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Can you really get a 2 day free stay in Abu Dhabi?
Short answer: yes.
Long answer: yes but it depends on a few things.
The 2 day stopover in Abu Dhabi wasn’t something I planned. I was looking for flights from Athens to Seoul, and as one does, decided to check the official airline websites for better rates.
That’s when I saw the option to add a free 2-night stopover in Abu Dhabi.
FREE. Two nights…
Naturally, I had questions.
Spoiler: it worked. Really well actually.
The offer is part of the Stopover in Abu Dhabi by Etihad. You can book one or two nights of free hotel accommodation when flying with them through Abu Dhabi. But it has to be either on your way to your destination or on the return leg, not both.
You need to:
- Book directly through etihad.com
- Choose the stopover option when booking (or add it after with your booking reference)
- Pick from a list of hotels (you don’t get a huge range, but we had four options)
- Get confirmation from Etihad Holidays and show it at check-in, along with your boarding pass
That’s it. No hidden fees, no “we’ll charge you when you get there” nonsense.
Our hotel confirmation came through 10 minutes after booking. And yes, it was genuinely free. We didn’t even leave a credit card at the front desk.
From looking at reviews, it seems a few things need to be 100% true.
For starters, your flight. It needs to be through Etihad and you need to have a ticket with Etihad connecting to and from Abu Dhabi.
You also get the option of upgrading to a longer stay (3 or 4 days) and pay the additional nights on your own.
What's actually included
You get:
- 1 or 2 nights in a 3- or 4-star hotel
- A basic room (no breakfast)
- A comfy bed, solid A/C, and no stress
- Free access to the Experience Abu Dhabi Shuttle Bus
- Discounts at attractions if you show your Etihad boarding pass
Not included:
- Meals
- Airport transfers
- Anything extra the hotel tries to upsell you
What hotel to choose from
We had four hotel choices.
I picked the Al Ain Palace that was central enough for what we wanted, and honestly, it was perfect for a short stay.
It had a pool, gym and spa facilities, it was near the beach and only 1 hour with the bus from and to the airport.
The staff were friendly and accommodating and they even gave us a nicer room than we had anticipated.
One unexpected highlight near our hotel was Dampa Seafood Grill, a casual Cajun-style seafood boil spot that turned out to be exactly what we needed after a long day of travel.
They serve huge seafood platters poured straight onto the table—no plates, just gloves, sauces, and chaos in the best way possible. The flavors were bold, the portions were massive, and for Abu Dhabi standards, it was incredible value for money.
A note on past issues (and what's changed)
It’s worth mentioning that the Etihad stopover program hasn’t always had the smoothest reputation.
There are a few reddit posts with negative experiences, mainly around the lack of instant hotel confirmation. You’d pick a hotel from a list during the booking process, but the system wouldn’t actually check live availability. That meant people were sometimes notified later that their hotel wasn’t available, forcing them to rebook or switch plans at the last minute.
That seems to have been fixed. When we booked, we got a hotel confirmation email within 10 minutes, and it matched our selection. No follow-up emails, no drama, and no mystery about where we’d end up.
Another noticeable change is the range of hotels available. In earlier versions of the program, it seems there were a lot more luxury 4- and 5-star options, and some travelers mentioned getting stays at resorts or high-end properties. Those now seem to be reserved for business travelers or paid upgrades—with most free stopover bookings limited to comfortable but more modest 3- and 4-star hotels.
It’s still a great deal, but if you’ve read older blog posts or TripAdvisor threads raving about fancy stays at the Emirates Palace… just manage your expectations.
There are still high end hotels on the program, including: the Royal Rose Hotel, Marriott Hotel Downtown or the stunning Bar Al Qasr,
Review of the experience
After booking the flight + stopover, we got our hotel confirmation almost instantly. No chasing anyone. No email loops. It felt surprisingly smooth compared to what I’d read online.
We didn’t do much sightseeing since this was more of a “reset between flights” situation, but we did book a dune bashing tour, which ended up being the highlight of our time in the UAE.
A bit more on dune bashing (totally worth it)
There are a lot of companies offering dune bashing and desert safari experiences in Abu Dhabi. Like… a lot.
I spent way too long comparing them and sending messages and came across a bunch of random websites with no physical address, no Google Maps location, and no reviews—which felt a little sketchy. Maybe I was being overly cautious, but in the end, I booked through GetYourGuide and chose Emirates Safari. No regrets.
The price was super reasonable considering what was included, and everything was really well-organized.
Most dune bashing tours offer a similar structure:
- pickup and drop-off
- 4×4 dune bashing
- camel visit
- dinner/show at a desert camp
…but timing, quality, and overall vibe can vary a lot depending on the company.
We started the afternoon with dune bashing (which was just as wild and bumpy as you’d hope), with a few stops built in for photo ops in the desert. Then we visited a small camel farm before being dropped at the main camp for the evening.
At the camp, there was a henna table, a souvenir shop where we picked up one of those custom sand bottles with our names (touristy, yes, but very fun), and a chance to try camel riding and sand “duning” (basically roller skating down a steep dune on a wooden board). Dinner was included—buffet-style—and the night ended with a full show: belly dancing, tanoura spinning, and fire performance under the stars.
It was touristy in all the right ways. Nothing felt pushy or rushed, and for the price, it was a really solid way to spend an evening in the UAE.
If you have more time in Abu Dhabi
We didn’t plan a packed itinerary, but if you’ve got the energy (or a longer stopover), there are quite a few iconic spots that pop up on every Abu Dhabi highlights list. A few that stood out to me:
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – Stunning architecture, especially at sunset.
- Louvre Abu Dhabi – A beautiful blend of modern art and museum design.
- Qasr Al Watan – The Presidential Palace, open to visitors and full of surprises.
- Ferrari World – If you’re into roller coasters or just curious.
- Heritage Village – For a small but nice look into traditional Emirati life.
- The Founder’s Memorial – A peaceful garden + sculpture space with city views.
We kept things chill and went for a leisurely walk down to Corniche Beach and the marina later at night when the weather was more tolerable. It was quiet, scenic, and a great way to end the day.
Had we visited earlier during the colder months, I would have been more inclined to do more sightseeing, especially to see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Getting around: public transport & first impressions
One final thing that surprised me was how easy and affordable it was to get around Abu Dhabi.
While the city isn’t known for being super walkable, the public buses are reliable, air-conditioned, and cheap.
We didn’t know about the free Etihad shuttle bus until after the fact (oops), but even without it, bus fares were only a few dirhams and I saw taxis being reasonably priced too.
Google Maps was fairly accurate in terms of departure times, but not the super early morning one’s for our flight, so it helps to ask the front desk.
Overall experience
As for the overall vibe, Abu Dhabi felt clean, safe, and very calm—especially compared to other big cities in the region. It’s not a place I would have rushed to visit on its own, but having two full days there made me appreciate it and well-organized it is. Definitely worth exploring if you’re already passing through and much easier to make the decision when you have a free 2 day hotel stay.
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ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Must Know When Visiting UAE
- Emergency: Dial 999 for police, 998 for ambulance, and 997 for fire.
- Language: Arabic is the official language but English is widely spoken and understood in hotels, restaurants and tourist areas.
- Water: Tap water is generally safe. Bottled water recommended if traveling outside the main cities.
- Driving: Right-hand side, international driving permit recommended. Book your rental car with Discover Cars for the best rates and comparisons across all major and local companies.
- Accommodation: Booking.com for the most options on hotels, apartments and hostels. Free cancellation in a lot of places and no need to pre-pay. Great for their rewards points system.
- Activities: From desert safaris to city tours and cultural experiences use Get Your Guide.
- Public Transport: Dubai and Abu Dhabi have modern metro and bus systems. For inter-city travel, buses are reliable and affordable. Consider purchasing a Nol Card in Dubai for easy access to public transport.
- Domestic Airlines: The main airlines for air travel are Emirates, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia and FlyDubai.
- Taxi: There are plenty of reliable and metered taxi options. Uber is available or you can use Careem.
- Culture: Dress modestly, especially in public spaces. Make sure to pack layered clothing that can be used to cover up from sun and dust. Public displays of affection are generally frowned upon. Alcohol is available in licensed hotels and bars.
