It is a little after nine on a Thursday and the terraces along the Corniche are full, the water beyond them black and still. Inside the hotels, bands are tuning up, bartenders are setting out glasses, and the first round of the evening is being carried out to tables where people have settled in for several hours rather than one drink.
Abu Dhabi's nightlife is hotel-centred: only restaurants in hotels were allowed to serve alcohol, so the city's bars, pubs and clubs are typically found inside or attached to hotels, and a night out often means choosing a hotel and staying within it. The legal minimum drinking age is 21, bringing your own alcohol to restaurants is not allowed, and drinking in public outside licensed premises remains illegal. This suits visitors who want a comfortable, contained evening with food, drinks and entertainment in one place, and who are happy to dress up a little and take a taxi between venues.
Where to go out in Abu Dhabi
1. Hotel bars and pubs
This is the backbone of an Abu Dhabi night out. Hotel venues range from traditional British and Irish pubs with beer on tap and large terraces to cocktail bars with water views and live music. Several run a brunch, which here means an all-inclusive package of a few hours of food, drinks and sometimes entertainment rather than a late-morning meal.
It suits anyone who wants dinner, drinks and music without moving around much. Practical point: some venues attract a large after-work crowd, so arriving early helps if you want a table.
2. Corniche West
The western stretch of the Corniche is where you find hotel complexes with several drinking places under one roof, including a restaurant with live music, a jazz bar and a nightclub that gets going after midnight. You can move between them without leaving the building.
It suits a group that cannot agree on one style of evening, or anyone who wants a quiet drink early and a louder room later. Practical point: the nightclub in this cluster is busiest after midnight.
3. Eastern Abu Dhabi
The eastern side of the city has hotel courtyards with a British pub, a Polynesian-themed cocktail bar on the water, and other hotel venues nearby. The pub is a typical expat hang-out; the cocktail bar has a view over the water at night.
It suits a relaxed, conversational evening, particularly in the cooler months when terraces and courtyards are pleasant. Practical point: the pub fills with an after-work crowd, so go early.
4. Clubs with dress codes and entry fees
Some of the city's better-known clubs are sleek, dark and loud, with DJs, lasers and sometimes a jazz band earlier in the evening. Conversation is difficult on a weekend night.
It suits people who are going out to dance rather than to talk. Practical point: at one such club, collared shirts are required for men, sneakers usually do not pass the bouncers, and an entry fee is not uncommon.
5. Sports bars
Sports bars are a distinct part of the scene, with televisions throughout, pool tables, and live bands or DJs. Some are quiet enough during the day to watch a match comfortably, and one runs a pub quiz on Friday nights.
It suits a low-key night with a group, or an early start to drinking. Practical point: at one long-established pub, ordering beer with brunch is entirely normal.
6. Cocktail and tiki bars
A few venues specialise in long cocktail menus and sharing drinks, including large two- or four-person serves. The atmosphere tends to be softer and more conversational than the clubs.
It suits a date or a small group that actually wants to talk. Practical point: at one of these, there is a daily happy hour in the early evening.
7. Late-night venues
A handful of places stay open later than most, combining a restaurant area, a live band and a DJ, with food available late in the night. These are cheaper than the polished clubs and can get extremely crowded on Thursday nights.
It suits anyone who wants the evening to run long and does not mind noise or a crowd. Practical point: arrive early enough to eat in the restaurant area before the room fills.
8. Venues to approach with care
A small number of hotel bars and nightclubs have a reputation for prostitution, and unaccompanied visitors may be approached or assumed to be there for that purpose. This is worth knowing before you choose a venue.
It suits no one in particular; the practical point is simply to read the room and leave if it is not the night you wanted.
How a night out unfolds
The sources describe brunch as an all-inclusive package of a few hours of food and drinks, and several venues start their happy hours in the late afternoon or early evening, so the drinking day can begin well before dark. Clubs tend to get going after midnight, and some venues stay open until the early hours, with the latest closing times falling on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Thursday nights are singled out as the busiest for at least one popular club.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Commemoration Day — late November.
- National Day and the National Day holiday — early December.
- New Year's Eve and New Year's Day — the end of December into early January.
- Ramadan — dates are tentative and shift each year; the sources place the next start in early February.
- Eid al-Fitr and the following holiday days — tentative dates in March.
- Hajj season and Arafat Day — tentative dates in May.
Frequently asked questions
Where do people drink in Abu Dhabi?
Nightlife is typically associated with hotels, because only restaurants in hotels were allowed to serve alcohol. In practice this means pubs, bars and clubs inside or attached to hotel complexes, often several in the same building.
What is the legal drinking age, and can I bring my own alcohol?
The legal minimum drinking age is 21. Bringing your own alcohol is not allowed in restaurants, and drinking in public outside licensed premises remains illegal.
What is brunch in Abu Dhabi?
It does not refer to a meal between breakfast and lunch. It is an all-inclusive package, typically a few hours of food, sometimes a buffet, drinks and potentially entertainment.
How late do venues stay open?
Closing times vary by venue, with the latest running into the early hours and the longest hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Clubs generally get going after midnight.
Decide whether you want a quiet terrace, a loud dance floor or a long dinner, pick the hotel district that matches, and plan your evening around it.