Should you visit Doha or Abu Dhabi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Abu Dhabi can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or Abu Dhabi?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
Abu Dhabi
It doesn't get more "lifestyles of the rich and famous" than a vacation to Abu Dhabi. The federal capital and center of government for the United Arab Emirates is arguably the most modern city in the world.
Abu Dhabi has a population of 1.5 million and provides a home to several oil companies and embassies, but this place is definitely a playground for the world's fanciest tourists. This city has several large projects underway including Yas Island's Formula 1 track and Ferrari theme park.
Note: homosexuality is still outlawed in the UAE with harsh punishments including deportation, fines, jail time or even a death sentence.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Arab Emirates, and The Best 3-Day Tours in United Arab Emirates.
Which place is cheaper, Abu Dhabi or Doha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $243, while the average daily cost in Abu Dhabi is $197. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Doha and Abu Dhabi in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Doha or Abu Dhabi? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here:
Doha Hotel Prices and
Abu Dhabi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
-
Shared Arrival Transfer - Doha City:
$14
-
Shared Departure Transfer in West Bay :
$20
-
Airport Transfer - TO or FROM Hammad International Airport:
$25
-
Airport Transfer (To OR From Doha City):
$35
-
Doha Evening-Night City Tour from Hotel, Airport & Transfers:
$36
-
Doha Airport to City Transfer:
$38
-
Doha City Tour From Cruise Terminal With Transfer:
$43
-
Doha Private Airport and City Transfers:
$44
-
Private City Tour with Hotel or Airport Transfer:
$46
-
4 Hrs Safari dune bashing, Camel ride,inland sea, With Transfer.:
$47
-
Guided City Highlights Tour with Round-trip Transfers:
$47
-
Transfer from Hamad Airport to Doha City - Stress-Free Tranafer:
$50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Abu Dhabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:
-
Car Rental
$31
-
Taxi to Airport
$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Abu Dhabi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:
-
Abrahamic Family House Tour with Transfer:
$89
-
Abu Dhabi : Private Half Day Guided Tour - Transfer Included:
$191
-
Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer:
$39
-
Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer:
$35
-
Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$79
-
Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$118
-
Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Dubai hotel - Arrival Private Transfer:
$59
-
Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): Private Transfer to Abu Dhabi:
$100
-
Abu Dhabi Airport Departure Transfer (Abu Dhabi Hotels to Abu Dhabi Airport):
$32
-
Abu Dhabi Airport Private Arrival Transfer to Any Hotel in UAE:
$27
-
Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer (Within Abu Dhabi Only):
$19
-
Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer To or From Anywhere within Abu Dhabi:
$70
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Abu Dhabi?
Prices for flights to both Abu Dhabi and Doha change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
-
Food
Meals for one day
Doha $105
Abu Dhabi $78
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
-
Private Dinner on Al Safliya Island:
$76
-
Private Dinner on Safliya Island:
$76
-
Private Souk Waqif with Lunch or Dinner Tour:
$96
-
The Pearl-Qatar Food Tour & Boat Ride:
$119
-
Overnight Desert Safari Dune bashing dinner and Breakfast:
$137
-
Half Day Doha City Tour with Lunch or Dinner:
$143
-
BBQ Dinner at desert resort +Dune bashing & camel ride:
$165
-
Full-Day Desert Safari with Buffet Dinner:
$175
-
Doha Private Full Day Desert Safari Lunch | Dinner Included:
$190
-
Private Full Day Desert Safari Dinner and Camel Ride in Doha:
$190
-
Full-Day Desert Safari with Buffet Dinner || Inland Sea Visit:
$194
-
Full Day Desert Safari with Camp Access, Buffet Dinner,Camel Ride:
$195
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
-
Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More:
$25
-
Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment:
$38
-
Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran):
$46
-
Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner:
$60
-
Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows:
$60
-
Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari & Dinner Under the Stars:
$77
-
Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner & Shows:
$80
-
Abu Dhabi Desert Safari (Dune Bashing, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Sand Skii):
$80
-
Abu Dhabi Desert Safari 4x4, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride:
$81
-
Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner & Shows:
$81
-
Abu Dhabi Afternoon Desert Safari and BBQ Dinner:
$90
-
Buffet Dinner Cruise including Transfer from Abu Dhabi:
$93
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Museum of Islamic Art Admission Ticket:
$14
-
3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum: Admission Ticket:
$14
-
National Museum of Qatar: Admission Ticket:
$14
-
Doha City Attraction & Dhow Boat Ride (Doha Panoramic Tour):
$25
-
Al Safliya Island Boat Tour:
$25
-
Walking Tour: Discover Souq Waqif, An Almost Free Walking Tour:
$25
-
Al Safliya Island Photo Tour:
$25
-
Desert Safari Bashing, Camel Ride, & Sandboarding Tour:
$30
-
Private Doha City Tour from Hotel, Airport, Cruise Ship Port:
$30
-
Doha City Highlights Tour & Cruise Terminal Pickup Dropoff:
$30
-
Desert Safari, Camel Ride, Sandboarding and Inland Sea Tour:
$31
-
City Highlights Layover Tour:
$32
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
-
Self Guided Audio Tour in of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi:
$5.46
-
Qasr Al Hosn Entry Ticket:
$8.17
-
Fast-Track Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Hosn:
$8.37
-
Qasar Al Hosn Abu Dhabi Entry Tickets:
$13
-
Louvre Join an Express Tour:
$14
-
Qasr al Hosn Entrance Ticket:
$16
-
Sea Breeze Boat Tour:
$16
-
Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi:
$17
-
Tickets to Qasr Al Watan & Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi:
$17
-
Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Entry Ticket:
$17
-
Skip the Line Ticket to Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi :
$17
-
Qasr Al Watan Palace & Garden Entrance Ticket:
$18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Abu Dhabi, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Abu Dhabi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Abu Dhabi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Abu Dhabi and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha than you might in Abu Dhabi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Doha Expensive? and Is Abu Dhabi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 75% larger than the population of Doha. When comparing the sizes of Doha and Abu Dhabi, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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