17-04-2025
This is the only guide you need to Abu Dhabi's Mina Zayed
Bring a bottle or two of water and dress coolly, or better yet, get behind the wheel so you can cruise around – it's going to take you the better part of a day, or more, to explore Abu Dhabi's Mina Zayed.
A port-side development that's been around for over four decades, Mina Zayed is the UAE capital's expansive hub for trade, commerce and logistics. But the longer vision is to transform this waterside spot into a lifestyle and entertainment destination, and it's already well on its way. Although a good bit of the area remains under development, parts continue to emerge as fun spots for casual coffees or creative afternoons.
Images: supplied What's On at Mina Zayed? Shop
Begin at Souq Al Mina, where a smattering of restaurants line both sides of the walkway, bringing both local and international fare to you, as well as little retail shops, wellness and leisure spaces, and dessert delights. The sprawling promenade is beautifully lit up after sundown, allowing you to envision how the area will look while the weather is still nice in the evenings. It's sure to make for an ideal day out by the sea, with mighty trading vessels providing the ideal backdrop. Eat
For dining, prepare to queue at What's On Abu Dhabi's Homegrown Restaurant of the Year, Marmellata, the product of a father-son-duo serving up some of the best pies in the city. There's also super seafood eat, Ryba, our Highly Commended Seafood Restaurant in 2025, almost synonymous with the nearby fish market. Balkan flavours cooked with love await at the quaint Kuzina 22, while Asyak Grill presents a menu of super-sized grills designed to share, in typical Middle Eastern fashion. Of course, no Abu Dhabi destination is complete without a collection of coffee shops – so enjoy a fresh brew at Instagrammable Amongst Few, slick Roof specialty coffee shop, or artisanal gelateria, Crafts
But there's more than just dining to discover. A visit to Min'na offers you the opportunity to explore a handpicked collection of textiles, jewellery and crafts, and then there's Hubel Ceramics, a ceramic studio where you can get creative with expert-led workshops, and even a wellness studio – Sacral Grounds – where you can find your zen with yoga, pilates and meditation. Then there's a lovely collection of independent boutiques like APS, creators of handmade soaps and candles; Flowerina, responsible for stunning floral arrangements; and Woods, a by-appointment store that creates custom home furnishings. Explore
A 30-minute stroll down the development, an indicator of how vast the redevelopment plan is, your final destination for the tour is the Fish Market, a bustling seafood hub that we've heard plenty about.
But before we reach it, we chance upon a plant souk. Lines of shops, over 30 that we can count within seconds, are filled with lush greenery burgeoning out of their premises and storekeepers seated outside in plastic chairs, ready to haggle. The plant souk has everything you need to keep your plants, yard or gardens in optimal shape, with fertilizer, tools, decorative and vegetative plants, grasses, pots and more on offer. We recommend visiting during before dusk to enjoy the colours in all their splendour.
Among a multitude of other developments, Mina Zayed also includes the famed fruit and vegetable market, considered one of the mainstays of the development. This destination has some of the best selections of fruits and vegetables in the capital, with apples, onions, oranges and other favourites ready and ripe for the picking from exporters belonging to North Africa, India and Asia.
We finally arrive at the Fish Market, which is the most populated spot of our tour even minutes from closing for the night. Walking in, we're greeted with the scent of fresh catch, including fresh crabs, mussels, Shari, Hamour, Chanad and other varieties native to the local waters. There are separate cleaning and weighing areas, with customers lined up to watch their purchase being cleaned, portioned and packaged for purchase. In addition to the seafood on sale, the fish market also stocks numerous seafood-based sauces, preserves, fish salt and marinated products to accentuate your omega-3 packed meal. What does the future hold?
Only last December, Mina Zayed hosted iconic Italian vessel Amerigo Vespucci at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, which is also host to several popular cruise liners during the cooler months. Regarding the development itself, we're certain there's an abundance more for you to see and do. Our interest builds in tandem with the growing development that is Mina Zayed, a spot to explore and learn more about, particularly in the cooler months.
Keep close to it all, at @souqalminaad
