Abu Dhabi

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Should You Hire a Car in Abu Dhabi? This can be broken down into two similar questions - do you need a car in Abu Dhabi (in other words, will your holiday be ruined without one), and is it worth hiring a car in Abu Dhabi - i.e. is a car better value than using public transport? We'll weigh up both questions and give you a response generated by AI, together with our own curated opinion before finally giving a yes or no verdict at the end.
✅ Car Score 9
🚫 No Car Score 5
🚗 Should you rent a car?

(0= absolutely not; 10 = rental car or heavy dependence on taxis absolutely essential)

🕌 Abu Dhabi is calm, elegant, and quietly luxurious — the Yin to Dubai’s Yang. It’s a city of wide boulevards, gleaming white mosques, island developments, and long stretches of waterfront. But it’s also very spread out, and that’s the key to deciding whether you need a car.

In short: You can explore central Abu Dhabi without a car, but if you want to see more than just a small slice of it, renting a car will make your life much easier.

Let’s break it down.

✅ No Car – Works If You Stay Central and Don’t Mind Taxis

Abu Dhabi does not have a metro, but it does have plentiful taxis that are clean, reliable, and reasonably priced.

You Don’t Need a Car If You Are:

  • Staying on Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Corniche, or downtown

  • Planning to visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Corniche Beach, and Yas attractions using taxis or hotel shuttles

  • Happy to use Uber or Careem for quick point-to-point travel

  • Visiting for business or a short city break

🚖 Why No-Car Travel Works:

  • Taxis are everywhere and metered

  • Many hotels offer free shuttles to malls, theme parks, and beaches

  • Distances are long, but roads are simple – you won’t have to navigate anything

  • Parking and tolls are not your problem

✔ Perfect for: Relaxed travellers, couples, business visitors, anyone sticking to the main tourist spots.

🚗 Car Recommended – For Freedom, Desert Drives & Multi-Site Exploring

Unlike Dubai, public transport in Abu Dhabi is limited. Attractions are far apart, and if you want to see more of the Emirates, a car gives you the flexibility you simply won’t get otherwise.

You’ll Want a Car If You Plan To:

  • Visit multiple cultural sites in one day

  • Drive to Observation Deck at 300, Etihad Towers, Qasr Al Hosn, Heritage Village

  • Go beyond the city to Al Ain Oasis, Liwa Desert, or Sir Bani Yas Island ferry terminal

  • Stay in a remote desert resort like Qasr Al Sarab

  • Combine Abu Dhabi and Dubai in one trip without organised tours

🚗 Driving in Abu Dhabi Is:

  • Smooth and stress-free compared to other big cities

  • Very road-trip friendly

  • Cheaper than constant taxi fares if you’re travelling long distances daily

✔ Perfect for: Explorers, road trippers, families, or anyone who hates waiting around for transport.

🧭 Quick Decision Table

Your Plan in Abu Dhabi Car Needed?
Visiting Sheikh Zayed Mosque only ❌ No
Staying on Yas Island only ❌ No
Louvre + Corniche + Qasr Al Watan ❌ No (Taxi OK)
Desert resorts or Liwa ✅ Yes
Seeing multiple parts of the city daily ✅ Yes
Day trip to Al Ain or Dubai ✅ Yes

🎯 Final Verdict

  • 🚫 If your trip is short, hotel-based, or focused on a few major sites → You can skip the car and rely on taxis.

  • 🚗 If you want to see more than just the highlights, or you love road trips → Rent a car. Abu Dhabi was built for driving.

Abu Dhabi is peaceful, spacious, and easy to navigate – it’s a very driver-friendly city.

Should You Hire a Car in Abu Dhabi — or Not? Advice on this page has been written using Chat GPT, backed up by 20 years experience in the travel industry. This site is planned for full launch on 1st January 2026. Full terms, advice, FAQs, disclaimer etc to follow. UN flag is a placeholder

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