The Best Places To Sleep In Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi's hotels are some of its most compelling ambassadors. Palatial Arabian grandeur, pristine temples, wildlife encounters on private islands – they’re all here if you know where to look…

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Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental (£££)

They call it the ‘gold standard’ of Middle Eastern hospitality. On the shore of the Arabian Gulf, this palatial resort is built of marble and can boast of grand staircases and crystal chandeliers – and yet gold leaf is the defining motif of its opulent interiors. Outside, its lush, sprawling grounds include a private beach and a Moroccan-inspired spa. In short, everything you could want is here, including two Michelin-starred restaurants: Hakkasan is lauded for its contemporary Cantonese cuisine, while Talea by Antonio Guida celebrates family-style Italian cooking.

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Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental

The Abu Dhabi Edition (£££)

On the edge of Al Bateen Marina, the Abu Dhabi Edition comprises almost 200 guest rooms and more than 50 serviced residences. Behind its sail-shaped windows, a serious amount of space is also given over to a statement lobby that references both the shifting desert sands and the falcons that are so loved in the UAE. With its Oak Room steakhouse and a rooftop pool commanding views across the Corniche, the Edition exudes the contemporary cool for which the group is known. It’s also where you’ll find some of the best cocktail bars in Abu Dhabi (more about them in our Eat & Drink section).

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The Abu Dhabi Edition

Rosewood Abu Dhabi

St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort (£££)

On Saadiyat Island, at the other end of the Cultural District from the Louvre, the St Regis is close to the action, but just far enough out of it to be a true place of relaxation. Rooms and suites look onto pristine beach where turtles nest or manicured gardens. If you’re still struggling to switch off, there’s a champagne sabering ritual each day at sunset. You could also try the beachfront golf course or head to the Manhattan Lounge for an Arabian Snapper – the local take on a bloody mary. And when you’re ready to re-enter the fray, the city is at hand.

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Rosewood Abu Dhabi (£££)

The Rosewood stands tall on Al Maryah Island, its glass design a reflection of the Gulf waters at its feet. Its 30-odd storeys are filled with almost 200 rooms and suites, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and bathtubs you could get lost in. There’s still space for nine restaurants and bars, including Dai Pai Dong, which has been recognised by Michelin for the quality of its Cantonese and Szechuan dishes. Bars are covered in our Eat & Drink section, which just leaves the pool and spa to mention here. Local healing traditions inform a long treatment menu that includes Dr Barbara Sturm facials and massages using a signature oil of Arabian botanicals. Rosewood guests also enjoy direct access to The Galleria mall and all of its upscale boutiques.

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St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort

Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island (££)

Like the Rosewood, you’ll find the Four Seasons in a tower on Al Maryah Island. The Gulf views are as good as you’d hope, but of course it’s what on the inside that counts. Here, you’ll find 200 elegant and light-filled rooms and suites, a third-floor pool with a terrace that becomes a cocktail lounge each evening, and the Pearl Spa that uses Arabian Oud in many of its treatments. Among half a dozen restaurants and lounges, there’s an outpost of Washington DC’s famed Café Milano, a Butcher & Still steakhouse and – opening in late 2025 – an izakaya called Bar Saikindo. It’s also worth knowing that you’re in position A for an evening at Spanish-owned 99 Sushi Bar, a Michelin-starred spot entered via the hotel. The high-end Galleria mall is also just an air-conditioned walkway away.

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Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi At Al Maryah Island

Jumeirah Saadiyat Island Resort (££)

‘Perennial summer house’ is the official vibe at this Jumeirah resort on Saadiyat Island. Natural materials adorn airy, big-windowed rooms that look out to the perfect sandy beach and the Gulf beyond. There are three outdoor pools to choose from, while the spa features a Moroccan hammam and PTs are on hand to guide and inspire in the well-equipped gym. You’ll also find restaurants offering Italian, Levantine and Arabian cuisines – and all of this is within touching distance of downtown.

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Anantara Sir Bani Yas (££)

This resort offers something you won’t find anywhere else on this list: the sanctuary of an island. To the west of Abu Dhabi, a couple of hours outside the city, Sir Bani Yas is shared by three Anantara resorts – and more than 17,000 animals. Take a pool villa at Al Yamm or Al Sahel and you might wake up to gazelle outside your window. Wildlife tends to feature in the activities here too, whether it’s a dawn drive or mountain biking through the desert landscape. Over on the north shore, the Desert Islands Resort & Spa is well set up for families.

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Jumeirah Saadiyat Island Resort

W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island (£)

The W group knows how to make a statement. This, they say, is the only hotel built on top of a Formula 1 motor-racing circuit. With floor-to-ceiling windows, its 499 rooms aren’t just for race days – they’ve got fine marina views too. Come sunset, though, you’ll want to be around one of the W’s two pools for the best panorama. The multiple in-house dining options include a New York-style steakhouse and Pappas Taverna for Greek.

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W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island

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