10 the best hotels in Abu Dhabi for every type of traveler
Best for: Travelers with no fear of heights
Towering over Abu Dhabi's seaside Corniche (or waterfront promenade), the Conrad Abu Dhabi resides in the 909-foot Tower 1 (T1) of the Etihad Towers complex. Guests can enjoy a lychee spritz and the incredible views at Ray's Bar on the 62nd floor, making it the highest bar in Abu Dhabi. Afterward, you can dine on wood-fired pizzas and handmade pasta at Sole, oysters and tiger prawns from the seafood bar at Nahaam, or enjoy sushi with a South American twist poolside at Sushisamba—the monthly Saturday Rio Brunch is a must-do experience for guests.
If you overindulge in drinking and dancing, the hotel's serene spa offers treatments such as warm stone massages and oxygen facials. It's a soothing atmosphere; however, according to Assistant Spa Manager Melissa Cristal, 'it's the therapists that make it really special.'
Good to know: Even if you're not a guest staying in the hotel, you can still enjoy the views on the Observation Deck at 300, located on the 74th floor. 2. Mandarin Oriental Emirates Palace
Best for: Families
Sip a cappuccino topped with powdered gold at the opulent Mandarin Oriental Emirates Palace. Families should consider checking into this hotel, which spans over 247 acres of palm tree-filled gardens and features an almost mile-long beach as well as kid-friendly amenities. 'Our three-storey Kids Palace has spiral slides, VR adventures, cooking classes, stargazing, and sleepovers in indoor teepees,' says Michael Koth, general manager and area vice president of operations. There's also a lazy river, and a couple of waterslides.
Good to know: For more palatial beauty, guests can pop next door to Qasr Al Watan, the UAE's Presidential Palace, to marvel at Middle Eastern craftsmanship at its finest via carved wood, marble, and mosaics.
(The essential guide to visiting Abu Dhabi) 3. Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort
Best for: Fans of Modernist architecture
Opened in 1979, the Sheraton Abu Dhabi was one of the first international hotels in the United Arab Emirates. Owners built the hotel eight years after the UAE became a nation. Today, the Sheraton Abu Dhabi retains its original terracotta façade and it has been recognized with Modern Heritage status, celebrating examples of architecture and urbanism that reflect Abu Dhabi's transformation following the discovery of oil in the emirate.
It may not be the most glamorous of Abu Dhabi's hotels, but the Sheraton has plenty of charm, a loyal cadre of repeat guests who come year after year, and more affordable rooms than many of its neighbors. It's also home to the British-inspired Tavern Pub, complete with red phone booth, as well as squash and tennis courts, multiple pools, and B-Lounge, a relaxed outdoor venue that serves pizza and shisha.
Good to know: The Sheraton is just across the street from the Abu Dhabi Corniche, a waterfront promenade where you can join residents for a sunset stroll. Business travelers may opt to stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island because it's near the city's financial center, high-end shopping, and popular restaurants. Photograph by Ryan Carter, Alamy Stock Photo 4. Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island
Best for: Business travelers
Located right next to Abu Dhabi Global Market, the emirate's main financial center, the Four Seasons is the place for business breakfasts and deals made over dinner in a 1920s Chicago-inspired steakhouse, Butcher & Still. 'You can do all your power meetings in one place without leaving the building,' says Regional Commercial Director Ekaterina Saburova. But it's not only for scions of business. An indoor corridor connects the hotel to Galleria Mall for high-end shopping and the city's most popular restaurants, including Coya, Zuma, and La Petite Maison.
Good to know: While this isn't a beachside location, Four Seasons can arrange access to the nearby Saadiyat Beach Club—a long-time favorite of Abu Dhabi residents—for guests who need some beach time between meetings. 5. Erth
Best for: Travelers seeking privacy
Once the UAE Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel, Erth was reborn in 2021 as a sleek getaway that embodies modern Emirati heritage, surrounded by desert plants such as ghaf trees, sweet acacia, and Arabian jasmine. In the 1980s, French architect Roger Taillibert designed the original central building, which resembles a falcon in flight and anchors the hotel. Hidden from view, Erth's eight villas offer complete privacy; four have gardens and four have private pools. Don't miss visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, just a five-minute drive from the hotel.
Good to know: The on-site Ergon Greek Deli & Café offers guests authentic tastes of Greece from crispy feta and spinach pies to hearty moussaka and sweet, sticky portokalopita orange cake. On Saadiyat Island, guests staying at the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas can relax on sunbeds on the beach in front of the property. Photograph by imageBROKER.com, Alamy Stock Photo 6. Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas
Best for: Beach lovers
Saadiyat Island, with its long sweep of soft, white sand and gentle turquoise waters, boasts some of the UAE's best beaches, and the Park Hyatt is one of the best places to enjoy them. If you're lucky, wild gazelles at the hotel's main entrance will welcome you upon your arrival at the hotel. Rooms, suites, and villas have the typical minimalist Park Hyatt aesthetic. Multiple pools and palms that offer guests shade lead down to the resort's dazzling stretch of sand. 'If you keep a lookout in the early morning, you might even see dolphins,' says Abhishek Rimal, the hotel's marketing coordinator.
Good to know: It's worth getting off your sunbed to explore Saadiyat Island's cultural offerings, such as the Jean Nouvel-designed Louvre Abu Dhabi, the new teamLab Phenomena, and eventually the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum. It's all a 10-minute drive away from the hotel.
(7 unforgettable experiences in Abu Dhabi) 7. W Abu Dhabi Yas Island
Best for: Motorsports aficionados
Perfect for petrolheads, the Yas Marina Circuit racetrack passes under and around the W Abu Dhabi Yas Island hotel, offering guests the hottest ticket in town for the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix every December. It also provides front-row views of other races scheduled throughout the season. The hotel's rooms and suites maintain a surprisingly simple aesthetic with minimalist furnishings and a predominantly white décor, drawing inspiration from Emirati cultural heritage. Behind the front desk is an unusual sculptural wall featuring multiple faces. 'Look at the noses and you'll see the clips Abu Dhabi's pearl divers used to hold their breath underwater,' says Shalini Gurjar, W Insider and guest experience manager.
Good to know: Yas Island is home to Ferrari World, where the world's fastest rollercoaster blasts riders from zero to 149 miles per hour in four-point-nine seconds. Theme parkgoers should also consider a visit to Yas Waterworld, which features 40 rides and water slides. Both attractions will be joined by Disneyland Abu Dhabi, expected to open in the early 2030s. 8. Jebel Hafit Pura Desert Retreat
Best For: History fans
On the edge of Al Ain, a 4,000-year-old oasis town with 147,000 date palms, sits Jebel Hafit, Abu Dhabi's only mountain. At just over 4,000 feet, it's no colossus, but its sandy, rock-strewn base is home to evidence of human life dating back to Neolithic times. The Department of Antiquities and Tourism restored some of the more than 500 Bronze Age Jebel Hafit Tombs on-site. Guests staying at the Jebel Hafit Pura Desert Retreatare within an easy hike of it all. This retreat features five sustainable skylight domes, five sky bubbles, 10 heritage tents, and a 10-spot public campsite area. Closed during the hot summer months, this is an ideal winter destination for those who enjoy the outdoors.
Good to know: Tents feature firepits, and guests can order lamb chops, tiger prawns, and Omani lobster for a D.I.Y. barbecue. Travelers looking for a luxurious "palace-like" stay in the Empty Quarter Desert can check into the Qasr Al Sarab, which features 140 rooms, 14 suites, and 52 pool villas. Photograph by Robert Harding, Alamy Stock Photo 9. Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara
Best for: Desert adventurers
Located far out in Abu Dhabi's Empty Quarter, this is the perfect place to commune with the desert. Qasr Al Sarab, or 'Palace of the Mirage,' is a fitting description for a resort that rises above the sands like an Arabian fantasy. Falconry shows are available to guests. For a real immersive experience in Emirati Bedouin culture, guests can head to Ezba, the resort's education center. 'Ezba embodies everything we believe slow travel should be,' says General Manager Jean-Paul Dantil.
Good to know: Climb the resort's dunes at dusk for extraordinary views of the sun setting over a vast sea of sand. Take water with you—it's quite the slog.
(Everything you should know about Abu Dhabi) 10. Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort
Best For: Wildlife lovers
Luxury travelers seeking remote accommodations can take a two-hour drive west of downtown Abu Dhabi, followed by a 25-minute boat ride to Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island. The remoteness of the property is its primary appeal to most guests. Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island is situated within a Royal Nature Reserve, established in 1971, and is now home to approximately 11,000 animals, including endangered native species such as the Arabian oryx. Friendly gazelles and peacocks wander by Al Sahel's 30 pool villas. Active travelers can head out on wildlife drives, nature walks, horseback rides, or visit a nursery to learn about the on-site conservation efforts and meet some of the animals.
Good to know: Sir Bani Yas Island is home to 42 archaeological sites, including 20-million-year-old salt domes, and a Nestorian Christian monastery dating back to 600 A.D. Guests can visit both historic sites on the resort's culture and history tour. Nicola Chilton is a Yorkshire-born, Dubai-based writer who tells the stories of people and places in the Middle East and beyond. Follow her on Instagram.
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