Al Hudayriat Island: A Local Guide on What to Expect 

To all the outdoor enthusiasts: Are you a family person and don’t know where to take your loved ones for the weekly outing? Or an athlete searching for an area to exercise and try extreme activities? Perhaps a foodie who wants to explore different cuisines? November 10, 2020, a bridge has been built that allows access for the public to visit one of Abu Dhabi’s most ICONIC islands, Al Hudayriat Island. It is a place for everyone of all ages and interests to enjoy and experience new things.

After a long week of hard work, a person just needs to escape somewhere to get some fresh air, feel the cool sea breeze, and clear their mind. Hmm, does it not sound delightful. Al Hudayriat Island has it all, and throughout this guide, we will list all the things the island has to offer; from exploring different cuisines and trying different activities,  to walking by the beach and taking a break from reality. If this is the extraordinary opportunity that you are craving to experience, then proceed with reading our blog review; your anticipation will be worth this adventure.

Experience the world of Marsana

A lot of people underestimate Al Hudayriat Island, because most of them visit the main area, where they can only pass by food trucks drive thru or walk by the beach. However, it is much more than that. We introduce to you Marsana, which is an extension to the island, where you can park your car for free and walk around the beautiful area. It provides many amenities for adults and children, which will be mentioned below. Now enough chit chatting and let’s proceed with why you are reading this blog!

Beach and Beyond

Who hasn’t seen the beautiful Hudayriat beach yet? Because if you haven’t, let me tell you, you are missing out! As we mentioned before, Hudayriat island can amuse everyone of different ages and interests. So, if you visited the beach or planning to, let us list some of the things you can do to enjoy it even more. 

You can visit the Al Hudayriat island beach anytime! Since it is open to the public 24 hours a day. Regarding swimming hours, everyone is allowed to swim during the daytime only, to be seen by lifeguards.

Anyhow, there are a lot more activities you can enjoy after swimming.

Aqua Park, Marsana Hudayriat Beach

For our daring readers, invite a friend and complete the whole course of the inflatable water park game, can you do it? We challenge you! At Aqua Park, there are 247 inflatable obstacles that are children-friendly, and can carry up to a 1000 guests. The park offers their guests a mandatory life jacket, rubber bottom shoes to not slip, and towels plus a lifeguard is always on duty to ensure guest safety.

Opening hours: Everyday 9 AM to sunset

Contact Number: +971 50 397 9215

Contact Email: info@aquaparkmarsana.com

Water Activities

The night is still young, and you are yearning for an adventure, well, we have just the thing for you! We have compiled a list of water activities that you can try.

*It is advised to carry Emirates ID, to verify age eligibility*

These water activities are located in The Marina, Marsana Hudayriat. 

Contact Number: +971 56 991 9918

Opening hours: weekdays: 9AM – 11PM / weekends: 9AM – 12 AM

You can also visit the Sahara Marina Sport Club website or contact them via email:  booking@saharamarine.ae for any inquiries, since they operate the Aqua Park Marsana and the above water activities.

Al Hudayriat Beach Path

This is our favorite part of the island. In the Marina section in Marsana, there is a path designed to view the ocean from both sides. It is so calming to walk there while listening to the birds and calm waves. It is also a picture perfect spot as it overlooks the famous #HUDAYRIAT. If you are a sunset lover, you’ll want to go there, sit down on the benches, sungaze and clear your mind.

On-Land Activities

First things first, Hudayriat Beach Abu Dhabi entry is free of charge! So everyone is invited to enter and have fun. There are many on-land activities to indulge in with your family and friends.

As you know, Al Hudayriat Island food trucks provide many cuisines. You can go to your desired food truck, order and take it with you to the beach to have a picnic. It’s a great way to spend time with your loved ones, chill, read a book and reflect. You can also get a ‘lunch box cake’ to celebrate your birthday with your family and friends.

If you need snacks, visit the Leen Outlet Market to get your groceries, and if you are craving baked goods there is a coffee shop inside the market that offers freshly baked pastries.

Click right here! To get some dish inspirations to bring on your picnic or view our fellow Zayed University students blog that guides you on how to set up the perfect picnic.

Ride the Marsana Express Train with your children and roam around the beautiful areas of MArsana. The train takes you and your little ones on a tour of the whole area to see what it has to offer, while playing entertaining children’s songs for a fee of 15 AED per person.

Meet new people and play! In Al Hudayriat public beach, there is a net for everyone to play tennis, badminton, or volleyball. You can also play football, tag, or exercise on the Hudayriat beach.

Fitness is not just fitness, fitness is personal growth, therapy, strength, and confidence! Exercise for free in the outdoor gym, for adults of the age 16 and above. Battle ropes, push up handles, monkey bars, weights and many more.

Keep a lookout for the unforgettable Al Hudayriat Island Events

The public’s favorite, attending beach events. Most of the Island’s events take place within the winter. Moreover, we attended the White X Island event, which is hosted by White cafe and Island restaurant. This winter pop-up has a spectacular view of the beach, you can sit, try their drinks, eat their deserts and wind down. We tried their best selling burgers island and swiss burgers with a side of spicy fries and buffalo shrimp. For dessert we got the latte cake, san sebastian topped with melted chocolate, and had their hot chocolate. Is your mouth watering?

*Hot chocolates are a must in the UAE during winter.

Below we mentioned some recent events that have occurred:

• Abu Dhabi Family Formu 3rd event, by H.H Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Excellence and Community Intelligence Program and Family Development Foundation. This event was on 13 December and lasted for 6 days. In addition, many small businesses presented their products in small booths. Some honorable mentions to the amazing business creator we encountered, @Salaamaas a boutique store that sells captivating perfume scents, @Theaconcept a clothing brand with pretty and elegant designs, @Cosmic_des offers creative handmade woodwork decor.

• Modon Abu Dhabi Padel Master 2023 was the first master tournament performed in Bab Al Nojoum, Hudayriat Island on the 21st of February and lasted for 6 days.

These are all the events we have attended and enjoyed. Furthermore, there are no upcoming events as of now, but if you are interested feel free to check out their Instagram page, @Hudayriyat.Marvista to receive any future updates.

Circuit X

Are you in for a thrilling adventure? Circuit x has created 4 different parks designed to boost adrenaline. Now go on and choose your own adventure.

Splash Park

A little water park for the little ones. Let your kids splash around with others, enjoy their time, and cool off the warm summer sun under the shaded water park located in Marsana, Hudayriat Island. For children under the age of 4, a parent or a guardian should be present, but for the rest, staff members can take care of them for you so you can explore the rest of the island. 

Minimum age: 1 year old

Skate Park

Grab your buddies and skateboards to enjoy the ledges and railings in the skate park, located in Marsana, Hudayriat Island. If you are a newbie, the park offers professional training that will guide you throughout the process. Now go on and show off your tricks!

Minimum age: 5 years old.

BMX Park

Cyclists listen up, cause this one’s for you! Gear up, get your bike, check the bike air pressure, and get on one of UAE’S biggest asphalt tracks. Not to mention, you can always rent a bike and ride it around the cycling tracks. The park has trained instructors to ensure safety as it also has 15 track elements to get your heart racing.

Minimum age: 7 years old.

Ropes Park

Want to test out your bravery? The high ropes course is the perfect solution to do so. Climbing walls, ziplines, moving bridges, all that and more to test your physique. The player will face 31 obstacles that are divided across 3 different levels: green circuit, blue circuit, and black circuit. Overcome your fear and endure the challenging obstacles in the ropes park!

Minimum weight: 130 kg

Minimum height 121 cm 

Minimum age: 7 years old

Green circuit: 7 – 10 years old 

Blue circuit: 11 – 14 years old 

Black circuit: 15 years old and above 

To view prices and get more information you can visit Circuit X website, or contact them during office hours: Sunday – Thursday between 9:00AM – 6:00PM

Email: hello@circuitxuae.com

Contact number: +971 2 691 0302

Pedal around the Hudayriat Island Cycling Track

Let your bike show you the way around Al Hudayriat Island. The island is becoming more cycle-friendly, as there is a green trail manufactured for bicycles that goes around the whole island. So get your safety gear and bike on!

The Hudayriat cycle track is 5 to10 kilometers long, which overlooks the breathtaking view of the sea and the city. We recommend you to cycle around 5:30pm, during the sunset on the beautiful Hudayriat bridge, to witness the most spectacular view over the sea.

Don’t have a bike? Don’t worry because there are many shops that offer bike rentals and necessary equipment.

Below we listed all the stores that specializes in cycling: 

Colnago

The man, the myth, the legend, Ernesto Colnago is the founder of the still up and running bicycle manufacturing company, Colnago. The store provides cyclists the opportunity to customize their bike from a to z, based on their preferences. They have advanced technologies, such as, laser precise fitting system that gets your exact measurements. Not only that, but Colnago is also a showroom, where they display some of their exquisite bikes that were used in previous races.

A cool fact about Colnago is that some bikes are dyed using chemical colors, which gives them a shiny marbly effect.

Wolfis

After understanding  the history of bikes at Colnago, we then visited the number 1 bike selling store in the UAE, Wolfis which was beside it. At Wolfis, you are able to buy, rent and even sell bikes. They also allow you to try the bike before getting it,  in the bike fitting studio. They are very considerate, as they also offer bikes for kids of all ages as well as an adjustable baby seat of the parent’s bike!

We would like to give a shout out to Jock, a manager at Colnago, who gave us this entertaining tour around Colnago and Wolfis. Thanks Jock! 

Abu Dhabi Cycling Club

Another bike store, G42 Abu Dhabi Cycling Club, offers a selection of bikes and equipment.  The always participate in cycling tournamaents from time to time. On March 7, 2023, they are hosting the Falcon Daman Series Final, and anyone with road bike experience  is allowed to preform in the race, and the winner gets a prize of 100,000 AED! For more information  about upcoming tournaments visit their instagram page @Adcyclingclub, as they are always active.
What are you waiting for? Gear Up, Get your bicycle and wander around Al Hudayriat cycling track. A freedom of mobility!

Mind, Body and Soul

Are you a sports fan? In Al Hudayriat island there are multiple sport fields and ball courts, provided by 321 Sports. There are a variety of different areas for every sport, such as tennis, football, gym , basketball, etc.. you name it they have an area for it. Not to mention, for each area there is an indoor and an outdoor space!

For more information you visit their website, or get in touch with them by:

Contact Numbers:

Gym: +971 2 691 0282

Sport Fields: +971 2 691 0256

WhatsApp: +971 50 371 5234

You can contact them via email: bookings@321-sports.com and check out their Instagram page: @321sports_hudayriyat, for their latest updates.

Take a trip down a historical lane in Hudayriat Island, Heritage Trail

Take a deep breath of the fresh sea air and walk down the path of Al Hudayriat Island Heritage Trail in peace. An interesting view of archaeological sites, with all the artistic statues built so you envision the scenery. The trail is built to protect historical facts about Al Hudayriat Island Beach, a great way to, as they say, feed your mind and body.

The end of our journey…

We can all agree that exploring Al Hudayriat Island in one day is for sure not enough, well it took us a week to cover all the places and get the information, but no need to worry because you can always book a tent and stay the night in Al Hudayriat Island hotel, Bab Al Nojoum. If you clicked right here! It’ll take you to our fellow colleagues’ blog where they have already reviewed the Hudayriat Island camping area. 

Lastly, if you have any inquiry you can leave a comment below or get in touch with Al Hudayriat Island customer service via email: info@hudayriyatisland.ae.

P.S. While we were visiting the island there was a lot of construction going on, so subscribe to ReviewAE to keep a lookout for a potential part 2 of this blog 😉.