Dubai vs Abu Dhabi for Incentive Travel

How does Abu Dhabi compare to Dubai as an Incentive Travel Destination?  Dubai is definitely one of the most popular incentive travel destination but how does Abu Dhabi compare?  They are only a 45 minute drive away from each other but are they very different?

How do you compare them?

• The weather… the same, almost guaranteed wall to wall sunshine

• The culture …. the same, friendly, polite and very safe

• The service … the same, excellent

• The currency… the same, the AED is the currency for all of the UAE Emirates.

• As busy – definitely not, especially if you go out into Yas Island or Sadiyaat Island

• As much to offer – yes, in different ways

• Good hotels – just as good

• Food – the standard of food is excellent in both cities

The important difference…. Cost

I have found you can get some great deals in Abu Dhabi if you know where to go. This may be because it is still not as commercialised as Dubai, but it won’t take long to catch up….

Having organised incentives to both destinations, my clients have never come away disappointed.

There is no doubt that Dubai offers an incomparable range of hotels, most of which are 5 star or 5 star plus offering first class conference and meeting facilities and excellent service.

Abu Dhabi competes easily with this, perhaps not so many at the moment but of the same standard.

Dubai has the Burj Al Arab as its iconic hotel, quoted as being “The World’s most luxurious hotel”

Abu Dhabi has the Emirates Palace as its iconic hotel, quoting “Every guest receives the ultimate Emirates Palace service, going beyond 5 star luxury”

But do they have the same quality of activities? Definitely…

• Golf courses Emirates GC, the Dubai Creek or the Montgomerie – excellent courses in Dubai. Abu Dhabi has the Yas Links GC – both excellent with the Yas Links being quoted as “one of the best courses I have played” by one of my delegates.

• A Dhow Cruise. Both cities offer a wonderful experience, on the Creek in Dubai or along the Persian Gulf in Abu Dhabi. These are beautiful original wooden Dhow, decked with fairy lights, serving sumptuous Arabic food, combining the views of the stunning 21st century skyline and are great for a leisurely evening on your first night in either city.

• Shopping. A myriad of Souks offers an enormous range of gold, silver, artefacts and millions of pashminas of varying quality as well as the top designer boutiques. If you ‘shop’ with a guide, you will be able to fit in all of these by visiting the Dubai Mall, the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai and the World Trade Center Souk & Mall and Marina Mall (and others..) in Abu Dhabi.

• Jeep Safari. This is a ‘got to be done’ activity. When your delegates leave the hotel to be met by a caravan of white gleaming 4 x 4 jeeps, all lined up waiting to take them into the desert, you certainly get a great intake of breath. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic, to reach the dunes. It is hot! But the jeeps are air conditioned and your delegates will not forget the roller coaster ride which ends at the entrance to a Bedouin camp where they will be fed and entertained by Arabic music and belly dancers. Accessible from both Dubai & Abu Dhabi – a definite must if it’s your first time visiting the UAE.

In a typical 4 day Incentive in Dubai, you can fit in any of the above, or the following:

• Helicopter flips, swimming with dolphins, catamaran cruises, visit to the Burj Khalifa, afternoon tea at the Burj Al Arab, Hot air Balloon Ride over the desert, tour to the East Coast by Orient Express.

• In a typical 4 day Incentive to Abu Dhabi, you can fit in any of the above, or the following:

• Driving the F1 Yas Marina Circuit, kayaking in the mangroves, visit to Ferrari World, visit to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, visit the Al Ain National Museum and soon they will also boast a new Guggenheim Museum.

Is now the time to think about Abu Dhabi as an alternative to Dubai as a destination for your next incentive?