Living in Abu Dhabi can be a costly affair. From exorbitant rents, steep service fees and a whole host of events that can leave pockets empty, finding spare change at the end of payday can be a rarity. But it needn’t be so; Abu Dhabi Week rounds up some of the capital’s best for less

All for nothing ...
Looking ahead: For the excellent price of nothing, you can see the massive miniature mock up of what Abu Dhabi’s new offshore islands will eventually look like once the construction is finished and the dust settles, all at the Saadiyat Island display at Emirates Palace.
Emirates Palace: 02 690 9000

Free every week: Abu Dhabi Week magazine: Where else can you be informed, entertained and enlightened and win prizes for free? Pick us up for nothing all over the capital.




Well-guided: A tour around Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of those not-to-be-missed Abu Dhabi experiences. On offer from Sunday-Thursday the informative tours take place at 10am and are entirely free. The mosque is closed to visitors on Fridays. There are no tours on a Saturday but visitors are welcome to look around.
For visiting enquiries call 800 555

Take a ride: Ok, so they’re not always working, but if you happen to find yourself at Shangri La, those lovely little abras are a great way to get around. They’re complimentary, but a small tip for the gondolier is always nice.  
Shangri La Qaryat al Beri: 02 509 8888

The Corniche beach and parks: If the weather is agreeable, you can have a lovely day out at one of the many free playgrounds and public park areas along the Corniche. The parks and beaches all have built in barbeque grills and plenty of covered tables – the perfect recipe for a fun day out.

Work it out: If you fancy a more strenuous approach to a free day, the Corniche is also a great place for a work-out. Try incorporating the various exercise points strategically placed alongside the footpath - there's everything from jump scales and balance poles to pull-up bars and step stations.

Free speech: The New York University Abu Dhabi offers an insightful and varied lecture programme that runs throughout much of the year – and is open – and free for members of the public to attend. Check out www.nyuad.edu for their events schedule. Just be sure to RSVP before attending an event.

Dance off: Salsa classes are big in the city with a number of great venues offering it free on an evening. Cinnabar at The Hilton Abu Dhabi (02 681 1900) welcomes Latin grooves and moves on a Saturday night, Etoiles at Emirates Palace on Mondays (02 690 9000) and now The Village, One to One Hotel offers it on Wednesday nights (02 495 2000).

AED 5 and under
Small treats: Ice cream at McDonalds – unbelievable but true, a soft-serve twist of ice cream in a cone is still only AED 1 at this fast food colossus, available all over the city. The perfect size and price for a little person or a little treat.
Well-travelled: Still just one remarkable dirham, the big turquoise and white city buses have now added several stops on the mainland to their routes, including the Pink Shops in Khalifa City A and Mafraq Hospital near Khalifa City B. Just remember to keep plenty of small change in your pocket as AED 100 notes won’t get you far with drivers.

Sweet priced savouries: With locations all over town, you’re never too far from a Gulf Pastry. A big, round flat bread – freshly baked in a traditional stone oven then sprinkled with tangy cheese and folded in half – sells for the grand price of AED 3.50 – and it’s wonderfully filling. Check www.gulfpastry.com for locations.
Drink up: Compared to other countries where a bottle of Coke often sells for AED 10 or more, the UAE’s regulated price of just AED 1 for most soft drinks and bottled water looks a lot more generous. Cheers!

Fast food and furnishings: The hotdog/drink combo at IKEA: Sometimes, while trying to find a bargain bed, you need a bargain bite – and at a meagre AED 5, the hotdog and soft drink combo on offer on the ground floor of Marina Mall’s IKEA is just enough to hit the spot. IKEA: 02 681 2228.

Petrol pricing: Think the newly increased price of petrol is unjust? Think twice as you fill-up: folks in Amsterdam pay around AED 6 per litre, in the UK AED 5.50, in Copenhagen AED 5.20. Even in the USA, petrol sells for nearly AED 4 per litre, but here in Abu Dhabi, despite the recent increase, we still only pay AED 1.52 a litre. Bargain.

AED 50 and under

Raise a cup: Coffee snobs throughout the capital will insist on paying AED 20 or more for a single cup of Joe, but you can get a cuppa at Coffee Planet that’s just as good for around AED 10 depending on how fancy you want it. Even better, you can find Coffee Planet products – including those yummy flavoured syrups – at every ADNOC petrol station in town.

Renting bikes on the Corniche starts from as little at AED 20 an hour. Choose from two-wheelers all the way up to four-wheel pedal cars you can have a whirl on with friends. Great exercise – and great fun.

Tasty treats: For the best falafel in town made fresh on the spot, Al Rousha behind Al Noor Hospital on Sheikh Khalifa St comes up with a promising serving. You can get as many as ten juicy and filling falafel for a ridiculously good AED 3. But make sure to pitch in an extra dirham for the tahina dip to go with it.



Budget bites: Oriental Korner is an unfussy little Chinese and Filipino food joint in the Al Mariah Complex on 6th street with a very handy budget menu of seriously scrumptious food in generously-sized portions. The best part? Nothing on the menu surpasses AED 20. Oriental Korner: 02 671 6784 | 02 671 6782

Giddy up! Relax under the stars with a drink while the young ones enjoy pony rides in the garden at The Village, One to One Hotel. Rides are just AED 10 and run from 7-9.30pm.
The One to One Hotel: 02 495 2000

Off to a good start: Breakfast in style with a view of the greens at the Abu Dhabi City Golf Club. Whether you’re looking for a wholesome or hefty start to your day, their set meals contain all the usual fillings you’d expect at breakfast time and cost no more than AED 45.
Abu Dhabi City Golf Club: 02 445 9600