout 1.5 hours down the coast road.
  9. Back at your hotelSame car and driver, back to your door.

Times are a guide. Your driver-guide adjusts for traffic, your mosque time slot and your pace. On Fridays the mosque is open to visitors 9 AM to 12 PM and 2:30 PM to 9 PM, so the day is reordered around that.

What’s included

One car price, no surprises.

  • Private 4x4 SUVAir-conditioned, just your group
  • Driver-guideEnglish-speaking, all day
  • Pickup and drop-offFrom any Dubai or Sharjah hotel
  • Grand Mosque inside visitYour driver-guide plans the timing
  • Bottled waterCold water in the car
  • Fuel, parking and tollsNo extras on the road

Not included

  • Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque entry fee (AED 10 per tourist)
  • Qasr Al Watan entry ticket
  • Theme park tickets (Ferrari World, Warner Bros., Yas Waterworld)
  • Meals and drinks
Good to know

Before you go.

Grand Mosque entry fee and pass

Since September 2026 the mosque charges visitors a small entry fee: AED 10 for tourists, AED 5 for UAE residents, and free for visitors aged 60 and over. Visits need an online access pass booked ahead. Your driver-guide helps you book it for the right time slot.

Grand Mosque dress code

Women: loose, ankle-length clothing with sleeves to the wrist, and hair covered. No tight, short, sheer or sleeveless clothes.

Men: long trousers to the ankle and a shirt with sleeves. No shorts or sleeveless tops.

The mosque no longer lends abayas. If you need one, they cost about AED 45 at Souq Al Jami next to the mosque.

Fridays

On Fridays the mosque is open to visitors 9 AM to 12 PM (last entry 11:30) and 2:30 PM to 9 PM. We plan the day around those windows so you still get the inside visit.

Pickup time

Most guests leave Dubai around 8 or 9 AM. Pick the time that suits you when you book.

Changing the route

It’s your car. Spend longer at the mosque, add Qasr Al Watan, or skip the shopping stop. Tell your driver-guide on the day.

Payment and cancellation

Nothing to pay when you book. Pay your driver on the day, cash or card (card +5%). Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.

Questions

Abu Dhabi tour, answered.

Updated 17 October 2026.

How long is the Abu Dhabi city tour from Dubai?

About 8–10 hours door to door, including roughly 1.5 hours of driving each way between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

How far is Abu Dhabi from Dubai?

About 140 km between the two city centres. By car that is roughly 1.5 hours each way, depending on where your hotel is and the traffic.

How much does a private Abu Dhabi tour from Dubai cost?

DDV’s private Abu Dhabi city tour costs AED 700 per car for a full day, for up to 7 guests, with pickup from your Dubai or Sharjah hotel. For 4 people that’s about AED 175 each. The Grand Mosque entry fee and any attraction tickets are extra.

Is the price per person or per car?

Per car. AED 700 for the full day, for your whole group in a private 4x4 SUV from Dubai and back.

Is Abu Dhabi worth a day trip from Dubai?

Yes, mainly for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which is one of the most visited sights in the UAE, plus Qasr Al Watan, the Corniche and Yas Island. In a private car you set the pace and skip the coach timetable, so one full day covers the highlights comfortably.

Is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque free to visit?

Not any more. Since September 2026 tourists pay AED 10, UAE residents AED 5, and visitors aged 60 and over enter free. You need an online access pass booked ahead, and your driver-guide helps you book it.

Do we go inside the Grand Mosque?

Yes. The inside visit is the centrepiece of the day, with time for the courtyard and prayer halls. Follow the dress code and book the access pass for your time slot.

What is the dress code for the Grand Mosque?

Women need loose, ankle-length clothing with sleeves to the wrist and their hair covered. Men need long trousers and a shirt with sleeves. Shorts, sleeveless, tight or sheer clothing is refused, and abayas are no longer lent at the mosque.

Can we do the tour on a Friday?

Yes. On Fridays the Grand Mosque is open to visitors 9 AM to 12 PM and 2:30 PM to 9 PM, so we plan the day around those windows.

Are tickets included?

No. The Grand Mosque entry fee, Qasr Al Watan and the Yas Island theme parks are paid separately. The car, driver-guide, fuel, parking, tolls and water are included.

Can we add Louvre Abu Dhabi or another stop?

Yes. It’s your car, so you can add a stop such as Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island or swap one out, as long as the day stays within about 10 hours. Tell us when you book so we can plan the timing.

How many people fit in the SUV?

Up to 7 guests. For bigger groups, message us on WhatsApp and we’ll send a second car.

Can you pick up from Sharjah?

Yes, from any hotel or address in Dubai or Sharjah.

How do I pay?

Pay your driver on the day, cash or card (card +5%). Nothing is charged when you book, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup.

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DET-licensed since 2010, 4.9 on Google. Private 4x4 SUV and driver-guide for AED 700 per car, pay on the day, cancel free up to 24 hours before.

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