Etihad · Zayed International (AUH) · Checked October 2026
Abu Dhabi Stopover
Free Etihad hotel nights explained, plus private tours by a licensed Abu Dhabi team since 2015.
Etihad gives you up to two free hotel nights and a Stopover Pass. It leaves out the rest: the ride from the airport, a way around the city and a safe run back for your flight. That part is ours, with your own driver from USD 190 per car and up to 30% off for a limited time.
- 1Land at Terminal A. Your driver is waiting at arrivals.
- 2See Abu Dhabi on your plan, one car all day.
- 3Step out at Terminal A 3 hours before you fly.
AED 699 · per car, half day, up to 7 guests
Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan and the Corniche · pickup at your stopover hotel
Send your stopover datesPlan and price back in minutes
The short answer
The Etihad Abu Dhabi Stopover in Six Lines
Checked against Etihad’s own stopover page in October 2026.
A complimentary stay of up to two nights in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain when you break a return Etihad journey there.
Etihad says it saves up to 15% on attractions, theme parks and tours. Claim it online after you book.
Etihad bookings only: flights bought through a travel agent are not eligible. Arrange the hotel at least three days before you fly.
The package has 24/7 check-in and check-out, so a 4 AM landing still goes straight to a bed.
Treat it as a free bed: room only, no breakfast, no transfers. Check in with your boarding pass and the hotel confirmation.
Your own car and driver from the stopover hotel to the mosque, the palace, the desert or Al Ain, from USD 190 per car.
Why book with us
Etihad Gives You the Room. We Give You Abu Dhabi.
The free nights cover a bed. Here is the rest of your stopover, step by step, from USD 27 a guest when 7 share the car.
- 1You land at Terminal A
EtihadNo transfers.
With usYour driver at arrivals, the Grand Mosque on the way.
- 2Check in at your hotel
EtihadThe free room and a voucher.
With usDropped at the lobby door of any partner hotel.
- 3Your city day
EtihadStopover Pass savings.
With usA private car for 4, 6 or 8 hours, pass tickets fitted to the route.
- 4Your evening
EtihadNothing planned.
With usDunes, camel, BBQ and shows, pickup around 3 PM, back by 10.30 PM.
- 5Your flight out
EtihadHotel checkout.
With usA last tour with bags in the car, at Terminal A 3 hours early.
- Flight late?We track it. The price never changes.
- Paying?On the day, no deposit. Cash, or card with an 8 to 10 percent bank charge.
Your days
Abu Dhabi Stopover Itinerary: 24 Hours and 48 Hours
Your stopover with our car, stop by stop. Times assume a weekday; on Fridays the mosque closes to visitors from 11.30 AM to 2.30 PM.
09:00 · 75 minSheikh Zayed Grand MosqueOpening hour: cool marble and thin crowds. Entry AED 10.
10:45 · 90 minQasr Al WatanThe presidential palace halls from 10 AM, ahead of the tour buses. AED 65.
12:30Lunch, then rest at the hotelSit out the midday heat; your driver drops you at the door.
- 15:00 · to 22:30Desert safari from your hotel
Dunes, a camel ride, sunset and a barbecue dinner at our Al Khatim camp.
Day 1 · the city
- 09:00Grand Mosque, then Qasr Al Watan
The two big interiors while you are fresh.
13:00Emirates Palace and the CornicheLunch by the water, a walk under the towers.
17:00Louvre Abu Dhabi at golden hourLight through the dome before sunset. Closed on Mondays.
Day 2 · choose one
Yas Island parksFerrari World or Warner Bros. World, about five hours. Tickets extra.
Desert eveningA slow morning, then dunes, camels and dinner from 3 PM.
Al AinThe oasis, Al Jahili Fort and the drive up Jebel Hafeet.
Stopover packages
Abu Dhabi Stopover Tours and Packages From AUH, Landing to Take-off
Pick by hours or by day. Every car is private for up to 7 guests, collected at Terminal A or your stopover hotel, with up to 30% off for a limited time.
City by the hour
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4 hoursFour Hours: Mosque, Palace, Corniche
Inside the Grand Mosque, photos at Qasr Al Watan and Emirates Palace, a Corniche drive, then back for a nap.
- Pickup at your hotel or Terminal A
- Fits the morning you land
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 245 (AED 899) per car
6 hoursSix Hours: Add a Museum Inside
The four-hour route plus time inside the Louvre or Qasr Al Watan, using your Stopover Pass ticket.
- Lunch stop on request
- Pass tickets fitted to the route
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 286 (AED 1,050) per car
About 8 hoursEight Hours: The Whole City
Mosque, palace, Louvre, Heritage Village and Yas Island in one unhurried day, with a long lunch between.
- Drop at Ferrari World if you like
- Back at the hotel before dinner
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 299 (AED 1,099) per car
City and desert
About 12 hoursCity by Day, Dunes by Night
Sights from 9 AM, a rest at your hotel, then dunes, camel, BBQ and shows at our Al Khatim camp.
- The same driver all day
- Hotel rest in between
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 572 (AED 2,099) per car
3 PM to 10.30 PMDesert Evening From Your Hotel
Dune drive, camel ride, sandboarding, BBQ dinner and live shows, collected from your stopover hotel.
- Shared 4×4 or your own car
- Free sandboarding and henna
Best experience: private Land Cruiser USD 245 (AED 899) per car
SunriseDawn Dunes Before Checkout
Pickup between 5 and 8 AM, quiet dunes and sandboarding, quad or buggy if you want, back before checkout.
- Private car, your group only
- Quad and buggy add-ons
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 272 (AED 999) per car
1 nightSwap a Hotel Night for the Desert
Dinner, shows and a tent at our camp, then sunrise on the dunes and a drive back for your flight day.
- Private 4×4 both ways
- Tent and dinner included
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 681 (AED 2,500) up to 5 guests
Day trips
Full dayAl Ain, the Garden City
Palm groves of the oasis and the old town, an easy day if Etihad put you in an Al Ain hotel.
- Private 4×4 and driver
- Stops at your pace
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 354 (AED 1,300) per car
About 10 hoursDubai in a Day, Back by Night
The Burj Khalifa district, the old souks and the Palm, then home to your Abu Dhabi hotel the same night.
- Pickup at your Abu Dhabi hotel
- Driver waits at every stop
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 490 (AED 1,800) per car
The day you land and the day you fly
The day you landTerminal A to Your Hotel, the Scenic Way
Your driver meets you at arrivals, takes you to the Grand Mosque and the Corniche, then drops you at your Etihad hotel.
- Bags stay in the car
- Flight tracked, no late fee
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 245 (AED 899) per car
The day you flyCheckout to Check-in, With Your Bags
Check out, load the cases, see what you missed, and step out at Terminal A 3 hours before your Etihad flight.
- Luggage locked in the car
- Route built back from your boarding time
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 245 (AED 899) per car
- 4.9from 10,000+ reviews
- 95,000+guests since 2015
- LicensedDCT Abu Dhabi, DTCM Dubai
- No depositpay on the day
Guest reviews
Stopover Guests on Their Abu Dhabi Drivers
Rated 4.9 across more than 10,000 reviews on Tripadvisor, Google and WhatsApp.
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★★★★★
Absolutely amazing driver
Our driver Fahad was absolutely amazing! He was so punctual, drove safely, and explained the rich history and culture of Abu Dhabi with so much passion. Highly recommend this tour during any layover!
Min-Jun, South KoreaJanuary 2024 · Private car, Abu Dhabi
★★★★★
Outstanding job
Our driver Ahmed did an outstanding job! Excellent guidance and very smooth driving. We had a memorable time exploring Abu Dhabi with him.
Lukas, GermanyFebruary 2024 · Abu Dhabi hidden gems
★★★★★
A must for a night layover
This night layover tour is a must! Smooth driving, no traffic, and our driver Qasim made it seamless. Clear communication and fantastic insights into Abu Dhabi.
Piotr, PolandFebruary 2024 · Night city run
Local operator, Abu Dhabi
Planned in Abu Dhabi, by the People Who Drive It
Etihad sells the flight and the room. The ground is ours: our office, our cars, our camp, and drivers who know which gate opens when.
- Licensed in Abu DhabiA DCT-licensed operator. Our office is at Al Sila Tower, Al Maryah Island.
- Our own desert campBuilt and run by us at Al Khatim, 45 to 55 minutes from the city. See it on Google Maps
- Permit-holding driversDune-driving permits, 10+ years at the wheel, insured vehicles.
- Answered at any hourOur team replies on WhatsApp 24/7, from booking to boarding.
Six things a local driver tells every stopover guest
- Friday changes the mosque plan. Visits run 9 to 11:30 AM, then reopen at 2:30 PM, so on a Friday we move the mosque to the afternoon.
- Entry is AED 10 for visitors from outside the UAE. Wear loose clothing that covers arms and legs; women also cover their hair.
- A late landing still sees the mosque. Sura, the official night tour, starts at 9 PM with an audio guide, booked on the mosque website.
- The Qasr Al Watan light show runs at 6:30 PM in October and its time moves every month, so we check it the week you land.
- The free stopover room has no transfer in Abu Dhabi. Etihad includes transfers only on the Al Ain option, so your car with us starts at Terminal A arrivals.
- Pick a camp that is close. Ours at Al Khatim is 45 to 55 minutes from the city; some camps out at Al Fakka take about 2.5 hours each way.
Reviewed by Bilal Ahmed, Founder and Managing Director of Royal Arabian Safari Tourism LLC, operating in Abu Dhabi since 2015. Written by our Abu Dhabi operations team. Facts checked against Etihad Stopover, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre and Qasr Al Watan.
How it works
How the Etihad Stopover Program Works, Step by Step
The Abu Dhabi stopover program is an Etihad product sold with your flights. There is no separate application and no code to hunt for.
- Book a return Etihad flight that connects in Abu DhabiOn etihad.com, choose your route, enter how long you want to stop and pick a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain in the same booking.
- Already have flights? Call EtihadAt least three days before departure, call Etihad with your booking reference to add the hotel nights to the trip.
- Get your hotel voucherOnce the booking is finalised, Etihad sends a voucher. Show it with your passport at hotel check-in.
- Land, clear immigration, check inYou need a pre-arranged UAE visa or a passport that gets one on arrival. Then the room is yours at any hour.
If your flight is changed or cancelled, Etihad says it will rebook the hotel free or refund it, terms apply. Source: Etihad’s Abu Dhabi stopover page, checked October 2026.
Included or not
What Is Included in the Etihad Stopover, and What Is Not
Most disappointment comes from expecting a holiday package. Read across each row before you plan the days.
| Item | Status | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel nights | Up to 2 free | One or two nights, room only, at selected 3 and 4-star hotels; three or four nights is a paid 5-star Premium package |
| Stopover Pass | Free | Attraction savings, claimed online |
| Check-in time | 24/7 | No waiting for a 3 PM room |
| Flight change | Rebooked or refunded | Terms apply, per Etihad |
| Breakfast and meals | Not included | Travellers report room-only stays |
| Airport transfers | Not included | Your own arrangement under Etihad’s terms; the Al Ain shuttle is a separate free add-on |
| Fees | Small | A nominal stopover fee at booking, and AED 15 tourism fee per room per night at the hotel |
| Sightseeing | Not included | Tours, tickets and cars are yours to arrange |
| UAE visa | Not included | Arrange it, or check your visa-on-arrival eligibility |
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Where you sleep
Etihad Stopover Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
These are the properties Etihad shows on its stopover page today. The list rotates, so treat it as a guide to the areas, not a promise.
| Hotel | Area | Stars | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traders Hotel | Al Maqta, Qaryat Al Beri | 4 | Closest to the Grand Mosque |
| Courtyard by Marriott WTC | Downtown | 4 | Walking to the souk and the Corniche |
| Aloft Abu Dhabi | City centre, by ADNEC | 4 | A modern base between airport and city |
| Crowne Plaza Yas Island | Yas Island | 5 | Ferrari World and the theme parks |
| Premier Inn Airport | Next to Zayed International | 3 | A short night before an early flight |
| Al Ain Rotana | Al Jahili, Al Ain | 5 | The oasis city, with Etihad’s free shuttle |
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Our driver collects from every one of these at the same per-car price, Yas Island and Al Ain included.
The discount card
The Etihad Stopover Pass, Explained
Two official sources describe the same pass differently, so here are both.
A complimentary Stopover Pass with every stopover booking, saving up to 15% on tickets to major attractions, theme parks and tours.
Free entry to 10 or more cultural landmarks, up to 50% off other attractions, a complimentary eSIM, and 60 days of validity from activation.
Go to theabudhabipass.com/etihad-stopover-pass, select Get pass now, verify your email and choose your pass.
Your pass gets the ticket. Our car gets you there.
| On your Stopover Pass | Where it sits in your plan |
|---|---|
| Qasr Al Watan, up to 50% off | Day 1 at 10:45, straight after the mosque |
| Louvre Abu Dhabi, pass pricing | Day 1 at 17:00 (closed Mondays) |
| Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld | Day 2 on Yas Island: dropped at the gate, collected when you text |
| Free tourist eSIM | Your driver messages you on it at arrivals |
Claim it before you land: the eSIM alone saves a SIM-shop queue at the airport.
Before you plan
Abu Dhabi Stopover Eligibility Checklist
Miss one line and the free nights do not apply.
- A qualifying Etihad ticketReturn tickets qualify across the network, except to or from Oman. One-way tickets qualify only between the Americas, Europe, Australia and the Far East. The stop must be at least 24 hours, on Etihad-operated flights.
- Booked with EtihadTickets from etihad.com, the Etihad call centre or selected approved trade partners only, and not in fare classes T, P, Z, G, O, I, N, X, R or S.
- Outside the blackout weeksNo free stopover from 1 to 6 November 2026 (ADIPEC) or 1 to 8 December 2026 (the Formula 1 Grand Prix).
- Hotel arranged three days aheadEither inside the flight booking or by calling Etihad at least three days before departure.
- One stopover per tripPublished terms limit the free stay to one leg, outbound or return, not both.
- A valid way into the UAEA pre-arranged visa, or a passport that qualifies for one on arrival.
- The voucher in handCarry the Etihad hotel voucher with your passport. No voucher, no room at the desk.
The other stopover city
The Al Ain Stopover Option
Etihad now lets you spend the free nights in Al Ain instead of the capital. It suits a second visit, or anyone who prefers palm groves to skylines.
Al Ain Oasis, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Al Jahili Fort, the Palace Museum and the drive up Jebel Hafeet.
Al Ain sits about two hours by road from Zayed International. Etihad runs a free shuttle to Al Ain city centre for these guests; call Etihad to add it.
A full Al Ain day by private 4×4 from USD 245 (AED 900) per car, from your Abu Dhabi or Al Ain hotel.
At the border
Visa and Luggage on an Abu Dhabi Stopover
Plenty of nationalities get a free entry stamp at the airport; the rest apply before flying. See our Abu Dhabi transit visa guide and confirm with Etihad.
On a stopover your bags usually come off in Abu Dhabi with you.
Booking
Book a Private Car for Your Abu Dhabi Stopover
- Send your stopover datesArrival and departure flights, your hotel name once Etihad confirms it, and your group size.
- Get a day-by-day planWe match the city, desert or Al Ain to the hours you have and reply with the per-car price.
- Meet your driverAt your hotel door at the agreed time. Pay the driver at the end in cash or by card.
+971 58 228 2683 · No deposit · Free cancellation up to 12 hours before pickup
Questions
Abu Dhabi Stopover Questions
Does Etihad offer a free stopover in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Book a return Etihad flight that connects in Abu Dhabi and you can add a complimentary stay of up to two nights in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain, plus a free Stopover Pass. Flights booked through a travel agent are not eligible.
What is included in the Etihad Abu Dhabi stopover?
Up to two hotel nights, 24/7 check-in and check-out, a Stopover Pass for attraction savings, and a free rebooking or refund of the hotel if Etihad changes your flight. Meals, sightseeing and the UAE visa are not included.
How do I book an Abu Dhabi stopover with Etihad?
On etihad.com, book a return flight connecting in Abu Dhabi, enter your stopover length and choose a hotel. If your flights are already booked, call Etihad at least three days before departure to add the hotel.
Are airport transfers included in the Etihad stopover?
No. Etihad’s terms make transfers to and from the hotel your own arrangement. For Al Ain, Etihad offers a free shuttle you add by phone. A taxi from the airport to the city takes about 30 minutes. Our driver can collect you at Terminal A arrivals instead and show you the Grand Mosque on the way to your hotel, from USD 190 per car.
Can I extend the free stopover to three or four nights?
Not on the free package. It covers one or two nights and is not offered when your flights need three or more. For three or four nights Etihad sells a paid Premium package at selected 5-star hotels with breakfast, and the two cannot be combined.
Is an Abu Dhabi stopover worth it?
For most long-haul trips, yes. Two free nights split a 14-hour journey, and the capital fits well into 48 hours: the Grand Mosque and Qasr Al Watan on day one, then Yas Island, the desert or Al Ain on day two. Skip it if your fare rises more than the hotel you save.
Why am I not eligible for the free Etihad stopover hotel?
Usually one of five reasons: the ticket came from an agent that is not an approved partner, the fare is in an excluded class, it is one-way outside the Americas, Europe, Australia and the Far East, the stop needs three or more nights, or your dates fall in a blackout week.
Do I need a visa for an Abu Dhabi stopover?
Yes, you must be able to enter the UAE. Many nationalities receive a free visa on arrival; others arrange one before travel. Etihad asks you to confirm this before you book.
What is the difference between a layover and a stopover in Abu Dhabi?
Time is the difference. A layover means changing planes within a day, normally without a hotel. A stopover means staying at least one night on purpose, and that planned stay is exactly what Etihad’s free-hotel offer is built for.
What happens if my Etihad flight lands late?
Your driver tracks the flight and waits at Terminal A arrivals. A late landing never changes the price. If it cuts into your plan, the route is shortened, and on the day you fly you are still dropped 3 hours before departure.
Are you part of Etihad?
No. Royal Arabian Safari is a separate Abu Dhabi company holding a DCT tourism licence. Etihad controls the free nights; we provide the car, the driver and the plan.
Can I spend an Abu Dhabi stopover inside the airport instead?
Only for a short one. Without leaving Terminal A you can use the Pearl Lounge, sold to anyone at USD 72 (AED 265) for 3 hours, or AUHotel rooms by the 6, 12 or 24 hour package. The free Etihad hotel nights need you to pass immigration and leave the airport. Compare both on our Abu Dhabi airport lounge guide.
Can I leave the airport on a stopover without the free hotel?
Yes. Any traveller who can enter the UAE may leave Terminal A, with or without the Etihad package. Many guests book their own hotel, keep the stopover to one day, and use a private car from arrivals so the luggage rides with them.
Which airlines offer a free stopover in the Gulf?
Etihad is the clear one: a return Etihad ticket that connects in Abu Dhabi can include up to two complimentary hotel nights in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain. Qatar Airways sells Doha stopover packages from about USD 14 per person per night, so it is cheap rather than free. Emirates runs Dubai Connect, which can cover a hotel for some long connections that meet its conditions. Check each airline’s own page for your ticket before you plan around it.
What is the catch with the Etihad free stopover?
Read the small print and there are five: the room is room only, with no breakfast; Abu Dhabi charges a tourism fee of AED 15 per room per night, paid at the hotel; airport transfers are not included; it works only on flights operated by Etihad, not on routes to or from Oman, and not on tickets bought through a travel agent; and if you cancel the hotel yourself, the hotel charge is not refunded. If immigration refuses your entry, Etihad’s terms allow a refund of the hotel. Source: Etihad’s Abu Dhabi stopover terms, checked October 2026.
Plan your trip