abu dhabi city tour private

Experience the best of Abu Dhabi with Withlocals

Find the perfect private tour

Select one of our local experts

Enjoy Abu Dhabi like a local

Let our local experts guide you through a handpicked selection of things to do on a private tour. Think hidden gems, insider stories, and all the local vibes. Ready to find your private tour of Abu Dhabi? Your adventure-packed day is just one click away!

Top 3 tours in Abu Dhabi

Make your stay in Abu Dhabi complete with these things to do

1 The Best of Abu Dhabi Private Layover Tour

2 Explore the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque with a Local Guide

3 Culinary Kickstart Tour: Abu Dhabi

Why you should book a withlocals tour, 100% customizable.

Let your local host tailor the tour completely to your wishes.

Private guided tours

No strangers on your tour. It’s just you and your local host.

Responsible

Our tours are designed with people, places & the planet in mind

Private tours with locals in Abu Dhabi

Our locals will give you the best experiences that Abu Dhabi has to offer

The Best of Abu Dhabi Private Layover Tour

Explore the sheik zayed grand mosque with a local guide, culinary kickstart tour: abu dhabi, withlocals your way - abu dhabi city tour, full coverage abu dhabi city tour, abu dhabi sundowners tour with a local, magical evening abu dhabi tour, explore abu dhabi with our incredible locals.

Learn about their personal stories and find out how you can explore Abu Dhabi with locals

Find experiences by category

Discover experiences based on your interest

• City highlights tours 3
• Night tours 2
• Art & Culture tours 1
• Food tours 1

Travelers love our locals

What other guests say about our tours and locals

Soooo welcome

"Khaled was soo caring... Made me feel at home, took me to the mosque the mandarin hotel the date market and even for dinner. I felt very cared for and he is very knowledgeable... Also because I was travelling alone he gave a discount, the other tour guides I asked were still charging me full price! Without any doubt he is the best and I recommend him "

"These guys were ready to accommodate changes and whims. They are super nice and made our experience a very nice one "

Fantastic tour

"We had a fantastic tour. Sandy was engaging, informative, and attentive. We would definitely recommend Sandy and Jose to anyone in Dubai and will be booking with them on return visits. "

Abudhabi Night Visit

"We were a group of 8 people arriving in Abu Dhabi at 9pm for an overnight layover. Sandy and his team were ready for us at arrivals on time. He made a booking for us at the Grand mosque and he really made a huge effort to ensure that we could visit this place which is only open till 10 PM. He showed us around and made the visit at the Mosque an experience to treasure for life. After the mosque they also tried to show us as much as possible of Abu Dhabi at night including the Ferrari track and Dates Market. The whole trip was about 5hours. For our group this was a brilliant start to our trip to Istanbul. I believe Sandy also does trips to Dubai. This is on my bucket list for a next trip. I would highly recommend Sandy and his team for any of these exercusions. Trust to meet up with them again in the near future."

So safe and taken care of as Solo traveler

"Sandy definitely knows his way around Abu Dhabi and Dubai. I was a bit nervous as a solo traveler but even since the first communications he was amazing. Recommend his agency a 100%"

Excellent Tour Guide

"My tour with Gomez was absolutely outstanding. It was totally personalized and flexible to meet my needs. Gomez is an affable person and he is always trying to make sure the tour matches your expectations. He is also not trying to force you to buy things and leaves you to do them as you deem appropriate. Overall cannot be happier. Highly recommend Gomez. You will enjoy the tour"

Review about Agnieszka

"We made a stop at Abu Dhabi during a cruise tour. I contacted Agnieszka before and informed her about my plan to ask my girlfriend on a beach if she wants to marry me. She has organised a city tour with 4 stops and arranged something in a beach bar where I could ask my question. Everything was perfect. Many thanks again to Agnieszka and I can only recommend a tour with her to anyone."

"Jose did a great job. He helped us out with an incentive job for pre-event program suggestion to on site support. Very professional job done."

Best Guide Best private tour

"Kindness and fun Agniezka take us (just 1 couple) to the higth ligths on Abu dhabi take us to lunch traditional very good food. Expensive but very mutch compensative tour the best way to visit Abu Dhabi in just one day with the best local."

Der Charme des abendlichen Abu Dhabi

"Wir haben eine wundervolle Abendtour mit unserem Guide Angieszka in Abu Dhabi erlebt. Sie hatte uns viel über die Geschichte, Kultur und Sehenswürdigkeiten von Abu Dhabi erzählt und uns zum Start zu einer trendigen Rooftop-Bar geführt, wo wir gemeinsam einen Cocktail genossen haben und einen fantastischen Blick auf die Stadt hatten. Im Anschluss haben wir den berühmten Fischmarkt besucht, wo uns frische Fische angeboten wurden, die man als Service dort gleich zubereiten lassen kann, entweder zum Mitnehmen oder zum Essen in einem der Restaurants dort. Es war super interessant und wir werden dies definitiv auch mal machen, wie uns Angieszka vorgeschlagen hat. Die Fahrt durch das nächtliche Abu Dhabi mit ihr war ein Highlight, mit tollem Blick auf die Skyline und mit interessanten Fotostopps. Zum Abschluss haben wir noch als Geheimtipp den Früchtemarkt besucht, wo wir in einem Geschäft verschiedenste Sorten von Datteln probieren durften. Die waren so lecker, dass wir spontan einkauft haben. Neben den traditionellen Datteln gibt es auch verschieden gefüllte und Datteln, welche auf mit Schokolade überzogen sind, ein Traum. Die Leute im Laden waren sehr freundlich und stopften uns nur so mit Daddeln zum Probieren voll. Mit Erfolg. Die Tüten konnten schwerer nicht sein, die wir aus dem Geschäft geschleppt haben. Angieszka hatte uns Ihre Stadt sehr kompetent, humorvoll und mit viel Herzblut präsentiert. Was für ein unvergesslicher Abend. Wir können die Tour mit Angeliza jedem empfehlen, der Abu Dhabi auf eine besondere Weise kennenlernen möchte."

Enjoy the Best of the Abu Dhabi Like a Local

Private & personalized tours in abu dhabi with a local.

When you hit the road and land in a new city like Abu Dhabi, there's an exciting way to dive into its soul: personalized local tours. Forget the typical touristy routes – these tours are like having a local friend show you around all the cool spots.

Imagine having someone who lives and breathes Abu Dhabi spill its secrets. That's what local guides bring to the table. They know the hidden alleys, the best bites, and stories that never made it to the guidebooks. Whether you're into munching through food tours, wandering the city's streets, or going off the beaten path, a local guide hooks you up with a private tour that's authentically Abu Dhabi.

The best part? These tours are all about you. No herding in big groups or rushing through places you're not interested in. With private tours, you're the boss. Whether it's snapping pics at iconic landmarks, diving into history, or checking out the art scene, the tour is tuned to your vibes at your tempo.

But it doesn't stop at city limits. Day trips let you escape the urban jungle and explore nearby wonders. And if you're just setting foot in Abu Dhabi, kickstart tours give you a taste of everything. Think of it as a crash course in Abu Dhabi awesomeness, guided by a local who knows the city like the back of their hand.

So, next time you're in Abu Dhabi, ditch the ordinary. Grab a local tour and unlock the city's real magic – the stories, flavors, and places that make it uniquely Abu Dhabi. Get ready to explore like a local!

Related Abu Dhabi pages

You might be interested in these

• Guides in Abu Dhabi
• City Highlight Tours in Abu Dhabi
• Night Tours in Abu Dhabi
• Art & Culture Tours in Abu Dhabi
• Food Tours in Abu Dhabi
• Walking Tours in Abu Dhabi
• Car Tours in Abu Dhabi
• Short Tours in Abu Dhabi
• Half day Tours in Abu Dhabi
• Full day Tours in Abu Dhabi
• Luxury Tours in Abu Dhabi
• Things To Do Tomorrow in Abu Dhabi
• United Arab Emirates
• Tours in Abu Dhabi

• Sightseeing Tours

Abu Dhabi Private City Tour

Full description

Choose your service, choose your included service:, select date and travelers, select pickup location.

Earn {{product && options.product.points}} Skywards Miles

How to earn Skywards Miles

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing, elit ridiculus vitae libero natoque auctor, vehicula feugiat dui fringilla potenti. Interdum hac ultrices faucibus libero ad litora ultricies, quis etiam aptent vulputate parturient pellentesque donec,

Other experiences you might like

Recently viewed.

• Champions League
• Motor Sports
• High School
• Horse Racing Northeast
• Shop Northeast
• PBR Northeast
• 3ICE Northeast
• Stubhub Northeast
• Play Golf Northeast

NFL considers -- and tours -- Abu Dhabi as expanding international series looks for new host cities

The middle eastern city is one of several site visits for the league, others include paris, barcelona and rome.

As the NFL world turns, the league's international slate resumes this week with the Vikings and Jets facing off Sunday in London, England. And as the global expansion of the league continues, there's one corner of the world the NFL may soon penetrate. 

The NFL conducted a site visit to Abu Dhabi within the past year, five sources told CBS Sports, scouting out the United Arab Emirates capital city to potentially host an NFL regular-season game in the coming years. 

The Middle Eastern city is one of several site visits for the league, according to sources. The NFL has also looked at Paris, France; Barcelona, Spain; Rome, Italy; Dublin, Ireland; and the Australian cities of Sydney and Melbourne. 

The NFL has held regular season games outside of the United States, beginning first with Mexico City, Mexico, and expanding in 2007 to London, England, where more international NFL games have been played than any other nation. This year the NFL will produce five games outside of America: A Week 1 game in São Paolo, Brazil; three in London; and one in Munich, Germany.

Next season, the NFL can expand its international helping to eight games. The league has already stated its intentions for a 2025 game in Madrid, Spain, and it's logical to assume the two London games plus a Germany game will continue. The NFL has also hoped to return to Mexico City after a two-year hiatus due to stadium construction, and the Brazil game was considered a success by many in the league office. 

"As the NFL looks to expand its international footprint going forward, the league is evaluating sites for potential future games in markets such as France, Ireland, Australia, Italy, UAE and multiple others," a league source said, "as well as a likely return to Brazil and Mexico, a first-ever game in Spain next season and continued games in London and across Germany."

That still leaves at least two slots open to hit the maximum number of eight games in 2025. And when — not if — there's an expansion of the regular season to 18 games, it will help make NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's dream of 16 international games far more feasible. 

"The UAE is not necessarily next on the list," a source said. "But there's a feeling inside the league a little bit that it has 'done' Europe. The UAE feels like branching out."

The site survey in Abu Dhabi shows the continued desire for international expansion of America's most popular sports league, while also raising questions about the unique challenges of exploring a nation so different culturally and in governance from America.

"Abu Dhabi is theoretically the safest political harbor of all the places in the Middle East," one high-ranking NFL team executive told CBS Sports. "Saudi Arabia, clearly not. Qatar, no. If I'm in the NFL and see the fact the NBA has done it (for) three years and they're way more progressive, you're safest doing it." 

This weekend, the NBA's Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets play two preseason games in Abu Dhabi as part of the league's agreement with the city's culture and tourism department. That partnership is now in its third year, and it shows the UAE's belief in sports helping grow both its economy and reputation on a global scale.

In announcing the partnership in 2021, department head Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said: "Today's announcement further demonstrates the emirate's position as a top-tier home for global sports and for attracting the very best talent. Abu Dhabi is committed to further developing as a dynamic global destination, adding the NBA to our impressive year-round portfolio of sports and entertainment events, only reinforces the UAE capital's standing as a centre of sporting excellence."

Abu Dhabi has grown rapidly in recent years thanks to the incredible wealth related to oil money as well as a robust tourism plan chaired by the crown prince. The " Tourism Strategy 2030 " calls for an increase in visitors from 24 million in 2023 to 39.3 million by 2030, as well as a nearly doubling the UAE's annual GDP in that same time frame. 

"Money is fueling it all. It's hard to disagree with that," one source said. "But the league has to be aware of what it's getting into."

There are various human-rights concerns related to the UAE.

Freedom House, an American organization that monitors freedom and democracy globally, rates people's access to political rights and civil liberties in countries across the world. The United Arab Emirates scored an 18 out of a possible 100 on its global freedom score, a grade that comes with the label of "not free." That score was just above Venezuela at 15 but below Qatar at 25, for comparison. The United States of America scored an 83, while Mexico at 60 had the lowest current score of any country to host an NFL game.

"There are certainly people at the NFL whose eyes are wide open about the culture," said a source. "The NFL (is) not entering this lightly with the different issues and reactions people may have. [The NFL gets] treated differently even though other leagues have gone there."

Hosting a game in Abu Dhabi would also pose logistical challenges. 

For a team on the USA's east coast, the flight would be about 12 hours, with a 14-hour return. Additionally, there's an eight-hour time difference.

That would be the longest flight and biggest time difference the NFL has experienced in its time staging international contests. Based on that alone, the travel would almost surely involve a bye week following the game for both teams. 

The league has shown it has a stomach for long travel and uncomfortable scheduling, though. The Packers took an 11-hour flight to Brazil last month. And the league figured out a way to stage two Christmas Day games later this year on a Wednesday while having those four teams play the previous Saturday.

And then, of course, there's the money.

"From a commercial revenue standpoint, it has unlimited potential," a second high-ranking NFL team executive said. "You definitely have to explore it."

The NBA is hardly the only sports league that has involved itself in the Middle East and, in particular, the UAE. The UFC has hosted events in the UAE dating back to 2019. FIFA awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar (a decision that helped drive a massive corruption case against the global soccer governing body). And the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league has disrupted professional golf like nothing before. 

Sovereign wealth has become more relevant in American sports in recent years. The Abu Dhabi United Group is a private equity fund that owns a majority stake in Manchester City and the MLS's NYCFC, among other sports properties. 

Over the summer, NFL owners approved a resolution allowing private equity funds to get involved in the league. PE funds can invest in a maximum of six teams and shares of between 3 and 10 percent of each team. That ownership would be passive — meaning no voting rights — and eight funds have been provisionally approved. But the league set up guardrails that would prohibit sovereign funds like the Abu Dhabi United Group from directly investing in teams. 

Talk of private equity within the NFL has gone on for decades, but discussions heated up in recent years as team valuations — and the costs of running the business — have soared.

And while the NFL generated upwards of $20 billion last year, there's always more to be had. Times are changing and cultural moods are shifting. As professional sports continue to tour the Middle East, the NFL may not be far behind. 

Said a high-ranking team source, "I'd be surprised if they didn't get there eventually." 

Our Latest NFL Stories

Report: Watson settles latest lawsuit alleging assault

Cody benjamin • 1 min read.

LOOK: Chiefs WR shows support for injured Rashee Rice

Jordan dajani • 1 min read, report: latest update on chiefs wr rashee rice's injury, bryan deardo • 1 min read.

Chiefs vs. Saints odds, MNF expert picks

Cbs sports staff • 3 min read.

NFL DFS picks, lineup advice for Saints vs. Chiefs

Saints vs. chiefs odds, week 5 mnf picks, model sims, cbs sports staff • 4 min read, share video.

NFL considering Abu Dhabi as possible host city

Week 5 grades: Giants get A- for gritty road win

Five things you may have missed in Week 5

Worst NFL contracts: Top 10 costly blunders

Week 5 overreactions: Rodgers washed up?

Week 6 early odds: Dallas home dogs

Patriots' Peppers arrested on drug, assault charges

Bucs leave Tampa early with major hurricane approaching

Pats' Mayo strikes different tone on potential QB switch

Cowboys CB calls out Steelers WR for altercation