Etihad stopover guests · Abu Dhabi and Al Ain · October 2026
Etihad Stopover Tours in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
Etihad gives you the hotel nights; we fill the days. Private tours from any Etihad stopover hotel, timed around your EY flights, including a last-morning tour that ends at Terminal A with your bags in the boot. From USD 190 per car.
AED 899 · per car, full day from your hotel, up to 7 guests
Mosque, palace and the Louvre or Yas · lobby pickup
Send your EY flight numbersDays planned in minutes
For Etihad passengers
Etihad Stopover Tours: What the Free Nights Leave Out
Etihad covers the room. The days are yours to plan. Here is how our private tours slot around an Etihad stopover. The programme rules themselves are on our Abu Dhabi stopover guide.
Every hotel on Etihad’s stopover list, from Yas Island to Al Ain, at the same per-car price.
Send your two flight numbers and the plan is built backwards from your onward departure.
Check out with your bags, tour the city, and be dropped at Terminal A 3 hours before your flight.
The Stopover Pass discounts tickets; it does not move you. We do the moving.
No shared bus collecting other hotels first, which matters when you only have two days.
Royal Arabian Safari is licensed by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism. We are not part of Etihad.
From your hotel
Drive Times from Etihad Stopover Hotels to the Big Sights
Approximate times in normal traffic, so you can see what a half day really holds from your base.
| Your stopover hotel | To the Grand Mosque | To the desert camp | To Terminal A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traders Hotel, Al Maqta | About 5 minutes | About 45 minutes | About 20 minutes |
| Aloft, by ADNEC | About 10 minutes | About 50 minutes | About 25 minutes |
| Courtyard WTC, Downtown | About 20 minutes | About 60 minutes | About 35 minutes |
| Crowne Plaza Yas Island | About 20 minutes | About 45 minutes | About 10 minutes |
| Premier Inn Business Park | About 20 minutes | About 40 minutes | About 10 minutes |
| Al Ain hotels | About 1 hour 45 | About 1 hour | About 1 hour 45 |
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Our desert camp is at Al Khatim, between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, which is why Yas and the airport hotels reach it as fast as the city does.
Arrival to departure
A Two-Night Etihad Stopover, Organised Around the Flights
Etihad’s long-haul banks often land early in the morning. Check-in is round the clock, so a 6 AM arrival can sleep first and still use the afternoon.
Arrival dayRest, then sunset in the dunesSleep off the flight, then a 3 PM hotel pickup for the evening desert safari: dunes, camels, dinner, back by 10.30 PM.
Day twoThe capitalThe Grand Mosque at 9, Qasr Al Watan from 10, lunch, then the Louvre Abu Dhabi or Yas Island with your Stopover Pass.
Departure dayThe last morningCheck out, load the bags, see what you missed, and arrive at Terminal A three hours before the EY flight.
One night instead of two? Swap the order: city on arrival day, then the desert evening, and a straight hotel-to-airport run in the morning.
Free nights or Premium nights
Free or Premium Etihad Stopover: How Many Tours Fit
Etihad sells the stopover in two versions. The number of nights decides how much of Abu Dhabi you can see, so plan the tours around the tier, not the other way round.
| What changes | Free stopover | Premium stopover |
|---|---|---|
| Nights | 1 or 2, complimentary | 3 or 4, paid |
| Hotel | Selected 3 or 4 star, room only | Selected 5 star, breakfast included |
| Room cost | Free, plus a tourism fee of AED 15 per room per night | Quoted by Etihad for your dates |
| Tours that fit | One city day and one evening in the desert | City, desert, then Al Ain or a full Dubai day |
| Your private car with us | From USD 190 (AED 699), up to 7 guests | Dubai day USD 408 (AED 1,500); Land Cruiser, the best experience, USD 490 (AED 1,800) |
Etihad sets the tiers, hotels and room prices and can change them, so confirm your quote on etihad.com. Our tours are booked separately with us, with no deposit, and paid to the driver on the day.
The overlooked half day
The Departure-Day Tour: Hotel to Terminal A, the Long Way
Most stopover guests waste the last morning waiting for a taxi. Hotels check you out at any hour under Etihad’s 24/7 policy, so the time between check-out and the airport is real touring time.
Suitcases stay locked in the car for the whole tour. No left-luggage desk, no return to the hotel.
We finish at Terminal A departures, timed to arrive 3 hours before your flight, or 4 if you fly to the US.
From USD 190 (AED 699) per car for a half day, up to 7 guests, with the airport drop built in.
Staying in Al Ain
Tours for Etihad’s Al Ain Stopover Guests
Etihad now offers the free nights in Al Ain, with a complimentary Etihad Shuttle between the airport and Al Ain city centre that you add by phone.
Four Points by Sheraton, Radisson Blu, Al Ain Rotana, Danat Al Ain Resort and the three Ayla hotels, per Etihad.
At Al Ain Rotana, Danat Al Ain Resort and Ayla Grand, according to Etihad’s Al Ain stopover page.
A full day in the Garden City by private 4×4 with a driver who knows it, USD 245 (AED 900) per car.
We collect in Al Ain for a capital day trip too. Allow about 1 hour 45 each way.
Pass plus car
Getting More from the Etihad Stopover Pass
Etihad says the Pass saves up to 15% on attractions, parks and tours. It covers tickets, so pair it with stops that charge entry.
| Stop | Entry | Pass worth claiming? |
|---|---|---|
| Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | AED 10 for tourists | Small saving at most |
| Qasr Al Watan | AED 65 adult | Yes, check before you buy |
| Louvre Abu Dhabi | Paid ticket | Yes |
| Yas Island theme parks | The biggest ticket of the trip | Yes, the largest saving |
| Corniche, Emirates Palace grounds | Free to view | Not needed |
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Tours
Private Tours for Etihad Stopover Guests
Lobby pickup, your group only, one price per car for up to 7 people, with up to 30% off for a limited time.
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Full dayEtihad Stopover Day Tour
Mosque, palace, Corniche and the Louvre or Yas, at your pace, from any Etihad stopover hotel.
- Lobby pickup
- Stops you choose
Land Cruiser upgrade, our best ride: USD 326 (AED 1,199)
Arrival dayDesert Evening from Your Stopover Hotel
Sleep off the flight, then dunes, a camel, sandboarding and dinner under the stars at our Al Khatim camp.
- 3 PM pickup
- Back about 10.30 PM
Best experience: private Land Cruiser USD 245 (AED 899) per car
Your own car instead: USD 190 (AED 699)
Last morningDeparture-Day City Tour
Check out, bags in the boot, the sights you missed, then Terminal A three hours before your EY flight.
- Bags stay in the car
- Ends at departures
Land Cruiser upgrade, our best ride: USD 245 (AED 899)
Al Ain hotelsAl Ain Day for Stopover Guests
Sunrise on Jebel Hafeet, palm shade in the oasis and the forts of the Garden City, from your Al Ain or Abu Dhabi hotel.
- Private 4×4
- Al Ain pickup
Land Cruiser upgrade, our best ride: USD 354 (AED 1,300)
Booking
Book Around Your Etihad Itinerary
- Send the EY flight numbersInbound and onward, plus the hotel Etihad confirmed for you.
- Choose the daysWe suggest which tour fits which day and confirm the per-car price.
- Meet at the lobbyYour driver waits at reception. Settle up after the tour, cash or card.
+971 58 228 2683 · Nothing upfront · Cancel free up to 12 hours ahead
All options
Every Etihad Stopover Option, Priced Per Car
Collected at your partner hotel or Terminal A. Tap Details for the day plan, Book to send it on WhatsApp.
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- 4.9from 10,000+ reviews
- 95,000+guests since 2015
- LicensedDCT Abu Dhabi, DTCM Dubai
- No depositpay on the day
Local operator, Abu Dhabi
Your Etihad Nights, Run by an Abu Dhabi Team
Etihad books the room from its headquarters. Every hour outside that room runs on Abu Dhabi roads, and those are the roads we work every day.
- 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 local notes for Etihad stopover guests
- Land at 4 AM, sleep at 5. Etihad stopover hotels run a flexible 24/7 check-in, so we plan your city hours for after you rest.
- Arrange the hotel three days ahead. Call Etihad with your booking reference; tickets bought through agents are generally not eligible.
- The Stopover Pass covers tickets, not transport. It cuts attraction prices; the car between the attractions is the part you still need.
- Fridays split the mosque day. Doors close for prayer from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, so your Friday tour visits after lunch.
- Arriving after dark? The Grand Mosque runs Sura, its official self guided night visit, from 9 PM.
- The desert is closer than most think. Our own camp at Al Khatim is 45 to 55 minutes out, so a sunset safari fits a stopover evening.
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, The Abu Dhabi Pass and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre.
Questions
Etihad Stopover Tour Questions
Do you offer tours for Etihad stopover passengers?
Yes. We run private city, desert and Al Ain tours timed to Etihad stopover dates, collecting from any partner hotel and pricing per car for up to 7 guests.
Do you collect from all Etihad partner hotels?
Yes. Every property on Etihad’s stopover list, in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain, gets a lobby pickup at no extra charge. Forward us Etihad’s hotel voucher and we handle the rest.
Can I take a tour on the day I fly out of Abu Dhabi?
Yes. We collect you and your bags at check-out, tour the city and drop you at Terminal A 3 hours before your Etihad flight, or 4 for US departures.
What is the best way to spend two days on an Etihad stopover?
Rest on arrival and take the evening desert safari, give day two to the Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan and the Louvre or Yas, and use the departure morning for anything you missed.
Can I use the Etihad Stopover Pass on your tours?
The Pass discounts attraction tickets, not private cars. Claim it for Qasr Al Watan, the Louvre or the Yas parks, and we drive you between them.
Do you collect from Al Ain stopover hotels?
Yes. We run Al Ain day tours from Al Ain hotels and can bring Al Ain guests to Abu Dhabi for a city day, about 1 hour 45 each way.
Is the Etihad stopover hotel really free?
Up to two nights are complimentary on a return Etihad ticket booked direct, with a Stopover Pass. The full rules are on our Abu Dhabi stopover guide.
Can we do a desert safari on an Etihad stopover?
Yes. The evening safari collects you at your stopover hotel around 3 PM and returns you about 10.30 PM, at USD 41 (AED 150) a head in a shared 4×4, or USD 190 (AED 699) for your own car.
How much are Etihad stopover tours?
A full day around Abu Dhabi is USD 245 (AED 899) per car, the last-morning tour to the airport USD 190 (AED 699), and Al Ain USD 245 (AED 900). Each car seats up to 7, and Land Cruisers cost a little more.
Are you Etihad’s official tour partner?
No. Royal Arabian Safari is an independent operator licensed by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism. Etihad handles your flights and free nights; we handle the days.
Which Etihad stopover hotel is best for sightseeing?
For the Grand Mosque and the city, Traders Hotel Al Maqta and Aloft by ADNEC are closest, about 5 to 10 minutes from the mosque. For Yas Island and a quick run back to Terminal A, Crowne Plaza Yas Island is about 10 minutes from the airport. Hotel lists change by season, so check the one on your booking.
Is the Etihad stopover better than the Qatar Airways stopover?
They work differently. Etihad gives up to two complimentary nights in a selected 3 or 4 star hotel, with paid Premium nights after that. Qatar Airways sells its Doha stopover hotels from about USD 14 per person per night for up to four nights. If free nights matter most, Etihad wins; if you want a longer cheap stay, compare both quotes for your dates.
Can I get a free Etihad stopover in Abu Dhabi on the way to Australia?
Yes, if your return Etihad ticket to Australia connects through Abu Dhabi and meets the offer rules. The free nights apply on one leg only, outbound or return, and Etihad must arrange the hotel at least three days before you fly. Many long-haul travellers use the outbound leg to break the journey.
Do you run an Etihad transit tour from the airport?
Yes. If you are not staying overnight, our Etihad transit tour meets you at Terminal A arrivals, keeps your hand luggage in the car and returns you 3 hours before your onward flight. Private cars start at USD 190 (AED 699) for up to 7 guests, and a Land Cruiser is the best experience.
How do I get from Abu Dhabi airport to my Etihad stopover hotel?
Etihad includes the transfer only on the Al Ain option. For an Abu Dhabi hotel, take the metered airport taxi from the arrivals rank, which starts at AED 20 plus AED 1.82 per km, or book a private car with us from USD 218 (AED 799) for up to 7 guests, with the Grand Mosque on the way if you land in daylight.
What if my Etihad ticket is not eligible for the free stopover hotel?
Book any Abu Dhabi hotel yourself and the rest of the plan stays the same. Our tours pick up from every hotel in the city, Yas and Saadiyat at the same per-car price, and the Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan and the desert do not depend on the voucher.
Plan the rest