Guide to Meeting & Event Planning in

Abu Dhabi

Meetings & Event Venues in Abu Dhabi

• Experience Abu Dhabi has launched Can’t Wait to Winter, a global campaign promoting  back-to-back events that cater to all interests, whether sports, food, music and more. The spokespersons for this effort include Indian superstar Ranveer Singh, Chinese-American actress Liu Yifei and the Gulf region’s legendary comedic duo of Dawood Hussein and Hasan Al Ballam, sharing their itineraries loaded with culture, adventure, relaxation, culinary delights and shopping in Abu Dhabi all winter long.

• On Marina Island, the new 5-star Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi offers a colorful mix of Arab and Turkish hospitality with 563 deluxe guest rooms and suites spread over 38 floors. The property has 10 dining outlets, the sybaritic Naturelife Spa, 15 meeting rooms (including a grand ballroom that can seat up to 1,000 guests) and a private beach.

• Just 25 minutes from Abu Dhabi’s city center, the Al Raha Beach Hotel sits alongside the recently developed Al Raha Corniche. The luxury property has 278 spacious guest rooms, a private beach, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, squash-balls courts and a full roster of water sports. Other features include an on-site spa offering a variety of messages and body treatments (along with a steam bath, sauna and Jacuzzi), a number of bars and restaurants and 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
• The 390-room InterContinental Abu Dhabi has opened a new Italian restaurant, Porta Gina, which the hotel aims to become its “day-do-day eatery.” Chef Andres Ludueng presents comfort food such as pizza burrata e tarfufo nero and ravioli di gamberi in generous proportions. The property has a total of 306,523 square feet of meeting and event space.
• For a truly glittering sojourn, the “Cartier, Islamic Inspiration and Modern Design” exhibit at the Louvre Abu Dhabi highlights the influence of the Islamic arts on Cartier’s designs from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. On display are more than 500 pieces, from jewelry to drawings, books, photographs and archival documents. The show runs through March 2024.
• In an effort to support the continued growth of the hospitality and tourism sector, Abu Dhabi is reducing government fees applied to hotels in the emirate. Among changes set to take effect on Sept. 1, 2023: A tourism fee issued to hotel guests will be reduced from 6 percent to 4 percent; a municipality fee of AED15 (Approx. US$4) per room, per night, will be eliminated, as will a 6 percent tourism fee and a 4 percent municipality fee applied to hotel restaurants.
• Abu Dhabi has implemented strict health and safety protocols, which are updated regularly. The latest requirements for visitors and events can be found here. 
• Italy meets Abu Dhabi with the recent opening of Talea restaurant by acclaimed chef Antonio Guida. Guests will enjoy a highly curated selection of seasonal and authentic Italian dishes, including ravioli, handcrafted carbonara, artisanal pizza and more, in an elegant yet lively setting that includes a glass-paneled show kitchen, live entertainment and stunning seaside views.
• The world’s first Warner Bros.-branded hotel has opened in Abu Dhabi, the 257-room WB Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton. On Yas Island, the hotel is decked out in iconic cinematic artwork and offers five signature restaurants, a fitness center, a spa and two pools, one of which adorns the roof. For meetings and events, the property has more than 5,450 square feet of dedicated space across five rooms, the largest of which spans 4,165 square feet. Guests enjoy complimentary daily access to Yas Island theme parks. 
• The 545-room Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island opened in 2021 and features the sumptuous eforea spa; dining at the casual Cafe Del Mar Abu Dhabi and the Capila Pool Bar and Grill; and the 360 bar, which affords gorgeous sunset views. The hotel also has a total of 22,653 square feet of event space spread among 20 meeting rooms, the largest being the 15,381-square-foot Yas Grand ballroom, which can accommodate up to 910 people for a banquet or 1,200 for a reception. 
• The 499-room W Abu Dhabi Marriott – Yas Island in the heart of the city’s entertainment district is in close proximity to attractions such as Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and the mammoth Yas Mall shopping center. Set atop of  the F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix racetrack, the hotel features 45,500 square feet of event space.

  Meeting Hotels

  aloft Abu Dhabi	29
  Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental	21
  Erth Aub Dhabi	21
  Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island	20
  Marriott Hotel Downtown, Abu Dhabi	16
  The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal	15
  Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi	15
  Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Residences	14
  InterContinental Abu Dhabi	14
  Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers Hotel	13

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• In the Mina Zayed port area, Warehouse 421 is an arts and design center offering a wide-ranging selection of local and regional culture including paintings, sculpture and more elaborate art installations.
• The burgeoning Khalifa City district includes the Al Forsan International Sports Resort, a more than 17 million-square-foot playground featuring all manner of water sports, go-karting, horseback riding, wake boarding and more. The property’s largest meeting space is a ballroom that can hold up to 350 people; add the attached outdoor terrace for a total of 500 seated guests. Attendees can stay at the adjacent 400-room Marriott Hotel Ali Forsan, with its own meeting space for up to 350 attendees.
• The 428-room Crown Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island has six meeting rooms able to accommodate a total of 840 attendees. Also on-site are a pool and a spa.
• The centrally located, five-star Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi has 402 guest rooms and a total of 35,000 square feet of event space. This opulent Thai-style property offers an array of amenities such as the Namm Spa with eight treatment rooms, an outdoor swimming pool with sun deck and pool bar, the DFIT Fitness Center and more. 
• Another five-star entry is the 43-story Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences in the West Corniche district, with 21,500 square feet of meeting space spread among 14 meeting rooms, the largest of which is an 11,200-square-foot ballroom. The hotel’s 428 guest rooms include 36 luxury suites, and its large infinity pool overlooks the Arabian Gulf.
• Just five minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport, the 18-hole, par-71 Abu Dhabi Golf Club offers a variety of spaces for meetings, including a boardroom seating 14, a banquet hall for up to 100 and the Falcon Terrace, able to accommodate up to 200. Most spaces have stunning views of the greens and/or the city’s skyline, and attendees can make use of a two-tiered driving range as well as an on-site pool and tennis courts.
• Set on Sri Bani Yas Island, a private wildlife reserve, the Desert Islands Conference Center includes beautiful beachfront space for an outdoor banquet or cocktail party for up to 1,000 people. Indoors, up to 360 can gather among six meeting rooms, the largest of which spans 5,381 square feet. Also on-site is exhibit space totaling 6,458 square feet. 
• The 64-room Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara, adjacent to the Desert Islands Conference Center on private Sri Bani Yas Island, has its own 9,633 square feet of meeting space for up to 590 attendees spread among 11 rooms.
• In the city’s busy Park Complex, the 172-room Park Arjaan by Rotana has more than 25,000 square feet of event space, including a ballroom that can host a banquet for up to 550 people, a theater that can seat 700 and a meeting room that can host 500. The hotel offers guests full access to the neighboring Rotana Hotel, with its variety of dining venues.
• The dramatically undulating glass walls of the 281-room Millennium Capital Gate Abu Dhabi makes it a standout in the emirate’s commercial district. For on-site dining, a sumptuous breakfast can be had at the all-day Oceana, while South American and Arabian cuisine are available at Noche. The hotel’s Mizan Spa features a full menu of treatments, while meetings take place in eight event rooms totaling 6,000 square feet of flexible event space for up to 700 attendees. Abu Dhabi International Airport is just a 20-minute drive away. The 262-room Sheraton Khalidiya is in the heart of the city, close to the Abu Dhabi Corniche. The property has views of the sparkling Arabian Gulf along with three dining options and nine meeting room.  

Things to do in Abu Dhabi

• Experience Abu Dhabi has launched the Abu Dhabi Pass in partnership with global travel marketplace Alike. The pass offers discounts of up to 40 percent across more than 40 attractions, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi and BMX Park at Circuit X, as well as exclusive discounts on UAE visas, transportation and other travel-related services. Three pass options are priced from US$31 fo US$133 to suit different lengths of stay and budgets.
• Beginning in November 2024, an emirate-wide exhibit called “Manar” (Arabic for “lighthouse”) will encompass more than 35 site-specific works by local and international artists, all celebrating the transformative power of light. Works such as light projections, sculptures, installations and performances will be displayed across key locations throughout Abu Dhabi’s coastal areas, including Lulu, Saadiyat, Jubail, Al Samaliyah and Fahid islands, along with other areas such as Corniche Road and the Eastern mangroves.
• In the heart of the capital, a turquoise sea, views of Lulu Island, swaying palm trees and manicured gardens make Corniche Beach a favorite with locals and visitors alike. Attractions included a seaside boardwalk, walking and cycling paths, and several restaurants and cafes.
• SeaWorld Yas Island, the region’s first marine life theme park, has officially opened, offering a full slate of experiences on five levels with a total area of close to 2 million square feet. Visitors will find a variety of environments, habitats and rides across eight immersive realms, including Tropical Ocean, a blue lagoon with dolphins, flamingos, fish and birds, and Rocky Point, featuring sea lions and harbor seals in a hidden cove inspired by the Unites States’ Pacific Northwest. The facility’s Research & Rescue Center can host or facilitate related scientific meetings; contact the center for more information
• In Al Jahili Park, Al Ain, the striking Al Jahili Fort dates from the late 1800s and is the made entirely from mud bricks. Visitors can learn about the colorful history of the place and wander among the fort’s watchtowers and battlements, which surround a large courtyard often used for outdoor concerts.
• A new immersive art experience is being developed by the emirate in partnership with Tokyo-based International art collective teamLab. The new attraction, to debut in 2024 in a striking organically sculpted building in the Saadiyat Cultural District, is based on teamLab’s “environmental phenomena” concept, which uses elements like air, water and light to create beautiful artworks that evolve as their environment changes.
• Attendees and tourists alike can enjoy two new self-guided audio tours of Abu Dhabi via the VoiceMap app. Itineraries include the Al Wathba Fossil Dunes Reserve Tour, a trail that weaves among fossil formations more than 120,000 years old, and the Abu Dhabi Urban Treasures Food tour, which lets participants savor a range of culinary treats from Mexican-style chicken shawarmas to spicy Indian kebabs and traditional Arab desserts. Other such excursions include the Abu Dhabi Skyline Tour, the Modern Heritage Tour of Downtown Abu Dhabi, the Al Hasn Site Architecture Tour and the Al Ain Nature and History Tour. 
• Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism has inaugurated a series of immersive local experiences led by expert Emirati guides. The tours include partaking of a traditional meal in an Emirati home; visiting a ranch to enjoy Bedouin-raised animals, local foods, and traditional songs and dances; perusing the goods in local date and fish markets; and tours of Abu Dhabi by day, including markets, shops, restaurants, as well as by evening for a beautiful sunset and light show.
• A turtle-rehabilitation area is being created in the waters surrounding the Louvre Abu Dhabi, part of emirate’s ongoing Wildlife Rescue Program in partnership with the National Aquarium. Visitors will be able to view the creatures and learn about their environment before they are released into the sea. For more details: dctabudhabi.ae
• On Saadiyat Island, visitors can enjoy a free tour of the Abrahamic Family House, which comprises a mosque, a church and a synagogue, all in an effort to foster peaceful coexistence among worshippers of varied religious affiliations. The strikingly designed facility includes an inter-faith educational center.
• Adventure lovers in your group will enjoy a visit to Circuit X Hudayriyat Mar Vista at the all-new Hudayriyat Leisure and Entertainment District at Hudayriyat Mar Vista. On-site attractions include BMX Park for bike lovers, featuring a fun dirt trail complete with sharp corners, ramps and hills; Skate Park, with its assortment of street-style walls, bridges, bowls and ledges; and Ropes Park, where visitors tackle a three-level ropes course spiced with 31 obstacles.Several of the emirate’s properties offer day passes to their spectacular swimming pools. Among the resorts are Emirates Palace, Zaya Nurai Island and Rixos on Saadiyat Island.
• Just south of Yas Island, the new Yas Bay Waterfront district has opened with a wide range of dining, nightlife, entertainment and leisure offerings. Among highlights at the development are 15 restaurants, the 545-room Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island and the Etihad Arena, which can accommodate up to 18,000 people and has hosted world swimming championships, mixed martial-arts events, top entertainers and more.
• Conveniently close to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the new Al Qana development is now welcoming guests to its 1.5 miles of attractions along the Khor Al Malta river. The complex includes a variety of dining experiences; a marina offering water sports and sunset sail excursions; the massive National Aquarium with 10 themed zones sustaining more than 330 species; winding waterfront walking paths, and more.
• The largest indoor aquarium in the Middle East has opened in the emirate. The National Aquarium comprises 10 themed zones that include in-depth explorations of environments such as ocean, rain forest and Arctic, with an emphasis on sustaining native wildlife and preserving the planet. On display are more than 330 species contributing to an on-site population of more than 46,000 animals.
• For a truly immersive experience, consider a stay at Arabian Nights Village in the heart of the Abu Dhabi desert, a melange of accommodations ranging from air-conditioned tents to opulent suites in private detached houses. Activities include a safari over stunning sand dunes, swimming in the Oasis Pool with its panoramic desert views, camel trekking and “fat biking." The on-site Al Maqam restaurant serves a mix of Arabic and international cuisine.
• Home to more than 200 species, the Al Ain Zoo claims title as the largest such repository in the Middle East, devoted to educating visitors about protecting endangered species and sustaining the earth’s environment. Here you’ll find rare examples of the dada gazelle, the brown capuchin, the Arabian sand cat and many others. The on-site Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Center presents a variety of exhibits spread among five interactive galleries taking visitors on a journey through the past, present and future of the UAE’s ecology. The building itself has been certified LEED Platinum, and the venue’s SZDLC Theatre can be booked for intimate corporate events or small meetings. 
• Opened in 1999, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is devoted to providing veterinary health-care services to the graceful birds, who were used by Bedouin hunters to catch prey for hundreds of years and now are raised for the sport of falconry. The facility, open to visitors on select days, is well worth a visit for an up-close look at the “patients” as well as a peaceful garden area complete with falcon statues and fountains, and an on-site museum of Arab falconry.
• A unique nature-oriented experience can be had at Jubail Mangrove Park, where visitors will find a series of boardwalks meandering through a carefully cultivated ecosystem that’s home to all manner of herons, flamingos, myriad fish and copious crustaceans. Opened in January 2020, the park features rangers on hand to answer questions, a floating platform outfitted with a net through which one can glimpse the denizens below, a viewing tower affording panoramic views and more.
• Also on Saadiyat Island, the Manarat Al Saadiyat, an arts complex with three galleries, an arts studio, a 250-seat auditorium and a roster of offerings ranging from comedy nights to theater workshops, yoga classes and film screenings. 
• For golfers, the city has six courses to satisfy duffers and experts alike. For example, Yas Links, nestled on the western shores of Yas Island, offers a challenging 18-hole, par-72, 7,450-yard championship course as well as a nine-hole, par-3 academy course, all complemented by a fine-dining restaurant, views of Abu Dhabi’s striking skyline and a private lawn for events and croquet. 
• Release your group’s inner speed demons at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, a theme park on Yas Island that celebrates all things vroom with more than 37 high-octane rides and attractions. Have fun on the Formula Rosa, said to be the world’s fasted roller coaster, soaring to over 170 feet high (and dropping just as much); the Bell’ Italia, where you ride in a small-scale 1958 Ferrari 250 California through a mini-Italian landscape; and the Fiorano GT Challenge, which lets teams compete on twisting parallel tracks riding Ferrari F430 Spiders. 
• Abu Dhabi Desert Morning Safari lets participants ply the dunes via three modes of travel: 4x4 (a four-wheel-drive vehicle), camel and sandboard (think snowboard on the sand).
• The world’s largest uninterrupted sand mass awaits visitors to the Empty Quarter, a 250,000-square-mile desert on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi that extends into Saudi Arabia. This awe-inspiring expanse is dotted with oases and properties including the 242-room Al Ain Rotana Hotel, with its own garden, spa, pool and six restaurants.
  
  

Top Restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Among top spots to grab a bite in Abu Dhabi are:

• Amerigos Bar & Restaurant, Mexican
• Mezlai, Middle Eastern
• Mekong, Thai
• Le Petite Maison, Mediterranean 
• Tamba, Indian 
• Zuma, Japanese