Whilst the Abu Dhabi heat keeps visitors and residents indoors during the hot and humid summer months, from around mid-October until early May, many people choose to spend more and more time outdoors. Abu Dhabi is blessed with an abundance of beautiful parks and amazing outdoor spaces to enjoy in the โwinterโ months.
In this post, we guide you through some of our favourite parks and outdoor spaces in Abu Dhabi – perfect for families, couples, or singles, looking for a place to relax, unwind, and absorb a bit of nature during the cooler weather.
Abu Dhabi Island
The main Abu Dhabi island has always been punctuated by numerous green spaces, which have slowly changed shape and purpose over the decades. Keeping up with community demand, popularity of recreational pursuits, and advancing technologies, we have seen many changes in the use of these parks over the years.
Here, we share the best parks in Abu Dhabi worth a visit, especially travelling with children.
The Abu Dhabi Corniche
The city’s famous eight km-long waterfront runs all the way along the north-western end of Abu Dhabi Island. A beautiful white coral sand beach flanks one side of the road, the other a string of green parks and picnic areas.
Some of the popular parks and attractions along the Corniche include:
- The Corniche Beach Playground (immediately adjacent to the Beach Plaza) – this includes a pirate ship and other wooden play apparatus.
- The Family Park (in fact, several small playgrounds for different age groups here, including the popular ‘pirate ship playground’)
- The Family water park, skate park, and basketball courts
- Urban Park – this includes water features and a cafe, but not so much for children
- Lake Park – a couple of playgrounds and an exercise area, as well as the lake from which the park takes its name
- Formal Park (including the Corniche Labyrinth)
- Heritage Park (towards the Mina Port end)
- A’l Bahar dining and entertainment area – a variety of food and beverage outlets and pop-up shops with multi-use sports courts and a well-designed covered playground.
- Bike hire along the corniche
Cost: The Corniche family beach has a Municipality entry fee of AED 10 per adult and AED 5 per child (over 5), but other parts of the beach and the parks are free.
Parking is located on the park/city side of the Corniche and must be paid for at one of the Mawaqif pay stations. To get to the beach/seaside of the Corniche, you must cross at a pedestrian crossing or use the underpass (jaywalking, or crossing the road anywhere other than at a crossing, is a crime in the UAE – on-the-spot fines will be given!).
Popular spots to park are at the end of 30th – in front of the ADNOC Building and at the Family Park, or further east near Lake Park.
You can find our complete guide to exploring the city’s Corniche area with map over here
Umm al Emarat Park (previously known as Mushrif Park – map)
Situated in the centre of Abu Dhabi Island, in the Al Mushrif area, this huge formal park is a highlight of any Abu Dhabi Itinerary. The park includes beautiful water features, botanical gardens, and open spaces for sports and relaxation.
Thereโs even a separate childrenโs park with a splash pad, wadi splash area, and a petting zoo. There are also several play areas within the main park, as well as a large outdoor cinema screen that screens films on weekend evenings.
You donโt need to worry about packing a picnic for this park; in fact, large picnics are not allowed (small snacks for children are permitted), but there are plenty of places to buy snacks and larger meals around the park. During the cooler months, you will also find winter markets and food trucks.
Cost & Opening Hours: 10 AED per person aged 3 and over. Train rides, pony rides, and animal feed all incur additional costs. The park opens at 8.00 am and closes at midnight (last entry 11.00 pm).
Sheikha Fatima Park (map)
Set back from the Corniche in the area of the city, the 46,000 sqm Sheikha Fatima Park reopened in 2022 after extensive renovations.
The park is divided into 3 ‘zones’ – Experience, Adventure, and Discovery, and offers everything from a skatepark to movie screenings to outdoor yoga classes.
There is a beautifully designed childrenโs playground, including a splash area and imaginative play zones, as well as thoughtfully planted flower gardens and a designated dog park. In addition, youโll find well-maintained panel courts, basketball courts, and a skate park.
At the bustling heart of the city, Sheikha Fatima Park offers the perfect urban escape. On the edges of the park are a number of food and beverage outlets, including a Starbucks and a Board Game Cafe.
Cost & Opening Hours: The park is free to enter and is open from 7.00 am until Midnight.
Learn more at sheikhafatimapark.com or check their Insta @sheikafatimapark
Khalidiya Park (map)
This is the newest park in Abu Dhabi to reopen after some significant refurbishments. The key feature of the park 62,000 square metre park is a semi enclosed walkway that circumnavigates the park, allowing for a shaded stroll at any time of year.
The park also has a brand new shaded adventure playground for kids (among five playground areas you’ll find in the park), multisport courts, a sunken garden, and plenty of lawned areas for picnicking.
Cost & Opening Hours: The park is free to enter and is open 24 hours
Khalifa Park (map)
The oldest park in the city, the enormous Khalifa Park, is one of the city’s biggest urban outdoor spaces – yet largely unknown! Much of the 500,000 sqm site is paved with areas for cycling and scooting. There are numerous water features throughout the park, as well as a library, a small aquarium, and a museum that explains the city’s history.
Once, the place to be on weekends, the park is much quieter these days. The train that once navigated the park is rarely operational, and the animals that once lived in the paddock areas have been relocated. However, it’s still a nice place to take a stroll or have a picnic, and the museum is definitely worth a visit!
Murjan Splash Park is located just outside Khalifa Park and is accessible for an additional fee. It is excellent for younger children, though adults must also pay an entry fee of 30 AED for adults and 70 AED for children.
Cost & Opening Hours: Entry to the park is AED 2 per person for all visitors over the age of 3. Entry to the museum is an additional AED 5 per person.
Opening hours vary by season. Currently, the park is open from 5:30 am to 11:00 pm every day except Friday, when it opens at 3:00 pm and closes at 9:00 pm. The museum is open from 3:00 pm. The library is open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, Monday to Thursday; 7:30 am to 12:00 pm on Friday; and 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sunday. The library is closed on Saturdays.
Learn more at khalifapark.ae or follow on Insta @khalifapark_abudhabi
Al Ghaf Park (map)
Previously relatively unknown in the suburban Al Mushrif area of the city, Al Ghaf Park has become a social media star since reopening in late 2025, featuring over 1,000 ghaf trees and unique air-conditioned walkways.
The park (also known as King Hamdan bin Isa Al Khalifa Park) also features picnic areas, bike trails, and bathroom facilities. A truly suburban hidden gem that can now be enjoyed year-round.
Cost and opening times: Entry to the park is free. Gates are open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Capital Park (map)
Also known as Al Asema Park, Capital Park is one of the city’s oldest and most classic parks. The playground equipment has been renewed in recent years and now includes a small climbing wall.
Although it lacks other standout features beyond the large coffee pots at the park’s entrance, it is a great place to take children to run off some steam if you’re staying nearby. There are vending machines and a small cafe for snacks.
Cost & Opening Hours: Entry to the park is free. Open on weekdays from 3:00 pm until 11:00 pm and on weekends from 9:00 am until 11:00 pm.
Al Nahyan Park (map)
This small community park nestled against the freeway is a real surprise. The well-designed family park contains a wide range of features, including imaginative climbing structures and a water play area.
There are plenty of interactive play spaces, slides, bike pump tracks, multi-use game courts, lawns, rest areas, and so much more.
Although it’s probably not big enough to warrant a visit, it’s definitely of a high standard and a fabulous little community park on Abu Dhabi island.
Cost & Opening Hours: Entry to the park is free.
Al Bateen Beach (map)
Not glitzy or glamorous, but a good old-fashioned community beach park with lovely lawned areas, a kids’ play area, and beach access. The sea is relatively shallow and calm, which makes for a great swimming spot, especially if youโre travelling with kids. There is a small on-site kiosk and pedalo boats to hire.
Cost & Opening Hours: Free public beach. Ladies Beach charges AED 25 per lady and AED 5 for children ages 3-12. Boys over six years old are not allowed on the ladiesโ only beach. Open 8.00 am to 9.00 pm, but no swimming after sunset.
Al Khaleej Al Arabi Parks 1 & 2 (map)
Al Khaleej Al Arabi Public Park is a long path that runs along the entire western coast of the main Abu Dhabi island. Punctuated with shaded picnic areas, exercise equipment, and running paths, itโs the ideal place to stretch your legs whilst exploring the island, and very popular for weekend picnics in the winter.
Cost & opening hours: Free, open 24/7
Masdar City
Let’s shift our focus from the central Abu Dhabi Island to some of the best locations in the outer city areas, where you can find the perfect patch of greenery and playground equipment!
City Central Park (map)
At the centre of the world’s most sustainable community, this futuristic children’s playground features an undulating playscape with ample shade and integrated solar panels. There’s also a horizontal farm garden, a medicinal maze, and lots of water features for visitors to enjoy.
In addition to their beauty, these all contribute to Masdar Cityโs sustainable ethos and help visitors understand how we work with our environment.
Cost & opening times: Free. Open 9.00 am until 10.00 pm
Masdar Park (map)
Opened in late 2017, the park underwent an overhaul and reopened in 2023, revealing a variety of new features and a revitalized splash area. The playground has several climbing frames, is shaded, and has a wonderful spongy surface.
Facilities also include a 2.5km running track and basketball courts, but these must be booked in advance.
The revamped park sits beside The Hub By Social. A new addition in 2025, this food hall and creative space includes a co-working zone, gaming area, and retail pop-ups, as well as several new eateries, which are well worth exploring after your time in the park.
Cost & opening times: No entry fee. Open 9.00 am to 10.00 pm daily – floodlit in the evenings.
Yas Island
Yas Gateway Parks (map)
These are two adjacent parks located on Yas Island – Yas Gateway Park North and Yas Gateway Park South. The parks are, in fact, parking spots for when the Grand Prix is on, but for the other 51 weeks of the year they’ve usefully been opened as public park space.
More than just a pretty looking car park, you will find here playparks and restroom facilities as well as lots of grassy space. It’s also a popular picnic and BBQ spot, and a great place to spot planes as it’s directly under the main flight path.
Costs and opening times: The park is free to enter, and there doesn’t appear to be any gates restricting entry, but the playpark is not lit.
Yas Bay (map)
Yas Bay Waterfront is one of Abu Dhabiโs premier leisure and entertainment venues, with a range of Al Fresco dining options and a high-end beach club (Cafe Del Mar). There will soon be two new beach parks here to explore (one for families and one adults only – more to come on these soon!)
The area is now also home to Abu Dhabiโs biggest skate park (referred to as South Yas Skate Park). Located a short walk from the Yas Bay development, the shaded park has a range of ramps and obstacles for skaters of all ages.
Fairly close by, there is also a lovely shaded play park (known as Crest Park) suitable for younger children and a waterside promenade, known as The Waves Park, which is great for a Sunday morning stroll or bike ride.
Costs and opening times: The parks are free to enter and open from 8:00 am until 11:00 pm.
Yas Marina Circuit (map)
Want to pretend you’re a Grand Prix legend? Open nights at the Yas Marina Circuit are a great way to get out and exercise. It’s not quite the same greenery as some of the parks on our list, but it is a brilliant spot to walk, run, or cycle either the 5.5 km complete circuit or the shortened 3 km North Circuit.
Cost and opening times: Free! Visitors must register and attend a safety briefing on their first visit to the track.
The track is open to all on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm. Tuesdays are reserved for ladies only from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on a modified 3 km track. TrainAM cycling only sessions are also held Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays, 6:00 am to 8:00 am
There are limited bikes available to hire for free, as well as several outlets stocking professional bikes for hire (Top Tip: if you come after about 8:00 pm, there is better availability of the free bikes as the early birds finish up).
Click here to find out more about Yas Marina Circuit fitness sessions and check out @ymcofficial for the monthly events calendar
If you’re looking for more places to grab a bike and see the city on two wheels, check out our guide to cycling in Abu Dhabi
It is also great to walk around the Yas Marina Promenade. Here you’ll find water sprinklers on weekends as well as restaurants and leisure facilities (unfortunately, the small and convenient playground here was replaced with padel courts). Most weekdays, you’ll have this gorgeous little spot to yourself, but weekend evenings can get very busy.
Yas West Skatepark (map)
This small skatepark, located behind Waitrose, is great for little ones learning to skate. The undulating concrete pump track is suitable for both bikes and skateboards. Also in the West Yas area, youโll find a number of small parks and green spaces, great for family picnics.
Cost and opening times: Free. Open from 8.00 am until late.
Reem Island
Reem is a growing high-rise residential community off the northeastern coast of the main Abu Dhabi island. Spotted amongst the skyscrapers, however, are some of the city’s best urban parks.
Reem Central Park (map)
This extensive urban park serves the growing community on Al Reem Island, but is great for visitors too. The waterfront park covers 1 million square feet and includes childrenโs play areas, basketball and volleyball courts, and a skate park.
There are also local art installations and a canal walk offering stunning sunset views of the city. There are plenty of places to have a picnic and multiple food trucks on site, should you be looking for a tasty local bite.
Cost and opening times: Free. Open from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Al Fay Park (map)
Located on Reem Island, this small park is awe-inspiring for its design, which focuses on biodiversity and microclimate optimization. The park is home to 2000 different types of local flora, and the high density of trees and modern irrigation system make the Al Fay Park a particularly cool and tranquil place to spend some time.
There is still an impressive array of recreational opportunities available, including a childrenโs playground, sand volleyball courts, badminton courts, and table tennis tables.
Cost and opening times: Free. Open from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Hudayriyat Island
An outdoor active paradiseโฆ (map)
Hudayriyat Island is a sporting and outdoor hub, featuring multiple sports facilities, playgrounds, splash parks, and beach access.
At the centre of the island is the new Abu Dhabi Velodrome, offering a venue for a variety of sports and events as well as cycling tracks. Cyclists might also enjoy Trail X, a rough terrain mountain bike trail, just a stoneโs throw from downtown Abu Dhabi.
For those wanting a gentler cycling option, there is a network of cycling paths around the island that you can enjoy at a leisurely pace. Bikes can be hired from Yas Mena Cycles or Wolfis.
As well as Trail X, youโll find Circuit X offering a high ropes course, a skatepark, a BMX park, and so much more. A great spot if youโre travelling with older children and teenagers.
The main attraction for many visitors to Hudayriyat is the long sandy beach, which is split into sections. At Marsana West, youโll find simple sun-loungers and sun shades, as well as an on-demand food and beverage service, for just AED 50 at weekends and AED 25 on weekdays.
Marsana East offers a slightly more luxurious setting, with complimentary towels and water included in the price of AED 50 on weekdays and AED 100 on weekends and public holidays. Marsana East is also open until 10.00 pm in summer, as Abu Dhabiโs first night beach.
Adjacent to the beach is the Marsana waterfront leisure and entertainment area. Here youโll find a splash park, play area, pool, and outdoor gym, as well as a small marina with water leisure crafts in varying sizes for hire.
Surfers can also find fun on Hudayriyat Island at the new Surf Abu Dhabi world-class artificial wave pool – among the best in the world!
If youโre staying in Abu Dhabi long term or travelling with a big group, 321 Sports, a state-of-the-art sports village, offers a variety of health and fitness opportunities, including indoor and outdoor basketball courts and a football pitch, as well as an Olympic-length running track.
Not just a sporting hubโฆ
In addition to offering a variety of land- and water-based sports, Hudayriyat Island provides opportunities to connect with UAE culture.
The Hudayriyat Heritage Trail was established to protect significant archaeological remains (shell middens) on the island, which provide insight into the activities of fishermen and pearl divers who previously lived there. Guided tours are available for a small fee.
The island also provides the opportunity for overnight camping in the Bab Al Nojoum campsite, and more luxurious stays at the Bab Al Nojoum Villas.
You can read our complete guide to everything there is to enjoy on Hudayriyat Island here
Saadiyat Island
Abu Dhabiโs most beautiful beach
Home to Abu Dhabiโs most beautiful beach, access to the sand and sea is via 5* hotel day pass, or paying to enter one of the 8 km stretchโs beach clubs. You can find out more about how to enjoy Saadiyat beach by reading our extended article, available here.
Mamsha Promenade (map)
You can enjoy views of the beach from the waterfront lifestyle destination of Mamsha. With a range of cafes and restaurants, all with outdoor seating, this is a great place to start or end the day outdoors.
The paved promenade is ideal for walking or scooting, offering a chance to enjoy the sea without getting sandy feet!
If you want to take a splash, there is a paid beach here, Mamsha Beach (previously Soul Beach), where you can pull up a parasol and sun lounger for the day.
The Louvre Promenade
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is set in verdant gardens. Thereโs no play equipment for children in this 3.8-hectare waterfront park, but itโs a nice bit of green space that can be enjoyed before or after a visit to the museum.
Al Masar Garden
New for 2026, this garden sits outside the grounds of Zayed National Museum. While free entry is available, 90-minute guided tours ‘A Walk Through our Garden’ are also available seasonally to understand more about the UAE’s native flora and fauna.
Other Abu Dhabi Parks & Outdoor Spaces
Jubail Mangrove Park (map)
A slightly different park space, Jubail Mangrove Park offers a unique environment for enjoying nature. A network of wooden walkways leads through a mangrove forest that supports a wide variety of birds and marine wildlife.
There is an entry fee, but youโll find some play features along the boardwalk walk, seating areas, kayaking, and paddleboard options, as well as the option for guided tours. There is also an on-site cafe, toilets, and a selection of food trucks in the car park.
Cost and opening times: From AED 10 for the boardwalk walk, with additional tours and activities available. Open daily from 7:00 am until 9:00 pm (last entry 8.00 pm). NB, well worth checking tide times for best photos at high tide!
You can find our complete guide to Jubail Mangrove Park here
Eastern Mangroves & The Al Gurm Corniche (map)
Flanking the E10 freeway, the Al Gurm Corniche and Mangrove National Park form an enhanced area of outstanding natural beauty. The Mangrove National Park covers approximately 5,000 hectares and supports 74 bird species, as well as a variety of juvenile fish and crustaceans.
The 3.5 km stretch of parkland known as the Al Gurm Corniche runs adjacent to the mangroves. It contains lots of little playgrounds, gym equipment, and picnic nooks to keep everyone happy, whilst taking a stroll in the Abu Dhabi sunshine, and provides the perfect opportunity for spotting flamingos between September and April.
Learn more about Al Gurm Corniche here, and if you’d like to continue you journey into the water, learn more about the Mangroves National Park here.
Cost & opening times: Free. Open 24/7.
Al Bahia Park (map)
Located in the Al Bahia Area close to Deerfields Mall, this beautifully manicured park boasts a variety of play and picnic areas, as well as a library. Usually quiet during the day, the park comes alive after sunset when local families convene in large groups to picnic together.
Restrooms are available on site, but they can be a bit of a hike depending on your location within the park. They’re not the most glamorous in Abu Dhabi! All up, its probably not a park we’d make a trip to from all the way in town, but it serves as an excellent recreation area for residents living much further out of town in the Al Bahia and Al Shahama areas of the city.
Cost and opening times: Free to enter, but note restricted opening times 3:00 pm til 10:00 pm. The library opening hours are advertised as 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, Sunday to Thursday, and 4:00 pm-8:00 pm, Saturday.
The Flower Farm, Ajban (map)
Another place that’s not a park per se but has certainly gained some Insta fame this winter for its inviting and utterly Instagrammable backdrop. It’s quite the drive out there from town, but you’ll be rewarded with 1000s of magnificent blooms, even some resident bunnies, chickens, and peacocks!
There’s a small coffee shop on site, and blooms can be picked at a small additional cost.
Cost and opening hours: Open weekdays 7:00 am – 12:00 pm & 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm; Weekends 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. Entry to the garden is AED 5 for children/AED 10 for adults weekday/AED 15 on weekends.
It’s important to note that professional photography here requires a permit (AED 100). Smartphone photos are permitted. You can also hire a professional photographer.
The Desert
When discussing parks and open spaces in Abu Dhabi, itโs impossible to overlook the fact that the city is surrounded by desert. The desert is itself one huge playground!
From desert safaris to camping, sandboarding, or dune biking, the desert offers a wide range of fun activities for the whole family. Far from being “just a big pile of sand”, it is a truly magical place for the whole family to run wild.
In addition to the rolling dunes so frequently seen in Hollywood blockbusters, youโll find surprises like the Al Wathba Nature Reserve and Salt Lake, and Abu Dhabiโs famous Fossil Dunes.
If you’d like to explore deeper into the UAE desert, we have a detailed guide on how to get out and enjoy desert camping in the UAE here.
If camping isn’t your thing, though, how about trying some of these luxury desert resort options instead? They include extensive outdoor sports options, swimming pools, cultural activities such as camel riding and nature treks, and, most importantly, wide-open spaces and tranquillity away from the city.
Note, any trip to the desert needs to be well planned. Always carry water and a sunshade in case you break down, check weather forecasts, and donโt go off the beaten track without a guide.
Additional Abu Dhabi Outdoor Guides
If you’ve still not found just what you’re looking for, continue your outdoor adventures within Abu Dhabi with one of these guides:
This list is certainly not exhaustive, and there are plenty of new (and old, but still very loved) patches of green space, play parks, and cycle track areas all over the city to be explored. If there’s anything you think we’ve missed that deserves to be on our list, email abudhabitravelplanner@gmail.com and we’ll see if we can get it added.
Before you go… Important things to consider when planning a trip to Abu Dhabi
- Pop into our essential planning information page; it includes everything you need to know about getting around Abu Dhabi, a handy guide on what to pack and top tips for first-timers on the dos and don’ts, laws, and customs in the UAE.
- Start planning your itinerary around the 60+ top places to visit in Abu Dhabi.
- Don’t forget to pack your travel insurance!
- Discover the best places to stay in Abu Dhabi.
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Disclosures: This post was originally published on ourglobetrotters.com in 2016 and has been reproduced and edited with the author’s permission.