Birthday Layover in Abu Dhabi: A Sweet and Savory Stop Before Malaysia

We weren’t supposed to join this trip.

Originally, my family planned a Malaysia vacation without us—mainly because traveling there from Saudi is almost as far (and costly!) as going home to Manila. But months after they booked, we finally gave in and decided to go too. After all, it’s a milestone birthday (well, kinda) and the biggest group trip my family’s had since forever. That’s something worth joining, even if it meant extra hours in the air!

Our bonus? An extended layover in Abu Dhabi—thanks to Etihad’s free stopover program, which came with complimentary hotel accommodations. It was also our first time flying with Etihad and we were pleasantly surprised at how Etihad is comparable to other airlines we've tried - in terms of simple things such as neatly sticking luggage tags, priority check in and boarding options, headrest of economy chairs, to name a few.

Etihad meals come in little "The Good Life" brown bags. I like it because it's just one bag they hand to you and not multiple handing of tray, drinks, etc. Plus the bag doubles as trash bag!

Our luggage (mustard yellow, light yellow, pink and green) leaving the plane even before the passengers do since they were tagged "priority".

Leaving Saudi on My Birthday

We left Al Ahsa early morning on August 3, driving 2 hours to Dammam airport. Just like our previous trip, we used the long-term parking near the airport again — you can read about our first experience with that here.

And since we got free priority boarding through Etihad, which made boarding and luggage retrieval in Abu Dhabi a breeze! It's a small big thing, tbh!

Our hotel, TRYP by Wyndham, was pretty nice — clean room, friendly staff, and overall comfy. The only downside? Centralized air conditioning meant we couldn’t adjust the temperature, so it felt a little warmer than I’d like.

Honestly, I felt like Abu Dhabi was even hotter than Al Ahsa, and I think the humidity from the corniche added to that. Also, my short hair touching my nape was extra annoying — grow, hair, grow!

Familiar Favorites & Pork Party!

After settling in, we went for lunch at our tried-and-tested fave: Texas Roadhouse. Yes, even in a new city, we stick to what we love. It’s kind of our thing — if it ain’t broke, we’re not fixing it!

We met up with a dear friend based in Abu Dhabi, strolled around the mall, and even squeezed in a little shopping. Small win for me — I scored non-slip, waterproof hiking shoes for our upcoming Alaska trip from Decathlon at a great price! 

Dinner was the highlight: we headed to Kuya Juan Restaurant, a Filipino restaurant, and since Abu Dhabi is pork-friendly… we went all out! Lechon kawali, liempo, sisig — everything we’ve missed after 4 months of pork-free life. Pork party complete. 😅

Palace Visit & Pinoy Comforts

The next day, we initially planned to visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi, but saw that it's closed on Mondays. Plan B: Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace — and honestly, what a stunning backup plan.

We had brunch at Jollibee, where the best part was not just the food, but seeing both Filipinos and foreigners enjoying it. We spotted at least three foreign solo diners happily digging into their Chickenjoy and Yum Burger!

Look at how big the extra gravy is!

Before entering the palace, I had to throw on my abaya. A lovely lady security guard even helped me pin it shut properly — since I only had a hair clamp originally holding it in place. 

Inside, Qasr Al Watan was exactly what you’d expect from a Middle Eastern palace — grand, luxurious, and glittering from every angle. We opted for the audio-guided tour, which turned out to be quite helpful, even if we seemed to be the only ones using it!

Dampa, Filipino Feels & Goodbyes

After some rest, our friend picked us up again and we went to Dampa, a popular Filipino seafood spot. Despite the crazy heat, there was a long line of Pinoys waiting outside, which told us all we needed to know.

And yes, it was worth the wait. For just AED 164 (PHP 2460.00 or USD 45) , wegot a seafood feast with unlimited rice and 2 liters of drinks. Plus, our friend’s colleague gave us a platter of lobster and more seafood — so, major bonus!

After dinner, we walked back to the hotel (yep, still sweating!), hung out a bit longer, and said our goodbyes. Hopefully, we’ll see each other again — either when he visits Saudi in winter, or when we finally return to see the Louvre for real.

Walking around Abu Dhabi truly feels like home away from home. You’ll see Filipinos everywhere — chilling outside stores in basketball shorts and slippers, just like in the barangay. The familiar energy is both funny, homey and I guess heartwarming. They even have really big Ukay Ukays!

Onward to Malaysia!

The next day, we checked out of the hotel at 5 AM and headed to the airport for our flight to Malaysia — the main part of our trip with family.

It was a short but sweet layover filled with good food, great company (Nuksss Big Beshie!), and familiar faces. I’m so glad we took the detour — and I’m especially happy I got to spend my birthday with people (and food!) I love.

Stay tuned — can’t wait to share the next leg of our trip: Malaysia with the whole fam! 🇲🇾💛