When talking about the United Arab Emirates, most people immediately think of Dubai as one of the most famous cities in the world. However, Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE and also the largest and richest emirate. On the other hand, Dubai has a larger population and is known as a world-class tourism and business center, which makes it very attractive for investors due to its zero tax system.
Let’s compare both cities at a glance:
| Abu Dhabi Capital of UAE |
Dubai Business hub of UAE |
|
| Citizens | 1.807.000 | 3.564.931 |
| Area of the city | 972 km² | 1.610 km² |
| Area of the emirate | 67.340 km² | 4.114 km² |
| GDP per capita | US$ 61.000 (2014) | US$ 44.000 (2015) |
| Top 3 tourist places | 1. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center 2.Ferrari World 3. Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental |
1. Burj Khalifa 2.Dubai Mall 3. Burj Al Arab |
When thinking about whether it is worth visiting Abu Dhabi, I can definitely recommend it because Abu Dhabi is very different from Dubai in the following ways:
Culture
Abu Dhabi is much more conservative than Dubai. This is visible when you enter the malls in Abu Dhabi where you see more people in their traditional dresses. During Ramadan, stricter restrictions apply in Abu Dhabi than in Dubai, although there are some places where you can eat and drink behind a privacy screen. This will change, while in Dubai it is already different and where it even sells alcohol you can eat in public without hiding.
Traffic
Traffic in Abu Dhabi is calmer and more respected than in Dubai. This is also because different speed limits apply in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. While in Dubai you are allowed to exceed the speed limit by 20 km/h, in Abu Dhabi you are allowed to exceed the speed limit. 100 km/h means a maximum of 100 km/h > anyone who exceeds 1 km/h risks a speeding ticket. I felt safer driving in Abu Dhabi than in Dubai, where there are always some cars trying to run you off the road for no reason.
Tourism
It can be assumed that Dubai is definitely a tourist magnet, which is often overcrowded and leads to long waiting times. Either you have to queue at the counters or you are stuck in traffic at certain times. This can be very tiring, although Abu Dhabi is less crowded and less stressful compared to Dubai.
Airport
An important fact for travelers is the connection and the price of the flight to one of the two cities. While the airport in Dubai is located within the city and is well connected to the metro, Abu Dhabi offers cheaper prices on airline tickets. You should take this into account when booking your trip to the UAE.
Conclusion
Abu Dhabi and Dubai differ not only in their size, but also in their orientation. While Abu Dhabi is more conservative and traditional, it is one of the safest places in the world whereas Dubai offers a modern lifestyle with a great nightlife. The distance between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is approximately 140 km or 1-1.5 hours. So, if you are traveling to Dubai, a trip to Abu Dhabi should definitely be on your list. Check out my blog on 12 THINGS TO DO IN ABU DHABI.