A Halal school trip to Abu Dhabi offers your students the opportunity to explore one of the most important cities in the Middle East!
School trips to Abu Dhabi offers your students the opportunity to explore the rich history and culture of the United Arab Emirates!
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and is also the country’s second-most populous city, after Dubai. Once a small, ethnically homogenous settlement based around the pearl industry, Abu Dhabi grew exponentially when oil was found in the Persian Gulf in the 1950s.
Read more
Why visit Abu Dhabi?
Discover Emirati culture
As the capital of the United Arab Emirates, where better to explore Emirati culture than Abu Dhabi? On your school trip to Abu Dhabi, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to immerse yourselves in the local culture, from the modern to the more traditional.
If you are interested in traditional Emirati culture, we can highly recommend a visit to the Heritage Village. With reconstructions of a fort, a souk and a mosque, as well as traditional barasti houses and a Berber camp, this attraction offers a great insight into the traditional way of life in the desert.
You’ll be able to see how people used to cool buildings before air conditioning was invented and see how they still irrigate their fields to grow crops in a desert landscape.
Explore Islam in the UAE
Abu Dhabi is also a great choice of destination for religious studies groups and groups from Islamic faith schools. Thanks to its unique socioeconomic development, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE in general, is much more tolerant of other religions than many of its more conservative neighbours.
In fact, Abu Dhabi is currently building an Abrahmic Family House which will include a church, a synagogue and a mosque, celebrating the shared beliefs and origins of these three major world religions.
And no school trip to Abu Dhabi would be complete without a visit to the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. A stunning example of modern Islamic architecture, it references all the major Islamic empires while at the same time being a very contemporary building.
See the effects of rapid urbanisation
For any groups studying geography, Abu Dhabi is a really interesting example of rapid urbanisation and modern city planning.
Back in the 1970s, modern Abu Dhabi was designed for a population that was expected to peak at 600,000 – the urban area is now home to 1.5 million people. The city is well known for its skyscrapers, but it’s also known for its many green parks and gardens, which is remarkable when you consider that this area was once desert.
On your school trip to Abu Dhabi, your students will be able to explore the history of the city and the reasons behind its rapid development, as well as discover some of the issues that such rapid urbanisation has caused.
Browse our trips
Why choose Halsbury?
We build your trip around you
Tell us your learning objectives, curriculum and budget and we’ll do the rest.
Contact usWe’re trusted for a reason
We’re members of ABTA, ABTOT and the School Travel Forum. We also hold an ATOL and the LOtC Quality Badge.
Read moreOur Education specialists
Laura Lucas
Tour Consultant
Paul Hudson
Tour Consultant
Laura Martin
Language Sales & Product Manager
Emma Gray da Silva
Tour Consultant
Meet our education specialists and get to know more about the people committed to making your school trip the best it can be.
Activities in Abu Dhabi that your school group will love
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in the UAE. It’s used for daily, Friday and Eid prayers
Abu Dhabi City Tour
Abu Dhabi is the second most populous city in the United Arab Emirates and capital of the largest emirate. Avisit
Heritage Village, Abu Dhabi
Want to know more about what life was like in the United Arab Emirates before the discovery of oil? Then
Louvre Abu Dhabi
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is the largest art museum in the Arabian Peninsula and focuses on bridging the gap between
Falcon Hospital Tour
On a visit to the Falcon Hospital, your students will learn about the history of falconry in the United Arab
Jubail Mangrove Park
Jubail Mangrove Park is an unmissable visit on your school trip to Abu Dhabi. Here, your students will explore this
Qasr Al-Watan
Qasr Al-Watan means ‘Palace of the Nation’ in Arabic. The Presidential palace, Qasr Al-Watan is located in Abu Dhabi and
Ferrari World
Abu Dhabi’s famous Yas Marina is perhaps best known as one of the stalwarts of the Formula One calendar. And
FAQs
How long should we spend in Abu Dhabi on a school trip?
We would recommending spending about 5 days in Abu Dhabi on your school trip, in order to make the most of everything the city has to offer.
What's the best time of year to visit Abu Dhabi?
We would recommend visiting Abu Dhabi in December, January or February if possible, before it gets too hot.
What's the best way to get around Abu Dhabi?
It's generally quite easy to get around Abu Dhabi on foot, with the city's efficient bus system available for longer trips.
Which visits are a must on a school trip to Abu Dhabi?
We would highly recommend a visit the Heritage Village, where your students can explore what life was like in the pre-modern UAE. And for any art lovers, a visit to the Louvre Abu Dhabi is unmissable. To learn more about the importance of Islam in Emirati culture, make sure you visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. And if you have any fans of Formula 1, do not miss a visit to Ferrari World on Yas Island, close to the Yas Marina Grand Prix circuit.
Are there any free things to do in Abu Dhabi?
There are lots of free things to do in Abu Dhabi! It's actually free to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the world's largest mosques. And you can take a stroll around the city's oldest souks at Mina Port.
Let's chat!