100% private | Groups of 1 to 250 | Expert guides and dedicated vehicles | [email protected]
Intimate, expert-led experiences through Abu Dhabi’s most remarkable landscapes, exclusively yours.
An Experience as Unique as You Are
Our private tours are the cornerstone of Abu Dhabi By Foot. Unlike group excursions, every journey we offer is booked exclusively for your party alone. Just you, your companions, and a dedicated expert guide whose sole purpose is your discovery.
We draw on our own fleet of SUV vehicles and drivers, who travel with you throughout each experience alongside your guide. Every route is shaped by your interests. Every pace is yours to set. There are no fixed itineraries to conform to, no other guests to accommodate, and no reason to move on from a place before you are ready.
Exclusively yours
Every Abu Dhabi By Foot experience is booked exclusively for your group. You will never share a vehicle, a guide, or an itinerary with strangers. From the moment your driver collects you from your hotel to the moment you return, the entire experience belongs to you.
Tailored to your curiosity
We ask a brief set of questions at the time of booking to understand your interests. Whether that is architecture, history, contemporary art, gastronomy, or something else entirely, your guide uses those answers to shape the narrative and the pace of every stop on the route.
By vehicle and on foot
Our tours combine comfortable travel in private SUV vehicles with walking at each destination. Abu Dhabi is a city that rewards both perspectives. The sweeping view from a moving vehicle and the considered pace of someone on foot in front of an extraordinary building are two very different kinds of understanding, and our tours offer both.
Request a Private Tour
Tell us about your group and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours with availability and a suggested itinerary. No commitment required.
Our Private Tour Collection
The experiences below represent our most requested programmes. Each one is a starting point, refined and personalised around your interests, your group, and your schedule before every departure.
Iconic Landmarks
A curated journey through Abu Dhabi’s most defining monuments. From the transcendent geometry of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to the gleaming columns of the Presidential Palace, Qasr Al Watan, your guide contextualises each site within the rich tapestry of Emirati heritage. The architecture, the symbolism, and the history are woven into a coherent and deeply engaging narrative that gives each landmark genuine meaning.
What you experience
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the world’s largest and most architecturally extraordinary mosques
- Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace and its museum of governance, culture, and craft
- The Corniche, Abu Dhabi’s iconic waterfront promenade with views across the Gulf
- Additional landmarks tailored to your interests and available time
Ideal for
First-time visitors to Abu Dhabi, guests with a particular interest in Islamic architecture and Emirati culture, families and multi-generational groups, and corporate visitors seeking a meaningful introduction to the city.
Duration
Typically two to four hours, though the programme can be extended or condensed to suit your schedule.
Majestic Saadiyat
Saadiyat Island is Abu Dhabi’s cultural heart and one of the most ambitious cultural projects anywhere in the world. Walk through its stunning museum district, across pristine beaches, and into the architectural visions of Jean Nouvel and Frank Gehry. Understand how this extraordinary island is reshaping the global conversation around art, design, and sustainability, and why the world’s most celebrated institutions chose Abu Dhabi as their home.
What you experience
- Louvre Abu Dhabi, Jean Nouvel’s extraordinary museum beneath its iconic rain of light dome
- Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Frank Gehry’s forthcoming museum and one of the most anticipated cultural openings of the decade
- Manarat Al Saadiyat, the island’s cultural centre and exhibition space
- The natural landscape of Saadiyat, including its beaches, coastline, and the habitat of the endangered hawksbill sea turtle
Ideal for
Art enthusiasts, architecture lovers, travellers with an interest in contemporary culture and sustainability, university groups on study abroad programmes, and corporate guests seeking a distinctive cultural experience.
Duration
Typically three to five hours depending on the depth of the museum visit and the pace of the group.
Day Trips to Dubai
For those who wish to experience the contrast between Abu Dhabi’s considered elegance and Dubai’s kinetic energy, our day trip offers a privately guided exploration of the UAE’s other great metropolis. From the historic creek and labyrinthine souks of Old Dubai to the vertiginous heights of Downtown and the extraordinary ambition of its modern skyline, this is a complete portrait of a city that has remade itself more dramatically than perhaps any other in living memory.
What you experience
- Al Fahidi Historic District, Old Dubai’s beautifully preserved 19th-century merchant quarter
- Dubai Creek, an abra crossing and the historic heart of the city’s trading past
- Gold Souk and Spice Souk, the sensory abundance of Deira’s famous markets
- Downtown Dubai, including the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountain, and the extraordinary architecture of Burj Plaza
- Additional stops tailored to your interests and available time
Ideal for
Guests staying in Abu Dhabi who wish to experience the broader UAE, travellers curious about the contrast between the two emirates, and those who want the full picture of what the Gulf has become in the 21st century.
Duration
A full day, typically seven to nine hours including travel time between the two cities. All transport is included in the private vehicle.
Full and Multi-Day Bespoke Programmes
For travellers who wish to spend their entire visit with us, our extended programmes immerse you in the Emirate across two or more days. From the silence and grandeur of the desert and the ancient oasis towns of Al Ain to the grandest urban experiences the Gulf has to offer, these programmes are deeply personal and entirely bespoke.
There is no standard itinerary for a multi-day programme. There is only a conversation that begins with who you are, what moves you, and how you want to spend your time. Everything else follows from there.
Possible inclusions
- The Empty Quarter, the world’s largest continuous sand desert on Abu Dhabi’s southern border
- Al Ain, the UNESCO-listed oasis city and birthplace of the UAE’s founding father
- Sir Bani Yas Island, a wildlife reserve and archaeological site in the Western Region
- The complete Saadiyat cultural district across multiple visits
- Private dining experiences, cultural evenings, and bespoke encounters arranged on your behalf
Ideal for
Travellers who wish to experience the UAE with genuine depth. Guests celebrating a significant occasion. Families seeking a multi-generational experience that works for every member of the party. Corporate groups looking for a programme that combines cultural enrichment with meaningful time together.
How to begin
Contact us to begin the conversation. We will ask a small number of questions about your group, your interests, and your schedule, and return to you within 24 hours with a proposed programme and an invitation to refine it together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum group size for a private tour?
Our private tours can accommodate from 1 to 250 guests. A solo corporate traveller in town for a single day and a group of 200 high school students visiting from abroad present very different logistical and experiential requirements, and we are equally experienced at both. We scale our vehicles, guides, and programme design to fit your group precisely.
Can the tour be adapted to specific interests?
Absolutely. We ask a brief set of questions at the time of booking to tailor the route and narrative to your particular passions. Whether that is architecture, history, gastronomy, contemporary art, or sustainability, no two Abu Dhabi By Foot experiences are identical and that is precisely as it should be.
Is the tour conducted entirely on foot?
Abu Dhabi By Foot is our name. We are an offshoot of DC By Foot, founded over two decades ago in Washington DC, where walking is both possible and deeply rewarding as the primary mode of exploration. Abu Dhabi is a different kind of city. Our tours here combine private SUV travel between destinations with walking at each location. You will walk where walking brings you closest to the experience, and travel in comfort where the city calls for it.
Do you offer hotel pick-up and drop-off?
Yes. We coordinate directly with Abu Dhabi’s leading hotels to arrange complimentary pick-up and drop-off for all guests. Simply let us know where you are staying when you enquire and we will handle the rest.
How far in advance should I book?
We recommend contacting us at least one week before your preferred date. For multi-day programmes, large groups, or experiences that include access to specific institutions or private collections, two to three weeks in advance is preferable. We will always do our best to accommodate last-minute enquiries where our schedule allows.
Are your tours suitable for children?
Yes. Our guides have extensive experience designing experiences that engage guests of every age. When you enquire, let us know the ages of all members of your group and we will build the pacing, the content, and the stops around everyone, including the youngest travellers.
Begin Planning Your Private Tour
Every Abu Dhabi By Foot experience begins with a conversation. Tell us who you are travelling with, what draws you to Abu Dhabi, and how much time you have. We will design something around you and respond within 24 hours.