Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street Abu Dhabi: Shops, Food and the Old Downtown
Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street is the high street of old Abu Dhabi. It runs for about 4 kilometres through the downtown Al Markaziyah area, lined with shops, restaurants, hotels and offices. The street carries the name of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan and it has served as the capital’s commercial heart for decades. This guide covers the hamdan bin mohammed street experience in full: what to shop for, where to eat, which landmarks sit nearby and how to reach the street from Dubai.
The street suits bargain hunters and food lovers best. Hamdan Centre, one of the oldest malls in Abu Dhabi, sells sports goods, leather, textiles and souvenirs at prices that undercut the big malls. The restaurants range from cheap cafeterias to hotel dining rooms. The Corniche and Qasr Al Hosn sit minutes away. The street works as a base for a full downtown day.
What Is Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street?
Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street, usually called Hamdan Street, is a main road in downtown Abu Dhabi. It runs from Al Hosn in the west to Al Zahiyah in the east, parallel to the Corniche. The street is about 4 kilometres long and it passes through the Al Markaziyah West and Al Markaziyah districts.
The street grew up with the city. As Abu Dhabi turned from a small coastal town into a capital, Hamdan Street became its shopping spine. Small shops opened on the ground floors of residential towers. Hotels, banks, travel agents and government offices followed. The street never had the polish of the Corniche or the glamour of the Marina. It kept the crowds because it stayed affordable.
Today the street mixes old and new. Traditional abaya and kandura shops sit beside electronics stores and international brands. Old cafeterias serve karak and parathas next to hotel restaurants. The buildings are mid-rise and the pavements stay busy from morning until late at night. The street shows you the working city in a way that the malls on Yas Island never will.
At a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Al Markaziyah, downtown Abu Dhabi |
| Length | About 4 kilometres |
| Runs from | Al Hosn to Al Zahiyah |
| Main mall | Hamdan Centre |
| Main supermarket | LuLu Hypermarket |
| Nearest landmark | Qasr Al Hosn, Corniche Beach |
| Best time | Evenings, November to March |
The street has its own daily rhythm. Mornings belong to the workers and the delivery vans, with shops opening their shutters around 9:00 AM. Afternoons slow down in the heat. Many small shops close for a break. Evenings bring the street to life, with families shopping, friends meeting for dinner and the neon signs glowing above the pavements. The change from quiet morning to busy night is part of the street’s charm. It is worth seeing both sides in one visit.
Where Is the Street?
Hamdan Street sits in the heart of Abu Dhabi, in the downtown Al Markaziyah area. It runs parallel to the Corniche, which sits a few minutes’ walk to the north. The western end meets the Al Hosn area, where Qasr Al Hosn fort stands. The eastern end reaches Al Zahiyah, near the World Trade Centre Mall.
The street is easy to find once you reach downtown Abu Dhabi. Any taxi driver in the capital knows Hamdan Street. Set your navigation to “Hamdan Street Abu Dhabi” or “Hamdan Centre Abu Dhabi” and check that the pin lands in Al Markaziyah. Do not confuse it with the other Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street on Al Maryah Island. That street sits in the financial district near The Galleria mall and it is a different place with the same name. This guide covers the downtown street only.
The area around the street is dense and walkable. Hotels, offices and apartment towers line both sides. Side streets hold mosques, small groceries, pharmacies and laundries. The Corniche beach sits a short walk north. The Cultural Foundation sits close to the western end.
Shopping on the Street
Shopping is the main reason to visit Hamdan Street. The street is known for cheap shopping, especially compared with the high-end malls in Abu Dhabi.
Hamdan Centre
Hamdan Centre stands as the street’s landmark mall and one of the oldest shopping centres in Abu Dhabi. It sells cheap clothing, textiles, electronics, sports equipment, leather goods and tourist souvenirs. The shops inside are small and the prices are negotiable in many of them. The centre suits bargain hunters who enjoy digging through racks for a deal. It will not impress anyone looking for luxury brands. It rewards patience with low prices.
Supermarkets and Everyday Shops
LuLu Hypermarket sits on the street and it is one of the oldest LuLu branches in the capital. It covers groceries, electronics and household goods under one roof. Marks and Spencer and Brands for Less offer clothing and home goods at discount prices. Small shops along the street sell traditional abayas and kanduras, gold jewellery, watches, mobile phones and perfumes. Residential buildings on the street hold small marts and local groceries for daily needs.
What to Buy
Leather goods and sports equipment are the street’s best buys, according to local guides. Textiles and fabrics sell by the metre in several shops. Souvenirs cost less here than at the airport or the big malls. Compare two or three shops before you buy, since prices vary from stall to stall. Haggle politely in the small shops, where the first price is rarely the final one.
Where to Eat on Hamdan Street
The street is a food haven with an eclectic mix of restaurants. Local cafeterias serve Emirati dishes like machboos, which is spiced rice with meat. Harees, which is slow-cooked wheat and meat, is another local favourite. Indian and Pakistani eateries serve curries and breads at low prices and they stay popular with expats. Fast food chains cover the international end. Cafes and bakeries sell coffee and fresh pastries through the day.
Hotel restaurants add a smarter option. Le Beaujolais in the Mercure Abu Dhabi serves French food. Spaccanapoli in the Crowne Plaza serves Italian dishes. Ruchi Restaurant is known for Indian food. Ortego’s Deli and the restaurants inside the Crowne Plaza and Mercure hotels cover most tastes. One guide claims the Pizza Hut on Hamdan Street is the oldest in Abu Dhabi. That claim is unverified. Treat it as local lore rather than fact.
Shisha cafes line the street and they stay open late into the night. The street comes alive after sunset, when the neon signs light up and the pavements fill with families and workers. A late dinner followed by karak at a street cafe is the classic Hamdan Street evening.
The cafeteria culture deserves a mention of its own. Small cafeterias sit on almost every block, serving karak tea, parathas, sandwiches and fresh juice for a few dirhams. Workers stop for a quick breakfast before their shifts. Friends gather for tea late at night. The cafeterias have plastic chairs and no menus on the wall. They still serve some of the best cheap food in the capital. A karak and a paratha cost less than a coffee in a hotel lobby, which is why the cafeterias stay busy from dawn until midnight. The best cafeterias sit near the Hamdan Centre end of the street, where the footfall stays high all day. Order at the counter and take a token if they give you one. Your food arrives at your table in minutes.
Nearby Landmarks and Things to Do
Hamdan Street works best as the shopping stop on a downtown Abu Dhabi day. The landmarks around it are the real draw.
Qasr Al Hosn sits at the western end of the street and it is the oldest stone building in Abu Dhabi. The fort once served as the seat of the ruling family and it now holds a museum. The annual Qasr Al Hosn Festival runs for about 11 days and brings live music, dance and craft displays to the fort. The Cultural Foundation sits nearby with art exhibitions, performances and workshops. The Alliance Francaise organises monthly movie screenings in the area, hosted at the Mercure Hotel.
The Corniche Beach sits a few minutes’ walk north of the street. The white sand beach runs for kilometres along the bay and it is free to visit. The Corniche promenade suits an evening walk after shopping. The World Trade Centre Mall sits at the eastern end of the street for a more modern shopping stop. Marina Mall sits a short drive away.
For a bigger Dubai mall comparison, our Dubai Mall guide shows what the largest mall in the region offers, while our Mall of the Emirates guide covers the closest Dubai equivalent to a downtown shopping day.
How to Get There and Best Time to Visit
The street is easy to reach from anywhere in Abu Dhabi and straightforward from Dubai by car or bus.
Getting There
There is no metro in Abu Dhabi. Plan on a bus, taxi or car. Abu Dhabi city buses serve the downtown area and several routes stop on or near Hamdan Street. Taxis are cheap and plentiful. Ride-hailing cars work across the city. From Dubai, drive on the E11 (Sheikh Zayed Road) to Abu Dhabi in about 90 minutes. Or take an intercity bus from Dubai to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station and then a short taxi to Hamdan Street. Parking on the street is limited and the side streets fill up fast. A taxi often beats driving.
Best Time to Visit
The best months run from November to March, when the weather stays cool enough for walking. Evenings are the best time of day: the shops light up, the restaurants fill and the street feels alive. Midday in summer is hot and quiet, since many small shops close in the afternoon heat. Friday evenings are the busiest time, when families come out after prayers. For Friday prayer timings before your visit, see our Prayer Time UAE page.
A few tips will make the visit smoother:
- Carry cash as well as a card. Small shops often prefer cash and some take cards only above a minimum spend.
- Compare prices in two or three shops before you buy, since the same item can cost very different amounts.
- Wear comfortable shoes. The street runs for about 4 kilometres and the best shops sit spread along it.
- Visit Qasr Al Hosn first in the morning and save Hamdan Street for the evening, when the shops and cafes come alive.
- Check the Qasr Al Hosn Festival dates before you travel, since the festival turns the whole area into a celebration.
FAQs
Where is Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street?
Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street sits in downtown Abu Dhabi, in the Al Markaziyah area. It runs for about 4 kilometres from Al Hosn to Al Zahiyah, parallel to the Corniche. This guide covers the downtown street, not the street of the same name on Al Maryah Island.
What is Hamdan Street famous for?
Hamdan Street is famous for cheap shopping and food. Hamdan Centre, one of Abu Dhabi’s oldest malls, sells sports goods, leather, textiles and souvenirs. The street also holds LuLu Hypermarket, restaurants from many cuisines and hotels.
Is Hamdan Centre worth visiting?
Yes, if you like bargain hunting. Hamdan Centre is one of the oldest malls in Abu Dhabi and it sells cheap clothing, textiles, electronics and souvenirs. It suits browsers who enjoy small shops and negotiable prices rather than luxury brands.
How do I get to Hamdan Street from Dubai?
Drive on the E11 to Abu Dhabi in about 90 minutes. Or take an intercity bus from Dubai to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station and then a short taxi. There is no metro in Abu Dhabi. Use a bus or taxi inside the city.
What is near Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street?
Qasr Al Hosn, the oldest stone building in Abu Dhabi, sits at the western end. The Cultural Foundation and Corniche Beach sit nearby. The World Trade Centre Mall sits at the eastern end and Marina Mall sits a short drive away.
