Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque & Qasr Al Watan Day Trip from Dubai

Qasr Al Watan: The Palace of the Nation

Qasr Al Watan is a working presidential palace on the Abu Dhabi waterfront, used for state visits and official meetings, and open to visitors since 2019. Built in white granite and limestone with a vast central dome, it was designed to showcase the finest regional craftsmanship and to explain how the UAE is governed.

Inside, the Great Hall rises beneath a dome of intricate white and gold patterns, with a huge chandelier at its centre. You can visit the meeting rooms where leaders gather, the gift collection from foreign delegations and the House of Knowledge, a library of rare manuscripts on the science, history and literature of the region. On this Qasr Al Watan tour your ticket is included, and you have about 1.5 hours to explore. The palace usually opens from 10 am, and the evening light show is not part of this trip.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Completed in 2007, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the landmark of Abu Dhabi and one of the largest mosques in the world. Its design draws on Islamic architecture from many lands, from Persia and India to Andalusia: dozens of white marble domes, four tall minarets, reflecting pools and colonnades of columns inlaid with semi-precious stones in floral patterns.

The main prayer hall holds one of the largest hand-knotted carpets ever made and chandeliers of gold-plated metal and crystal. The mosque bears the name of the founder of the UAE, who rests in the mausoleum beside it, and it welcomes visitors of every background. Entry is free and arranged as part of your booking. Allow about 1.5 hours to walk the courtyards and the prayer hall; with the midday departure you often see the marble glow at sunset.

Visiting the Grand Mosque: Dress Code and Tips

The mosque is an active place of worship, so the dress code is strict. Men and women must wear loose, non-transparent clothing covering arms to the wrists and legs to the ankles. Women are asked to wear a headscarf and a traditional robe before entering, provided at the site. Visitors dressed unsuitably may be refused entry.

Shoes are removed before the prayer hall, and quiet behaviour is expected. The mosque is closed to visitors on Friday mornings and entry is not guaranteed during Islamic holidays. Is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque worth visiting? It is the single sight most visitors call the highlight of the UAE. Photography is welcome in the courtyards and hall, as long as you respect worshippers.

The Road from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

The drive between the two cities takes about 2 hours each way along the main coastal highway. Leaving Dubai you pass the towers of Sheikh Zayed Road and the marina districts, then the landscape opens into desert, palm plantations and the industrial port of Jebel Ali before the bridges onto Abu Dhabi island.

This Abu Dhabi day trip from Dubai is ideal if you want to see the capital's two great landmarks without renting a car or arranging tickets. There is no guide on board, so we suggest reading a little about each site beforehand; the driver knows the routes and timings well. After the mosque you are driven straight back to your hotel in Dubai, about 8 hours after pickup.