I almost cancelled this tour because there were many bad reviews, but I decided to go anyway. I was here in July. It was 103 degrees with a 119 heat index.
This was my experience:
1. Our group’s guide was Ghulam Ali. I highly recommend him. He was a safe driver at all times. Pick up time was communicated the previous night. He texted when he was two minutes from hotel on pick up day so I would be ready. We were in a van with front (seated 1), middle seat (seated 3) and the back (seated2). There were 6 total in the group plus Ghulam. The van was nicely air conditioned at all times. I was solo and the first pick up so I grabbed the front seat which I recommend. I wouldn’t have wanted to be sandwiched in the middle seat all day with two other strangers, so if solo, grab the front seat. If you’re a family, no big deal to share the middle seat. It was a mom and daughter in the very back.
Ghulam was very personable. He answered all of my questions about the country, culture, history etc. I really enjoyed spending the day with him. I hope his manager reads this review and recognizes him, because he deserves it. He gave us just enough info on what we were seeing as we drove around. Not too much, not too little. Just right. He did his best to limit our time outside in the heat, which I greatly appreciated.
2. We drove from Dubai to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. This mosque has strict clothing rules. Bring a long sleeved shirt and scarf. Ghulam had a big box of scarves/coverings in his trunk and made sure we were covered properly. We were given free time to explore the mosque. Utilize the free golf cart service to and from the mosque to stay cool instead of walking. It was beautiful. Two group members opted (on their own) for a guided tour at the mosque and were able to get inside in the carpeted prayer area. This is not part of the Viator tour, so inquire when you get there. Afterward, there was time to grab souvenirs and coffee in the attached mall.
3. Next stop was the Miraj Islamic Art Center. Just being honest, this stop needs to be taken off the tour. Yes, the golden carpets are pretty, but too expensive for average person to buy ($300 and up), but that took just 5 minutes to see. The rest of the center is just a strange watch shop.
4. The Heritage Village was closed so we did not stop there. That was fine with the group because it is an outdoor attraction and it was brutally hot.
5. We drove past the Corniche Beach view, but it was hazy and not a good photo op, so we continued on.
6. We had three options for lunch: fast food, Lebanese or Arabic. I chose the Arabic, which was a nice little lunch buffet. Nothing fancy, but nice. Typical buffet food. Camel was available, so it gave me the chance to try it. Tastes like pot roast, btw.
7. We stopped at the Emirates Palace Hotel. This is a beautiful hotel and a nice stop.
8. We drove past the gates of the Qasr Al Watan. Not much to see, other than the entrance gate, but cool to just see it for bucket list purposes.
9. Ferrari World. This is an amusement park. I had read in the reviews that this stop was just to go into the lobby area, which is true. I’m not into amusement parks, so I opted to stay in the van instead of walking in the heat just to get a photo in the lobby. The two from our group who went into the lobby said it was nothing special. This stop could probably be eliminated and maybe just a drive by.
10. The date market area is a stop that should be expanded. It is a huge produce market, which was hustling and bustling. We only got to experience one teeny shop. I would’ve loved to have walked around for a bit to take in the local feeling of the market. We were given just a few minutes to try some dates and purchase some. It wasn’t enough time (this was not our guide’s fault-he has a schedule to stick to) I hope the tour company expands this stop. The dates were delicious and fresh dates were in season and available, too. Perhaps another stop at a local market would be a good idea to include in this tour. Local markets are where you get experience the local culture when you travel.
11. Because Heritage Village was closed, our Plan B was a great surprise: we were given two hours to explore the Louvre Art Museum. This was a wonderful experience. I loved this stop. The work at the museum is awesome.
We were then driven back safely to our hotels. It is a long day, we left at 8:30ish and returned around 6:30pm. I would recommend this tour. Keep in mind, I was here on the off-season, so our group was just 6ppl and in a van. I think in the peak season, the group is larger. Be mindful of that, because a larger group means a bus and all the larger group logistics and makes it a different experience all together.
The cost of this tour was a mere $40, so if you consider having a driver for 10 hours, it was well worth the money. Please remember to tip your guides on these tours.
Thank you, Ghulam, for a great day in Abu Dahbi!

Great experience. I had a long layover and taking this tour was the best idea. Ghulam Ali, our guide, was amazing, knowledgeable and very well experienced.

It was perfect from start to finish. Ghulam met us at our hotel on time and returned us. His expertise of Abu Dhabi was outstanding, and his lunch location was excellent we loved the buffet. He even sat and ate with us! I highly recommend Ghulam we loved your service and attention to detail. We truly appreciate you going out your way to make sure we had an amazing experience. Thank you very much for a fantastic visit to Abu Dhabi." We are looking forward to our next visit!