We have reviewed the best beach hotels in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Those with the best pools and slides and beach clubs, whether you are traveling as a couple, a family with kids, or as a single business traveler. I conclude which hotel comes in at the top and which hotel I would select as having the best beach in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
If you are traveling to Abu Dhabi, you may also be interested in which hotels in Abu Dhabi have a club lounge. Club lounges are useful for carrying out work and meetings and offering a place to enjoy drinks and grab something to eat throughout the day. This can be particularly useful if you’re traveling as a family and want to feed them between the usual breakfast, lunch, and dinner times.
Abu Dhabi is the main hub for Etihad Airways, the second-largest airline in the UAE (after Emirates). This means that if you ever travel on Etihad, you will probably travel through Abu Dhabi. Whether you are in Abu Dhabi for a stopover or an entire holiday, we pick the best luxury beach hotel in Abu Dhabi.
You can experience many glorious and memorable moments at the beach at one of the ultra-luxury beach hotels in Abu Dhabi, which are just a short drive from the airport.
Saadiyat Island is the place to head if you are looking for a beach. It is somewhat middle of nowhere but has some of the best beaches in the Middle East. Just seven minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport, the 27 square kilometers of Saadiyat Island is one of our favorite places in Abu Dhabi for beaches, and there are three excellent 5-star properties on Saadiyat Island; The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah At Saadiyat Island Resort and Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi. We have placed these hotels in positions one, two three in our best beach hotels in Abu Dhabi listing.
Beyond Saadiyat Island, many of the more centrally located hotels have a beach, so these should not be discounted either. All the hotels below have a beach you can enjoy on a waterway or facing out to sea.
We have detailed which is best on Saadiyat Island St Regis Vs. Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Vs. Jumeirah separately. Between St Regis and Park Hyatt, you will find the Saadiyat Rotunda Resort & Villas and the Rixos Resort, but as these aren’t as high-end, for the sake of this article, we could not pick them as one of the best beach hotels.
1. Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas
We love the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas which is definitely one of the best beach hotels in Abu Dhabi UAE and is(pictured above. This Park Hyatt is the perfect place to dip your toes in the sand while enjoying a drink as the sun sets.
This 5-star luxury beach resort in Abu Dhabi is brand new and nestled along the pristine beach of Saadiyat Island (the “Island Of Happiness”), just 25 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport. It is as stylish as you would expect of any Park Hyatt and is decorated in creams with metallic tones, plush rugs, and high-end furnishings (we are big Park Hyatt fans and have also personally reviewed the Park Hyatt in Vienna and Park Hyatt Siem Reap)
This immaculate resort lies on a vast stretch of environmentally protected white sand beach, where you can spend your day basking under the Arabian sun or you can take a dip in the swimming pool. For something unusual, join Arabella Willing – their resident marine biologist – for a boat journey around several coastal habitats, and learn about the marine ecosystems of the Emirates.
Three hundred six spacious guest rooms offer private balconies, and their stylish suites and private villas feature open-air plunge pools with magnificent ocean, garden, or golf course views. Also on offer is exquisite dining and a luxurious spa along with pools, tennis courts, a fitness center, and access to Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Gary Player.
This luxury Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi costs 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night if you are redeeming World of Hyatt Points. The Park Hyatt is a much more luxurious hotel but does not have a club lounge.
2. St Regis Saadiyat Island
St Regis is a beautiful hotel and much more resort-style than the new St Regis on the Corniche in the Centre of Abu Dhabi. St Regis Saadiyat Island is situated just up the same beach from the Park Hyatt. if you walk far enough, you can walk from one hotel to the other. It is probably Starwood’s (and Marriott Bonvoy’s) most luxury property in Abu Dhabi, but it is not far from Dubai and is worth considering if you are heading to Dubai with your family.
This grand, palatial hotel is decorated in creams with vast expanses of marble. The rooms at St Regis Saadiyat Island are of a good size with a balcony. The long and thin bathroom has a large dressing area, twin sinks, a toilet, a shower, and a large bath. The building stares out across the pools and past the palm trees to the extensive white sand beach beyond. There is both an adults-only pool for peace and quiet and a kids pool for fun and splashing, perfect for families. There is even a great pool for toddlers, with large parts of it ankle-to-knee deep.
This resort is relaxing and definitely very child-friendly and attracts lots of families. They have a kids club and a kids’ area set up for the Friday brunch in the restaurant. The Sandcastle Club is great for kids up to about 10, with a fun pool area and excellent kid’s entertainers.
The long white private beach is an absolute highlight, with padded cabanas and loungers under umbrellas set up and a drinks service. It is as good a beach as any in the UAE and feels miles from the rest of the world. Just be aware that it gets a bit rocky as you get to the sea.
In particular, St Regis is one of the best Marriott Bonvoy properties in UAE, with the exception of Al Maha, so if you are earning or redeeming these points, this is a great choice.
3. Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort
Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort sits majestically on the island’s prime beach but at the other end of Saadiyat Beach East, away from the Park Hyatt and the St Regis. Resembling a super modern summer house, its sophisticated interiors offer a backdrop of refined island life and quiet, understated luxury.
Seven exciting and indulging dining destinations, a 2,700 m² spa with 15 treatment rooms, and three outdoor pools offer a thoughtfully personalized service. There’s a kids’ club, a dedicated pool for children, and babysitting services. Modern and light rooms feature natural browns, turquoise blues, and expansive sea views, and the panoramic suites offer floor-to-ceiling glass walls that open up to the sea breeze.
Not all rooms are the same here, the Ocean Deluxe view room is a good choice with its own terrace, a king-sized bed, sitting area, but there are a few disappointing features, such as the lack of a power socket near the mirror to use your hairdryer. The Ocean Terrace Suite offers direct beach access straight from your bedroom and is worth splurging on. All the villas offer private pools for a truly exclusive experience if you are traveling with your family. These are fantastic and some of the best places to stay in Abu Dhabi.
Feel the sand in your toes and the sea breeze in your hair, and wade in the blue waters or your own private pool. What’s not to like?
4. The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi
Sparkling chandeliers, its own patch of private beach, and breathtaking views to the Grand Mosque make the The Ritz-Carlton a great luxury hotel choice in Abu Dhabi. It also has impressive common areas. A fantastic pool with lovely lawns leading down to the beach is nice and quiet, making it ideal for families, particularly if you want to earn or redeem Marriott Bonvoy points. The location is actually across the canal from the Shangri-La Hotel.
As meals at any of the restaurants and bars at The Ritz-Carlton are expensive, club access offers excellent value for money, particularly as this club lounge is excellent with a fantastic view. Club Level Guest Rooms and Suites also offer even more magnificent views of the illustrious Grand Canal, stately gardens, or breathtaking Grand Mosque as you step onto your secluded balcony overlooking our luxury resort inspired by the 15th to 17th century Renaissance architecture and the urban planning of the city of Venice.
Boasting a panoramic view of Al Maqta Creek from its glass walls, the Club Level Lounge offers an intimately private setting and decent food for guests of The Ritz-Carlton Club Level. Children are allowed in this lounge even if they are under 12 but must be accompanied by an adult at all times; no children under 12 are permitted after 8:00 pm.
Expect a comfortable stay overall at The Ritz-Carlton, Abu Dhabi, with a great room, wonderful bed, and good location away from the noise & crowds of downtown, with great views of the beautiful Grand Mosque.
5. Emirates Palace
Emirates Palace is a bling hotel situated on 1.3 km of private beach with 85 hectares of gardens and lawns and comprises 394 palatial rooms and suites, 14 restaurants, cafés, and lounges and features spectacular views of the manicured lawns or the glistening blue waves of the Arabian Sea. To be honest, although this is undoubtedly one of the most luxurious hotels in Abu Dhabi, we find the level of bling and glitz a bit over the top and prefer the understated luxury of the Four Seasons and the Rosewood in Abu Dhabi.
Recreational activities are offered through the exclusive Beach Club, the UAE’s ultimate resort. The resort’s leisure facilities include two outdoor temperature-controlled swimming pools, an Emirates Palace Spa, tennis courts, a cricket pitch, a FIFA standard football pitch, a marina, and two state-of-the-art fitness centers. There is something for everyone, from water sports to bird watching and kid’s activities.
The Emirates Palace truly looks like an Arabian Palace, from the palatial exterior to the marble corridors to the gold and silver color scheme across the property and right down to the mint green palatial headboards in the bedrooms. Even the showerhead is gold (at least it looks gold!). Overindulgent breakfast buffets are rife across the Middle East, but the breakfast in the main restaurant at the Emirates Palace might be the best of all of the Middle Eastern hotels in terms of quality and quantity.
The Palace Lounge is the hotel’s executive lounge of sorts. It offers a delicious buffet breakfast daily until 11:00 am, which includes eggs made to order (for no extra cost) and continental breakfast with salads as well as tea and coffee. Light lunch and afternoon tea are available during the day, along with evening cocktails and food. The Palace Lounge has a no-kids policy, although they are usually flexible in allowing children in for breakfast (only).
6. Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Abu Dhabi
Situated at the gateway to the city is Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Abu Dhabi, a beachfront five-star hotel in Abu Dhabi with unrivaled views of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The bad news is that this hotel is located some way away from everything except for the Grand Mosque.
An outdoor, Olympic-length swimming pool with dedicated family and children areas, Jacuzzi, and a pristine beach offer a refreshing pace. At the same time, world-class dining, including Marco Pierre White restaurant from the former three Michelin star British chef, completes the luxury experience.
Close to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Fairmont Bab Al Bahr also complements business travel with ten meeting rooms and a ballroom, with flexible layouts extending out to lawn spaces and piers into the Abu Dhabi Creek with spectacular views.
With a striking exterior made of sheer blue glass, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr features 369 contemporary and spacious guestrooms and suites, as well as Fairmont Gold rooms and lounge. The Fairmont Gold Lounge is one of the largest club lounges in the city, filled with plush seating areas, a daily made-to-order breakfast, and evening hor d’ouvres and beverages, all served against a staggering backdrop of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
When compared to other Accor branded hotels like the Sofitel the Palm, the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr is the best. The Sofitel feels much more crowded, and the service is better in Bab Al Bahr. The beaches are similar, both artificial, but the view from the Sofitel is probably better. The Sofitel is a big resort hotel, and the Fairmont is smaller, with a beach and a nice pool. The beach & pool area is probably one of the nicest in Abu Dhabi.
h3>7. Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi
The Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi is one of the newest luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi with a decent club lounge. Being new, this is a fantastic choice, particularly if you want to earn and redeem World of Hyatt points.
Hyatt Hotels only recently opened Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residence Emirates Pearl, the first Grand Hyatt hotel to open in the United Arab Emirates’ capital city, Abu Dhabi. The luxury property combines iconic brand elements and awe-inspiring design and architecture with a central location in the capital that offers easy access to world-class shopping, dining, and cultural events. We particularly like the 50-meter infinity pool, the kids’ pool, and the plunge pool, all surrounded by classy decking and plush loungers. There’s also a small private beach area too for those who prefer to dip their toes in the sand.
A short 35-minute drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the hotel is located along the charming Corniche, offering generous beachfront promenades and stunning landmark city views that feature famed UAE landmarks, including Emirates Palace, the Presidential Palace, and The Founder’s Memorial.
Meticulously designed with bold and vibrant features, the property houses 332 guestrooms, 36 lavish suites, including the Presidential and Palatial Royal Suites, and 60 full-service one and two-bedroom residences.
8. Anantara Sir Bani Yas Desert Island
I have included the Anantara, Sir Bani Yas Desert Island hotel even though it isn’t actually in Abu Dhabi as it really is rather wonderful. The island of Sir Bani Yas Desert Island is less than three hours by car from Abu Dhabi city to the private jetty at Jebel Dhana. A complimentary boat ride will whisk you to the Sir Bani Yas island, surrounded by the sparkling clear blue water of the Arabian Gulf and where dolphins frolic and turtles still breed on the beaches.
The much-revered Sheikh Zayed created a wildlife reserve on the island to preserve the endangered species of the Arabian peninsula. A safari tour here is likely to be rewarded with a glimpse of cheetahs sleeping off last night’s kill in the shade of the Ghaf tree, an encounter with a curious giraffe, spotted deer from India (the favorite meal of the cheetahs), and of course one of the largest herds of Arabian oryx in the world. The mountain gazelle get everywhere, including on the beach and by the pool, and the air is constantly filled with the cooing of collared doves.
All of this exceptional beauty can now be enjoyed alongside all the luxuries provided by the Anantara Desert Islands Resort and Spa. There are three parts to the resort. The most conventional hotel accommodation is adjacent to the spa and a small convention center on one side of the island. The more exclusive Al Yamm and Al Suhel villa resorts are on opposite sides at a discreet distance. Al Yamm has just 30 luxury beachside villas. The villas are designed to blend into their surroundings and are very Arabian in style but supply everything you would expect from the perfect vacation hideaway.
9. Zaya Nurai Island, Abu Dhabi
For something a bit different, head to Zaya Nurai Island, Abu Dhabi. Thus Zaya Nurai Island Hotel is built on a natural car-free island close to the coast of Abu Dhabi, with 32 one-bedroom beach villas sitting neatly around a crescent-shaped beach. The most stunning beach is situated on the island’s northern side by the swimming pool, restaurants, terrace, and jetty. Pad around the island on foot across the soft sand pathways or take one of the numerous golf buggies about- what fun!
10. Hilton Abu Dhabi
The Hilton on the Corniche is worth considering for the budget-conscious because of its beach club, with lots of slides going into the pool for the kids and a nice area of beach equipment, with comfy padded loungers and sun brollies. The hotel and lounge are fairly bog-standard in other ways, but the beach club is fun.
While we don’t offer benefits at this Hilton, our luxury travel concierge does offer great free benefits at Hilton’s luxury hotels, Waldorf Astoria and Conrad. There is no Conrad or Waldorf Astoria in Abu Dhabi yet, so the Hilton is the best choice if you collect or want to spend Hilton Honours loyalty points.
11. Four Seasons Abu Dhabi
The Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island is perched on a collection of more than 200 islands but does not have a beach, just a rooftop pool on the third level.
This is undoubtedly one of the best hotels in Abu Dhabi, and they love kids, but the lack of a beach here and the fact that the pool is sophisticated with padded loungers rather than fun with slides means that, while you may love this hotel, your kids may find it boring.
The Rosewood Abu Dhabi is also a great hotel choice in Abu Dhabi, but it’s located opposite the Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, which means it doesn’t have a beach and is not much fun for children either.
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