Abu Dhabi Honeymoon – Top 8 Resorts and Guide for 2023

About Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has such natural beauty and astonishing manmade attractions, it can be a challenge to the senses. It a city that is Instagram-ready at all times. The towering high-rises, the desert, mountains, and the beaches, plush restaurants, and grand mosques all add up to a vast treasure found nowhere else. While most of the city of Abu Dhabi is on one island, there are 200 smaller islands also worth exploring. Abu Dhabi began its life as a Bedouin settlement with a mere 40,000 inhabitants. It wasn’t until 1967 that all that sand was transformed into an architectural marvel. Now, close to three million citizens live here. And visitors come to celebrate the luxury, if only for a limited time.

Away from the grandeur of the inner city, you will the 4,000-foot Jebel Hafeet mountain. It is the sole mountain in Abu Dhabi and stands tall to guard to city. The best time to visit here is during the winter and spring months. You can drive to the top and enjoy one of the most stunning views in the Emirate. You’ll find a lovely resort, the Mercure Jebel Hafeet, for an overnight stay. With most of Abu Dhabi consisting of a desert-like terrain, you’ll marvel at the lush greenery surrounding the mountain during you Abu Dhabi honeymoon.

For a totally different perspective of Abu Dhabi, visit Al Ain, a 4,000-year-old oasis found within the city. Before Abu Dhabi grew into a powerful entity, this was a stop for thirsty camel trekkers. Older and less modern than the main city, Al Ain houses 600,000 people and hundreds of farms. Al-Ain is a great way to learn about traditional desert living, and the oasis draws a lot of visitors. Stop at the entrance for a video that explains how the Al Ain oasis functions. You’ll learn about the 3,000-year-old irrigation system, then feel free to wander down the roads and the farms themselves. They are used to tourists and frequently hold special events.

There is no doubt that Abu Dhabi, for all that it has to offer, is partially defined by its architecture. In addition to some magnificent mosques, there is Qasr al Watan, the Presidential palace and a functioning government office. Don’t miss the round Aldar HQ building, which resembles a cookie. Outdoing the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Capital Gate building, known as the “Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi,” is a 35-floor structure built at an 18 angle. 

There are many other marvelous towers, and a tour of buildings on your Abu Dhabi honeymoon is highly recommended.

While there are no direct restrictions on what to wear in Abu Dhabi, it’s a very conservative country. No thongs at the beach. At a mall, your clothes should cover you from the shoulders to the knees. Shorts are not considered respectful. It’s no major problem if you transgress, though. A security guard will politely speak with you and provide you with more covering, if needed. 

When entering the Grand Mosque, women need to wear an abaya. You will be provided with one for free at the entrance.

At the pool or at the beach, feel free to wear a bikini, or lean toward a one-piece bathing suit.

Best Time to Visit Abu Dhabi

The winter months of November through March are comfortable and constitute the prime time to visit Abu Dhabi. Temperatures reach a comfortable 89 degrees. There is only a slight rainfall during this period. If the ocean is too cool for swimming, be assured your hotel’s swimming pool will be heated. 

If you are planning on a winter Abu Dhabi honeymoon, this is the time for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and other festivities before the temperature begins to soar. 

The summer months, on the other hand, are hot. This is a desert, and the temperature can easily top 100 degrees and reach 120 degrees. The ocean waters can get incredibly warm and cease to be refreshing. Sandstorms are not unheard of. Of course, this is not the prime tourist season, and flights and accommodations can be had for cheap if you don’t mind boiling.

Spring and fall transition seasons tend to be short. The weather goes directly from comfortable to the boiling point.

Abu Dhabi’s most important holiday, Ramadan, falls between April and May. This is seriously observed. You will not be able to eat in public or show any display of affection. Dress must be very modest. Visiting during Ramadan will be different than visiting at any other time but will allow you to immerse yourself in the experience. Businesses will only open during the evening after being closed during the day.

Top Things to do in Abu Dhabi

The Emirates Palace

The Emirates Palace is the world’s most expensive hotel. As soon as you set foot into its 240-foot atrium, you are surrounded by sheer opulence. While the top suite may be out of your budget at $15,000 per night, spending a night or two at some of the less expensive rooms at $400 a night will serve as the perfect way to begin your marriage and provide you with a lifetime of memories. Each room comes with its own butler.

From the building itself to the lush gardens with fountains, the Emirates Palace is pure indulgence. It directly overlooks the beach and pure waters. Much of the Palace is constructed with marble and real gold. You will even find a vending machine that spits out gold bars! When the sun sets, the Palace has an actual golden glow. The Palace is huge, with 114 domes, 1002 chandeliers, and 102 elevators, and an attentive staff of 2,600. There are 14 restaurants for your eating pleasure, and the food is divine. Divine enough to use 11 pounds of gold annually just to decorate their cuisine. The cheesecake is gold-encrusted, and Sara Lee is shocked.

If you feel the Emirates Palace is out of your price range, here is a secret. Take a free tour of the entire property and revel in this Arabic fantasy. Then splurge at one of the restaurants for one of their incredible meals. 

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

This mosque is the largest in the world (everything in Abu Dhabi seems larger than life). It has 1000 different columns, over 80 domes, the world largest (once again) rug and chandeliers. 

The Mosque may be explored privately, but joining an architectural tour is highly recommended. 

Desert Tours

When you are reveling in the grandeur that is Abu Dhabi, you can easily forget this is pure desert terrain. There are several tour providers, such as Emirate Tours, Abu Dhabi Adventure Tours, and Arabian Adventures that will lead you into the desert for some fun.

Dinner for Two Tour

Can life get any more romantic? Enjoy a private, romantic dinner for two amidst the dunes. You will be picked up taken into the desert for some dune bashing. That should get the adrenaline going. Stop for a bright and colorful sunset. Then, visit your destination. In true desert style, there will be carpets and plush cushions. Prepare yourself for a visit to a camel farm and a camel ride before dining. Dinner will be lit with candles. You will be dressed in authentic Bedouin clothes, which you get to keep as souvenirs. Feast on a tasty BBQ dinner accompanied by champagne. This will be an evening to remember. Call 971 2 441 0040 for more information.

Quad Bike Tour

Roar through the sand on a quad bike for about an hour. Your guide will train you and keep you safe. You can even dress in traditional Arab garb. Call 971 2 441 0040 for more information.

Shop

Gold is big in Abu Dhabi, and so much of it can be found at the local souk at the Marina Mall. You’ll find everything here, from a bowling alley to a movie theater to an amusement park. As you wander through the souk and its hundreds of stalls, prepare for sensory overload from the aroma of exotic spices. Also for sale is gold, and at some incredibly low prices. The observation deck offers a vista of the Emirates Palace and a breathtaking sunset. 

Weather in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has desert-like weather for the entire year, with little rain to cool things down. There is never any rain during the summer months of June through September, and bright sunshine can last for over ten hours a day. The temperature will likely be in the three-digits and can hit 120 degrees.

The temperature between the months of December and February are quite pleasant and can range from 67 to 80 degrees. The sun only shines for about eight hours during the day, giving the temperature some chance to remain cool during you Abu Dhabi honeymoon. 

Spring and fall tend to be short, but they bring some additional beauty. The cherry blossoms come alive during the spring and fill the city with a lovely scent. In the fall, the leaves change color and add an extra dimension to the landscape. Everyone loves a delightful picnic during the spring and fall months. T