Abu Dhabi · Backpacking
ON A BUDGET
Abu Dhabi has fewer hostels than Dubai and tighter budgets, but its mosque, corniche and beaches cost nothing.
Sleep near the Corniche
Cheap beds concentrate in the older blocks around Hamdan Street and Al Danah, walkable to the Corniche and the main bus station.
What a day costs
Dorms and basic guesthouse rooms run AED 90–160, food AED 30–60, buses AED 5–15. Call it AED 140–240, roughly $38–65.
Getting around cheap
City buses take the Hafilat card at flat low fares, and the E100 and E101 coaches to Dubai run all day for around AED 25.
Free by day
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque admits visitors free with modest dress, the Corniche has public beach sections, and the Al Bateen dhow yard is open to walk.
Corniche and Mina Zayed
The Corniche cycle path and the fish and fruit markets at Mina Zayed are where travellers and residents mix, especially on Friday evenings.