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Modern Heritage Tour of Downtown Abu Dhabi
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Dive into the heart of downtown Abu Dhabi where the city’s streets and buildings have so many tales to tell. On this walking tour, you’ll discover a side of the city that few visitors see and many locals overlook.
You will have the opportunity to learn about our system of heritage buildings, exploring the design and aesthetics, history and symbolism, technology and innovation, and social and economic impact. You’ll duck into downtown’s backstreets and hear anecdotes of Abu Dhabi’s rapid rise and continued development. Along the way, you’ll hear about:
- How some of these buildings and sites are being inventoried and classified as modern heritage to preserve the country’s recent history
- What inspired the city planners
- Who were the influential architects and designers of the time
- How the city catered to its residents
By the end of the tour, you’ll have seen many fine examples of modern heritage buildings, each with a story that demonstrates how Abu Dhabi transformed from a quiet coastal settlement into a bustling metropolis in less than a half-century, virtually unrecognisable to those who visited it just a few decades ago.
Music:
Chris Zabriskie – Candlepower
Lee Rosevere – Start the Day
Lee Rosevere – Here's the Thing
Desert City by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Visit Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi has spent the last two decades quietly building one of the most compelling destination stories in the world, and Visit Abu Dhabi is where that story lives. The official tourism platform of the Department of Culture and Tourism, it covers the full sweep of what the emirate has to offer across three genuinely distinct destinations: a modern, cosmopolitan capital city, a dramatic interior of desert landscapes and oases, and a coastline of beaches, warm clear waters and desert islands that most visitors never expect to find here.
What comes through most consistently is the contrast. Abu Dhabi is a place where respect for the past informs everything being built for the future, where an ancient heritage city sits within reach of headline attractions, world-class cultural venues and a packed events calendar spanning the arts, sport, concerts and trade shows. Traditional Emirati hospitality and genuine architectural ambition occupy the same space without much friction, which is rarer than it sounds.
Visit Abu Dhabi exists to help travellers navigate all of it, with practical trip-planning resources alongside the kind of local insight that makes the difference between a good trip and a memorable one. Their seven audio tours, available in three languages, are a good place to start.
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Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 14
Zayed the First Street - Electra Street
Zayed the First Street, aka “Electra Street”, has a history like almost no other in Abu Dhabi. It has a feel that’s as residential as it is “big city” with low residential blocks hemmed in between dizzying skyscrapers. Flashback about two decades, and... Read More
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Cultural Foundation
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Qasr Al Hosn
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House Of Artisans
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Hamed Center
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Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Thani Mosque
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Total distance2km
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Distance back to start location1km
Directions to Starting Point
This tour begins at the Cultural Foundation, which sits opposite Qasr Al Hosn. It is located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, between Zayed the First Street, Khaled Bin Waleed Street, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street (5th Street) and Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed St (2nd Street).
There is a parking lot available across the street as well as underground parking on- site if you’re driving yourself.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
Cultural Foundation, Wild & the Moon Cafe, Children’s Library, Mirzam Chocolate Cafe, Qasr Al Hosn, House Of Artisans, Theater Cafe, Hamed Center, Al Ibrahimi Restaurant, Madinat Zayed Souq, Ajmal Perfumes, The Green Branch, Jones the Grocer Cafe
Best time of day
Taking the Modern Heritage Tour of downtown Abu Dhabi is an ideal afternoon activity as the temperature is cooler and the streets become more active in the afternoon/evening. It’s also encouraged to start the tour early, so that you have ample time to visit the different parts of the Cultural Foundation such as the Children’s Library, the showcased exhibitions and the F&B facilities.
Precautions
The region is known for its hot weather, and therefore we recommend taking a few precautions. Bring along a bottle of water, a hat and sunblock, and wear good walking shoes. Take care in crossing the street, making sure to use only dedicated pedestrian crossings. Please be respectful of regional dressing codes
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