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Planning a trip with Etihad Airways? If your journey includes a layover in Abu Dhabi, you could score a free one- or two-night hotel stay with Etihad’s stopover program. It's a great way to explore the UAE without paying extra for accommodations.
How does it work, and what's included in the free hotel stay? Here’s everything you need to know to take advantage of Etihad’s stopover offer.
Why Stopover in Abu Dhabi?
If you haven't been yet, the United Arab Emirates is a small country in the Middle East. It lies on the southeast side of the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia, and west of Oman. It's generally safe, relatively friendly, and offers some great food. It's the kind of country I feel everyone should visit at least once in their life (I've been three times).
Although Dubai tends to get much of the attention, Abu Dhabi is actually the capital of the UAE and has plenty of attractions of its own.
The biggest highlight is the Grand Mosque, one of the largest in the world and the very definition of opulent. You can also visit Ferrari World, Emirates Palace, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. In other words, you can have a full itinerary with an Etihad stopover.
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How To Get a Free Hotel via Etihad Stopovers
Etihad Airways offers travelers the chance to turn a connection in Abu Dhabi into a stopover with a complimentary hotel stay.
Eligible travelers can book a free one- or two-night stay at select three- and four-star hotels. Etihad also offers a Premium Stopover package with discounted three- or four-night stays at select five-star hotels, and breakfast is included.
Etihad partners with dozens of hotels across its stopover packages. Here's the current list of participating properties:
| The Abu Dhabi EDITION |
|---|
| Al Ain Palace |
| Al Maha Arjaan by Rotana |
| Aloft Abu Dhabi |
| Ayla Bawadi Hotel |
| Ayla Grand Hotel Al Ain |
| Bab Al Qasr |
| Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi |
| Capital Center Arjaan by Rotana |
| Capital Suites Hotel Apartments |
| Centro Al Manhal |
| Centro Capital Centre |
| City Seasons Al Hamra Hotel |
| Copthorne Downtown Abu Dhabi |
| Courtyard by Marriott WTC Abu Dhabi |
| Dunat Al Ain Resort |
| Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi |
| Erth Abu Dhabi |
| Four Points by Sheraton |
| Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi |
| Grand Millennium Al Wahda Hotel |
| Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham |
| InterContinental Abu Dhabi |
| Jannah Burj Al Sarab |
| Jannah Executive Hotel Apartments |
| La Quinta by Wyndham Abu Dhabi Al Wahda |
| Marriott Hotel Downtown |
| Millennium Al Rawdah Hotel Abu Dhabi |
| Millennium Downtown Abu Dhabi |
| Park Rotana Hotel Abu Dhabi |
| Pearl Rotana Capital Center |
| Premier Inn Abu Dhabi International Airport Hotel |
| Premier Inn Capital Center |
| Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort Al Ain |
| Ramada Corniche |
| Royal M Hotel by Gewan |
| Royal Rose Hotel |
| Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche |
| Southern Sun Abu Dhabi |
| Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi |
| Tryp by Wyndham Abu Dhabi |
| Yas Crowne Plaza Hotel |
| Yas Plaza Mangroves by IHG |
| Yas Plaza Marina Hotel |
The hotels available to you will depend on your stopover package and travel dates.
Terms and conditions
- Your itinerary must be a round-trip booking with a stopover in Abu Dhabi of at least 24 hours.
- Flights must be operated and ticketed by Etihad Airways.
- Hotel rooms can accommodate up to two adults and one child under 11.
- Book your hotel through Etihad at least 72 hours before your scheduled arrival in Abu Dhabi.
- You must have a pre-arranged UAE
visa - Complimentary stays don't include breakfast or airport transfers.
- An AED 15 tourism fee per room, per night applies to hotel stays in Abu Dhabi and is payable directly to the hotel.
- See the Etihad website for further terms and conditions.
Booking the Etihad Stopover Package
The easiest way to book an Etihad Stopover is while booking your flights on Etihad's website. Select your destination and travel dates, enter how long you'd like to stop in Abu Dhabi, and choose from the available hotels.
Etihad will provide a list of available hotels for your selected stopover package. Note that some hotels are close to the airport, some are in the “city center,” and some are close to Corniche Beach.
If you've already booked an eligible flight, you can still add a stopover hotel afterward. Etihad provides options online for eligible bookings, or you can contact Etihad to arrange your stay. Just make sure to reserve your hotel at least three days before arriving in Abu Dhabi.
Once your hotel reservation is confirmed, Etihad will send you a voucher to present when you check in.
Is the Free Etihad Stopover Package Actually Free?
The hotel room itself is complimentary, but your Etihad stopover may not be completely free. Etihad notes there is a nominal fee that applies when you select the Abu Dhabi Stopover option — although it doesn't specify the amount. You'll also need to pay an AED 15 tourism fee per room, per night directly to your hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Plus, the complimentary stopover doesn't include breakfast, airport transfers, or other hotel extras.
Abu Dhabi Stopover Tips
Take some time to look at where each hotel is and what activities are available nearby. My recommendation is to stay near the beach, but you might prefer a hotel closer to the airport. Make sure to visit Yas Island and all the theme parks, plus relax on Corniche beach for the perfect vacation. Well … the perfect stopover on your vacation.
Airport transfers aren't included with Abu Dhabi stopover hotels, although some participating hotels offer their own airport shuttle services. Check with your hotel directly to see what's available.
Etihad also provides stopover guests with a complimentary Stopover Pass, which offers discounts of up to 15% on select attractions, theme parks, and tours around Abu Dhabi.
Etihad GuestSeat award tickets are also eligible for stopovers in Abu Dhabi when booked through the Etihad Guest Service Centre, subject to the program's stopover terms.
Bottom Line
If you’re flying Etihad and have time for a layover, this stopover program is a no-brainer — offering a free hotel stay in Abu Dhabi at no additional flight cost. While it doesn’t include extras like breakfast or airport transfers, it’s still an excellent way to experience the UAE’s capital.
Whether you explore the Grand Mosque, visit Yas Island, or just relax on the beach, this stopover can turn a routine connection into a memorable travel experience.
If this offer doesn't work for you, you can get a hotel room from $14 per night in Doha if you're flying with Qatar Airways. And Emirates has a stopover program in nearby Dubai as well.
