Car hire - Abu Dhabi

The capital of the UAE Abu Dhabi is probably best known to most people as the less eccentric and over the top relation to Dubai. However, the city has so much more to offer to those coming on holidays, who will find before them an exciting and energetic city state that is not afraid to challenge records and push the boundaries of what's possible.

From seeing quirky attractions like the world's longest hand loomed carpet and the fastest rollercoaster, to visiting the museums and galleries that will show you everything you could ever hope to know about the history and culture of Abu Dhabi, this city has so much to offer.

The only way to see the best of Abu Dhabi when you are coming to the city on holiday is to drive. Although there is an extensive public transport network in places, buses can often be overcrowded and hard to find, so it's best to take things at your own pace and drive around the city and its surroundings. That's not mentioning the very hot temperatures that are prevalent in Abu Dhabi throughout the year, making walking around too far an uncomfortable experience.

No matter what kind of car you might want to drive when you come to Abu Dhabi, the best way to ensure you get the very best deal is to use Holiday Autos. Our booking tool is very easy to use and means that whether you want to hire a larger family car or a sportier little number, you can compare prices from more than 1,500 suppliers, meaning you will be able to easily get the best price at your own convenience.

When you fly into Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), it is very easy to find your car and get on the road in a matter of minutes, but you'll need to know what airport terminal you are coming into in order to make the process of finding your car in the large airport that little more streamlined.

For those who are arriving at Abu Dhabi International at Terminal One and Three, the Skypark Plaza, where all of the car hire companies have their offices, is only a short walk away, and well signposted when you exit the respective arrivals halls. For those who are coming into the airport via Terminal Two, your best bet is to jump onto the shuttle bus available outside the main entrance, which will have you at the Skypark Plaza in just five minutes. The good news is that whenever you arrive at the airport, you will have no problem getting access to your car, with all car hire desks at the airport open 24 hours a day.

When you have picked up your keys, all that will remain is to get to the car and decide where you want to go and what you want to see next. With the freedom to explore Abu Dhabi, the choice is yours!

Hiring a car in Abu Dhabi gives you the freedom and choice to not only see what the emirate itself has to offer you, but also the rest of the UAE, giving you the chance to see so much more than you might have imagined. For example, why not travel the hour and a half north to Dubai, one of the world's most heralded tourist destinations? Hit the beach, visit the Burj Khalifa or Dubai Mall, the tallest building and largest mall in the world respectively, to soak up the very best of what Dubai has to offer when you visit.

Alternatively, the hour and a half to the east that it will take you to get to Al Ain is well worth it to see the natural springs, oases and numerous green spaces that has really allowed the area to garner a reputation as the garden of the UAE. One of the most naturally beautiful places in the emirates, it is well worth spending a day just marvelling in the surroundings of Al Ain.

Of course, as well as having access to things nearby, one plus point of having a hire car when in Abu Dhabi is that you have the freedom to explore and see what lies further afield. For example, a little over two hours to the north of Abu Dhabi is Sharjah, the third biggest city in the UAE. This is a place well worth a visit for families, with the science museum and children's museum both perfect places to take the kids when you come to the city.

Elsewhere, why not try heading a little further north to the smallest of all the emirates, Ajman? A much more low key experience than anywhere else in the UAE, this little emirate is lined with some beautiful beaches decorated perfectly with palm trees, and the chance to relax on them away from where the tourists are makes it a very attractive proposition.