Abu Dhabi Starter Pack

Zayed International Airport (AUH) is about 30-40 minutes from the city center and 15 minutes from Yas Island.

Official taxis, Careem and Uber run from the arrivals level, and intercity buses link the airport to downtown.

Dubai is about 90 minutes away by road, and many people live in one city and work in the other.

Traffic on the Dubai road is heavy on Friday evenings and Sunday evenings.

Many nationalities get a visit visa on arrival for 30 to 90 days. Check the current rule for your passport before you fly.

Most residents get a residence visa through an employer, a freelance permit, a company they own, or property investment.

The UAE Virtual Working Programme gives remote workers a one-year residence visa with proof of a steady income.

After entry, the usual steps are a medical test, fingerprints for your Emirates ID, and the residence visa.

The TAMM platform is the main online portal for Abu Dhabi government services, from visas to traffic fines.

Overstaying a visa is fined for each day, so renew or leave before it ends.

Summer (Jun-Sep) is very hot and humid, often 40-45°C (104-113°F). Most people stay indoors in the afternoon.

Winter (Nov-Mar) is the best season, with 20-30°C days that suit the Corniche, beaches and parks.

Rain is rare, but sudden storms can flood roads for a few hours.

Everything indoors is air-conditioned, so carry a light layer even in summer.

Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year. Opening hours change and many places are quieter in the day.

Police

Ambulance

Fire and civil defence

Abu Dhabi Police Aman service for non-emergency questions and reports

Save these numbers in your phone before you need them.

Abu Dhabi has no metro. The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) runs the city buses, and you pay with a Hafilat card.

Buy a Hafilat card at bus stations and top it up at machines. Buses cover the main areas but are slower than a car.

Official taxis run on a meter. Careem and Uber also work well and show the price up front.

A car is the easiest way to get around, and rent and parking cost less than in Dubai. Darb toll gates operate on the main bridges at peak hours.

Many nationalities can swap their home driving licence for a UAE one. Others must take lessons and a test at a driving school.

Cross only at marked crossings. Jaywalking is fined, and drink-driving is not tolerated at all.

The two mobile operators are e& (formerly Etisalat) and du. Both sell prepaid SIMs in shops and at the airport, and you need your passport or Emirates ID.

Home fibre internet comes from e& or du. You usually need your Emirates ID and a tenancy contract to sign up.

Voice calls on WhatsApp and FaceTime are restricted. Licensed apps such as Botim and C'me handle calls, and messaging and video work normally.

Cafes and coworking spaces in Al Maryah Island, Al Reem and Masdar City are the usual places for remote work.

Currency: UAE Dirham (AED), pegged to the US dollar at about 3.67.

Local banks include First Abu Dhabi Bank, ADCB, Emirates NBD and Mashreq. Digital banks such as Wio and Liv also open accounts for residents.

To open an account you usually need your passport, Emirates ID, residence visa and a salary letter or proof of address.

There is no personal income tax. VAT is 5% and is added to most prices.

Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, but keep some cash for taxis and small shops.

Wise and other transfer apps work well for sending money home.

Al Reem Island and Al Maryah Island: modern towers, walkable, and popular with young professionals.

Corniche, Khalidiya and Al Markaziyah: the classic city center, near the sea, shops and restaurants.

Saadiyat and Yas Island: beaches, museums, golf and family villas, at higher rents.

Khalifa City, Mohammed Bin Zayed City and Al Raha: quieter suburbs with villas and lower rents.

Your tenancy contract must be registered on Tawtheeq. You need it for utilities, internet and your visa.

Rent is often paid in one to four post-dated cheques. Only sign a cheque you can cover, because a bounced cheque can lead to a police case.

Electricity and water are billed through the TAQA group's Abu Dhabi Distribution Company. Register with your Tawtheeq contract and Emirates ID, and expect a refundable deposit.

Abu Dhabi has food from almost every country, and many of the best cheap meals are in the older streets around Hamdan and Electra.

Try Emirati dishes such as machboos and luqaimat, and a cup of karak chai.

Alcohol is served only in licensed hotels and venues, and drinking in public is not allowed.

Supermarkets keep pork in a separate section.

Friday brunch is a well-known tradition in the big hotels.

The Corniche has a long promenade, a clean public beach and cycle paths, and it is at its best in winter.

The Eastern Mangroves can be explored by kayak, and Jubail Mangrove Park has a boardwalk.

Yas Island and Saadiyat have beach clubs and open beaches, and Umm Al Emarat Park is a large green space.

Al Ain and Jebel Hafeet are about 90 minutes away and good for a cooler day of hiking.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is free to enter. Cover your arms and legs, and women need a headscarf.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island is the main art museum, and Qasr Al Watan shows the working presidential palace.

Yas Island has Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World and the Yas Marina Circuit, home to the Formula 1 season finale.

The Al Ain oasis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an easy day trip.

Running and cycling on the Corniche and the Yas Marina circuit are popular, especially at dawn.

Padel, golf, sailing and paddleboarding all have active clubs, and many buildings have their own pool and gym.

Indoor options such as ice rinks and climbing walls fill the hot months.

The work week is Monday to Friday, and the weekend is Saturday and Sunday. Some firms still work on Saturday, and Friday prayer is at midday.

Health insurance is mandatory in Abu Dhabi. Employers must cover employees, and you must arrange cover for your family.

Private schools are regulated by ADEK. Good places fill early, so apply many months ahead. Fees vary a lot.

Dress modestly in malls and public places, and keep swimwear to beaches and pools. Public rudeness and public displays of affection can bring fines.

Abu Dhabi is quieter and more conservative than Dubai, and life here suits people who want space and calm.