Hamdan Street Abu Dhabi is one of the city’s well-known central streets, combining shopping, restaurants, hotels, residential buildings, offices, and easy access to major attractions. Located on Abu Dhabi Island, the street is close to landmarks such as Qasr Al Hosn and the Corniche, making it useful for both residents and visitors.
The street is ancient and very crowded. The main attractions for people are shopping stores, hotels, restaurants, apartment buildings, and office towers. Abilities were introduced worldwide to shop, eat, and even be a tourist somewhere else. It is a great place to see the real daily life of the city in Abu Dhabi.
Where Is Hamdan Street Abu Dkabi Located?
Hamdan Street Abu Dhabi is located in the central part of Abu Dhabi Island and is surrounded by several important roads and commercial area. Areas nearby Hamdan Street that are considered important are:
- To the North: It is worth mentioning that the Corniche road and the sea are the two main landmarks for this area.
- To the South: Al Danah and Madinat Zayed residential areas
- To the East: The downtown business district
- To the West: Al Zahiyah area and the World Trade Center Mall
The junctions of Large roads with Haamdan Street at Electra Street and Khalifa Street can be used by people to go to Hamdan Street which is in any part of the city
History and Development of Hamdan Street
Hamdan Street has always been part of Abu Dhabi with its growth. Here is a simple timeline of how it developed over the years:
- 1970s: Abu Dhabi is on a fast track to growth and development. Hamdan Street was constructed as one of the main roads of the new urbanization plan.
- 1982: A new mall named Hamdan Centre opened. One of the biggest one-stop shops in Abu Dhabi was a large mall with modern shops.
- 2001: Abu Dhabi Mall was opened at the edge of Hamdan Street. It turned out to be a landmark for shoppers.
- 2016: The World Trade Center Mall was introduced at the other end of Hamdan Street. It was a hit in the area with 230 additional shops.
- 2018: Qasr Al Hosn fort has released the Phoenix from its ashes. With a new museum, this is now a place to learn about Abu Dhabi’s past and visit the city.
- 2020s: The Abu Dhabi government started working on the best route to the street in the process of traffic engineering and smart city development.
Famous Landmarks on Hamdan Street
Hamdan Centre
Hamdan Centre is the oldest mall in Abu Dhabi. It was opened in 1982. It is a low-rise mall consisting of two to four floors. It is quite crowded with shops. This is a mall that people go to in order to buy gold, jewelry, clothes, leather goods, and souvenirs. Subsequently, it took up a whole block between Liwa and Sultan Streets. It is open from 8 o’clock until 11 o’clock every day. For more information, the center can be contacted through the following phone number: +971 2 632 8555.
World Trade Center Mall
The World Trade Center Mall is situated at the western end of Hamdan Street. However, it has an additional 230 stores, a large supermarket, food court, and VOX cinema. The usual operating hours are from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM Sunday to Thursday and 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. However, their Website is wtcad.ae. The telephone contact is +971 2 508 2400.
Qasr Al Hosn
Qasr Al Hosn is the oldest building of Abu Dhabi. It is an 18th-century fort that has been restored to a cultural heritage museum. In fact the fort is located in the eastern part of Hamdan Street. The doors to the fort are open for visitors on Saturday to Thursday between 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. On Friday it opens around at 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The entrance fee for adults is around AED 30. The website where visitors can get to know the center is qasralhosn.ae. They can also use the phone number below to get information: +971 2 697 6400.
Liwa Towers
Liwa and Hamdan streets have two tall twin towers on them. These buildings are used as offices and are one of the many famous buildings in Abu Dhabi. They are located near Hamdan Street and Liwa Street.
How To Get To Hamdan Street
Public buses, taxis, and private cars make Hamdan Street Abu Dhabi relatively convenient to reach from different parts of the city.
By Bus
Quite a few public buses make their stop on Hamdan Street. The main stops are called Hamdan Street/Liwa Centre and Hamdan Street/Sultan Bin Zayed. Bus routes that stop here include numbers 5, 7, 8, 40, 44, 54, 101, 102, 110, 120, and 162. The Darbi or Google Maps apps can be used to find the right direction as well as the time schedule.
By Taxi
Taxis are available throughout Hamdan Street. The national taxi number is 600 53 53 53. Apps similar to Careem are also efficient in this region.
By Car
Parking is easy to find on many blocks using the Mawaqif system. Parking costs about AED 2 to 4 per hour. Payment can be made through the Mawaqif app or at the machines on the streets.
By Foot or Bicycle
Hamdan Street is a walkway, so walking is the fastest way to the destination. People walk on the sidewalk and sometimes use the cycle path. Those who want to cycle can use the station at the specific addresses nearby. The street has no obstacles and everyone can result safely in his/her destination.
Shopping on Hamdan Street
Shopping is one of the main reasons people visit Hamdan Street Abu Dhabi, with a wide range of shops and services available along the street and nearby areas. People who want to shop at a low price in Abu Dhabi should visit Hamdan Street.
Hamdan Centre sells gold, watches, perfumes, electronics, fabrics, and many other things at reasonable prices. The prices of their products are generally a bit lower than those at the newer shopping malls.
At the Gold Souq, which is located near the end of the street, shoppers can find very attractive gold and silver jewelry. Bargaining is usually allowed at various shops, especially those in Hamdan Centre. Asking for 10 to 20 percent off the price is acceptable and it is regarded as a typical practice.
The World Trade Center Mall offers more varieties of items from big international brands and also a Carrefour hypermarket for the normal weekly groceries. Thus, people will have a perfect possibility to buy everything they need in one place.
Eating and Dining on Hamdan Street
Visitors exploring Hamdan Street Abu Dhabi can find many restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and casual dining options serving different types of food. Hamdan Street is full of different types of restaurants and cafes. The food is from the whole world and can be found at all prices. Those who are searching for where to eat might consider these options:
- Lebanese food: Green salads, grilled meat, and flat bread
- Indian and Pakistani food: Boiled rice, chicken pepper thick curry, and roti
- Filipino food: Foods that are normally made at home
- Chinese and Korean food: Fried rice, noodles, and grilled meat
- Fast food: There is a Burger King and other global chains in the Hamdan Centre
- Street food: Shawarma joints are many; however, they gain more popularity especially as people buy the street food.
Really what I want to say about these examples is that people can find cheap places to eat which usually are around AED 15 to 25. For a full dinner in a regular sit-down place, people are going to be charged from AED 50 to AED 100 per person. The food is served around the clock and in the late night as well.
Hotels Near Hamdan Street
Hamdan Street and the surrounding have been developed into the hotel and business area with most of the hotels being moderately priced. The following are some of the hotels:
Millennium Downtown Abu Dhabi (4-star): A modern hotel close to the WTC Mall. The cost of the rooms is in the range of AED 400 to 800 per night. The site offering this information is the following: millenniumhotels.com
Copthorne Downtown Abu Dhabi (4-star): Located in the vicinity of Electra and Hamdan Streets. Features a rooftop pool. Rooms range from AED 300 to AED 600 per night. Visit millenniumhotels.com for more information.
Novel Hotel City Center (3-star): A hotel in the Hamdan Centre. This has become very popular and is used as restaurants that offer good food at a cheaper cost. Room rates start at AED 250 and max out at AED 450. The website for more details is danathotels.com
There are also budget motels, and hotels, and apartment motels, which charge about AED 150 to AED 300 for a night, are usually the cheapest ones available.
Safety and Important Rules
The city of Abu Dhabi is considered to be very safe. Crime rates are low. However, there are some basic rules that a visitor should pay attention to:
- Dress modestly: It is necessary to follow the dress code when you walk in public places, especially in shopping malls, and close to mosques where your body parts like shoulders and knees should be properly covered.
- Respect Ramadan: During the fasting month of Ramadan, people are not allowed to eat, drink, or smoke in public during the daytime.
- Alcohol can only be consumed in private: Only people who are staying at licensed hotels and restaurants are permitted to drink alcohol. Drinking in public is forbidden.
- No photography rules: It is allowed to take photographs of buildings and streets. However, be cautious not to take a photo of a person without his/her approval and not to take photos of the military or police personnel.
- No bad language: The use of vulgar language in a public area is prohibited, and offenders can be charged a different amount in the Abu Dhabi area.
- No drugs: Drug use is a criminal activity and it is strictly forbidden.
- Stay hydrated: The summer months are scorching in Abu Dhabi and sometimes temperatures can be as high as 40 degrees Celsius or more. It is recommended that you carry water when you are leaving the house during the day.
Events and Festivals Near Hamdan Street
Hamdan Street itself is not the center of big events, but the whole region goes alive on special occasions, for example,
- Ramadan: The shops are open late. There are special Ramadan markets and bazaars at the malls. The time after the sunset is always lively on the street.
- Eid Celebrations: Malls and streets already decorated. A really nice spirit of joy is blowing through the whole city.
- National Day (December 2): Fireworks can be seen from the Corniche, just one block north of Hamdan Street. The whole city of Abu Dhabi is lit ablaze.
- Shopping Festivals: Sales usually occur in December to January and from June to July. Besides, Hamdan Centre and the WTC Mall run special promotions during these times.
For the latest event information, the official VisitAbuDhabi website is the best place to check.
Nearby Attractions Worth Visiting
Hamdan Street is a perfect location that facilitates the tourists to visit a lot of other places not far away in Abu Dhabi. Such places are:
- The Corniche: Quite nearby, one can find a road that leads to the park with beautiful views of the sea of the Corniche. It is a wonderful place to jog, chill, dine or get sea air.
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: This mosque is not the biggest, but is one of the most beautiful and largest mosques around the world. It is located 20 minutes from the city center by car.
- Louvre Abu Dhabi: An outstanding art hall is the Louvre Abu Dhabi and it is found on Saadiyat Island 20 to 25 minutes away.
- Yas Island: Ferrari World, Warner Bros. world, and Yas Water World are some of the attractions that can be found on Yas Island all of which can be reached in 30 to 45 minutes.
- Heritage Village: It is a traditional Emirati village that is found near the Corniche. It shows how Abu Dhabians used to live and produce arts which give it its name.
A Simple One-Day Plan for Hamdan Street
Morning: First, visit the Qasr Al Hosn fort and museum to get a better understanding of Abu Dhabi’s history.
- Late Morning: Next, walk from the Qasr along the street towards the Victoria Street to see the Hamdan Centre and browse the gold shops and gift shops to get souvenirs for the memory of the trip.
- Afternoon: Before you take your hunger from the games that are sold at the Hamdan Centre, it is advised that you go to take lunch in one of the most affordable restaurants. Indian or Lebanese style food will be your ultimate choice.
- Evening: To wrap the day up, make a quick trip to the World Trade Center Mall for shopping or catch a film at VOX Cinema.
- Night: The Corniche is a 2-minute walk from there to live with a refreshing sea breeze. Cap the night off with a shawarma or a cup of coffee at a street café.
Future Plans for Hamdan Street
The government of Abu Dhabi is making Hamdan Street much better. Better paving and street lighting have been added. The roads will be built with new separate bus lanes that will run near the Hamdan Street area in Abu Dhabi.
Some of the buildings, as well as the older ones, are being replaced by new and taller buildings in the Abu Dhabi 2030 city plan. In the process of the tech hub development on the nearby Madinat Zayed area, new people and companies will increase the number of stakeholders to Hamdan Street.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are visiting for shopping, dining, accommodation, or exploring central Abu Dhabi, Hamdan Street Abu Dhabi remains a practical area to include in your itinerary.
It is not the most beautiful or modern street, but on the other hand, it is not struck with the silence of a dead area either. The products lovers, the foodies, the history enthusiasts, and the money saving travelers can all find something that is attractive to them.
Hamdan Street, as one of the main attractions, is the most accessible point that can be recommended to anyone in Abu Dhabi with good transport links, low expenditure, and famous points of interest. The existence of great transport links, good value for money, and known monuments in the nearby area makes Hamdan Street become a must-see place.
