€£$
по-русскиen Español (pronto)
enter
1511things to do
in the world
117things to do
in Emirates
27things to do
in Abu Dhabi

See Yowla dancein Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

#4of 27 things to doin Abu Dhabi

Oddviser

adventure's step-by-step
recipes & lifehacks
How to ride a board on volcano in Nicaragua?How to walk inside the active volcano in Greece?How to feed flying dogs in the jungles of Thailand?How to cycle along the Great Wall of China?How to swim in the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome?How to ride a kayak along the canals of Venice?How to walk on the roofs of skyscrapers in Dubai?
Join usit's more fun together :)
Yowla is traditionally performed by men in snow-white dresses - kanduras. The dance symbolizes the unity and togetherness of the emirates.
How to see Yowla dance in Abu Dhabi
Men in white clothes line up in two rows, opposite each other. They hold a long cane with one curved edge in their hands. This is an obligatory attribute of the dance.

It is performed to the beat of drums. The musical accompaniment and screams during the dance once filled the tribe with a warlike spirit. The dance has several meanings - it glorifies the victory and symbolizes the unity of the Arab tribes.

Yowla can be seen both in the remote places of the Emirates, and at festive events of national scale in the center of the capital.

Yowla, Abu Dhabi
Photo: © Omar Al Sumaiti

How to do?

1. You can see the yowla dancing at an Arab wedding or during any national holiday. For example, it is performed at the annual Qasr al-Hosn festival. You can even join the dancers, if you know the moves.

Yowla, Abu Dhabi

2. The festival is held next to the ancient Qasr al-Hosn palace, which belonged to the ruling Al Nayan dynasty for a long time. It`s located on Zayed the First Street, next to the park. The buses 032, 034, 005, 054 run here.

Where to do?

#1Qasr Al Hosn fort in Abu DhabiQasr Al Hosn fort

The oldest building in Abu Dhabi, which is called its birthplace. It is next to the modern skyscrapers, recalling the past of the emirate.

Location: Al Hosn, Sheikh Zayed the First Street
Open hours: From Saturday to Thursday - from 7:30 to 14:30 and from 17:00 to 21:00
Phone: +971 2 666 4442

When to do?

The festival is held annually in February.

Reviews

Guest16 April 2025

More things to do in Abu Dhabi

DMARC CheckGet instant DMARC check on DmarcDkim.comadvertisement

DMARC allows you to discover, monitor, and fix weak spots in your email setup, prevent email spoofing, and increase email deliverability. Is your domain vulnerable?

#7Try pearl diving in Abu DhabiTry pearl divingoddviser

The attraction is located in the Yas Waterworld and has no analogues in the world. You will try yourself as a pearl diver.

149Yas Waterworld Waterpark
#1Visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu DhabiVisit the Sheikh Zayed Mosqueoddviser

It is a symbol of original Islamic architecture, an example of the unity of all nations and religions.

FREE
#19Drive over Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu DhabiDrive over Sheikh Zayed Bridgeoddviser

This bridge is an architectural masterpiece, for which designers were awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

FREESheikh Zayed Bridge
#8Go to Formula One Grand Prix in Abu DhabiGo to Formula One Grand Prixoddviser

The roar of motors, 55 thousand onlookers and an incredible track – you have to see it with your own eyes!

2516Yas Island
#18Jump over the waves on a jet ski in Abu DhabiJump over the waves on a jet skioddviser

Go for a fast and comfortable ride – drive a jet ski on the waves of the Gulf and don’t worry if you have no experience in driving a personal watercraft.

200Hiltonia Beach Club
#5Visit the Date Festival in Abu DhabiVisit the Date Festivaloddviser

Appreciate the taste of two hundred varieties of dates at the picturesque and really grand event the Date Festival in Liwa oasis.

FREELiwa oasis
#21Go sandboarding in Abu DhabiGo sandboardingAnri Genyari

Got bad experience in skiing? Take sandboarding! Warm and soft sand dunes is much more pleasant than cold and wet snow.

1000Liwa oasis
#20Watch camel beauty contest in Abu DhabiWatch camel beauty contestAnna Grishina

Once a year, the most beautiful camels from the countries of the Persian Gulf and South Africa gather here.

#23Drive a race car along the Formula 1 circuit in Abu DhabiDrive a race car along the Formula 1 circuitTouchstone

Formula 1 Grand Prix takes the Yas Marina Circuit only a few days a year.

1750Yas Marina Race Track
#26Go up the Falling tower in Abu DhabiGo up the Falling towerMickey Collins

A skyscraper Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi is called the Falling Tower. Its slope is 4.5 times more than a slope of Pisan Tower.

45The Capital Gate
#14Have dinner in roller coaster restaurant in Abu DhabiHave dinner in roller coaster restaurantoddviser

Here you can not only have a good meal but also see how dishes go down the roller coasters.

Yas Mall
Know more things to do?Guest

Share your ideas of what to do in Abu Dhabi with other travellers — together we'll make our travellings more interesting!

Photo credit © https://i.ytimg.com