Best Beach Hotels in Abu Dhabi

The 382-room luxury Jumeirah at Etihad Towers is one of five towers in a massive residential and office complex on the western end of Abu Dhabi's scenic Corniche Road. The hotel's Observation Deck, the highest in the city, offers spectacular panoramic views. The Jumeirah is one of Abu Dhabi’s top hotels, with a lovely private beach and wide selection of excellent bars and restaurants. Rooms and common areas scream comfort, decadence, and bold style. With one of the largest event facilities in Abu Dhabi and multiple meeting rooms, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers is a good spot for business travelers.

The 283-room St. Regis Abu Dhabi is a stylish, five-pearl hotel that checks all the boxes in the western end of the Corniche area. It's not directly on the beach, but a tunnel provides private access to it and the impressive pool with a swim-up bar. Down below, there are multiple restaurants and cocktail lounges making the most of the view, along with a full spa and fitness center. For families, there's a supervised kids' club that has its own splash pool and waterslide. Not all of the chic rooms have sea views, but everyone gets butler service and sleek marble bathrooms. Compare rates at the extravagant Jumeirah at Etihad Towers down the road, which sits right on a private beach.

The 213-room luxury Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri is designed to feel like a modern day Shangri-La, located on a half mile of private beach in Abu Dhabi's Between the Bridges area. The Shangri-La combines a modern vibe with a traditional Arabian twist, which gives the hotel a feeling of warmth and opulence. Each room has a private balcony or terrace, with views of the canal, and a stylish bathroom with a deep soaking tub.

The four-and-a-half-pearl InterContinental Abu Dhabi shares the western corner of the island with several more high-end neighbors, with its only edge being a private marina and a nicely renovated beach. Diverse, quality, dining options are a perk and it checks all the boxes with two outdoor pools, a waterslide, spa, and extensive meeting facilities, but everything is showing its age. The 390 rooms aren't quite up to the city's extravagant standards either, with noticeably dated bathrooms and older amenities. It would be a solid luxury hotel almost anywhere else, but it can't compete with the ultra-modern properties nearby, like the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, but its rates are competitive. 

The 369-room luxury Fairmont Bab Al Bahr is a high-end, exclusive hotel with fantastic views of Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque. The architecture is ultra-modern, and the lagoon-style pool feels like an oasis for princes and sheiks. The location might suit business travelers best, but the hotel offers a free shuttle to popular attractions. There are programmed activities for kids and teenagers, but this is not a low-key, anything goes resort. Rooms are stylish and luxe, with gorgeous Gulf views.

The upscale Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan is a 443-room mega-hotel with its own private strip of beach overlooking the Arabian Gulf. This family-friendly property offers a host of amenities and clean rooms, but interestingly it doesn't feel quite as luxe as some of the competing hotels in the area, such as the noticeably more upscale Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche. The air-conditioned rooms don't have much wow-factor, though they do have super comfy beds and deep soaking tubs, and some have Gulf views from their balconies. Along with two restaurants and 24-hour room service, there's a huge Beach Club with a full fitness center, multiple tennis/squash courts, a Pilates studio, and one of the largest pools in the area. And while valet parking is offered free of charge, Wi-Fi costs extra and is expensive. 

The Beach Rotana - Abu Dhabi is an upscale, 565-room hotel attached to the Abu Dhabi Mall. It faces the Arabian Sea, making it feel like more of a resort hotel than other properties in the downtown area. The sizable private beach along with the Beach Club gives guests abundant opportunities to be active or relax. Rooms range from the smaller Classic Room to spacious Royal Suites, and all have flat-screen TVs, minibars, and air-conditioning. There are 11 restaurants with a wide variety of cuisine options, and multiple meeting rooms and event spaces also make this a solid choice for conferences, though there is a fee for Wi-Fi. There's some construction in the area that may mar the quiet or views, but in general, this is a well kept hotel at a decent price with lots of amenities. 

This 376-room luxury property is considered by many to be the most exclusive hotel in Abu Dhabi. Located a short drive from downtown, the property feels removed from the hustle and bustle, but is still near tourist attractions on Saadiyat Island. Guests receive personal butler service and have access to a private white sand beach. Facilities are beautiful and extensive, and include a spa with mosaic tile hot tubs, three restaurants, and four outdoor pools. Rooms are large and all have balconies with great views. Families will enjoy the kids' club and children's pool with waterslide, while business travelers have 13 meeting rooms at their disposal. Some complain that the on-site restaurants are expensive, but perhaps that's to be expected in this caliber of hotel. 

The 301-room upscale Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, is a value option located amid a cluster of five-star hotels in Abu Dhabi's Between the Bridges area, on the shores of beautiful Maqtaa Creek. Less lavish than its neighbors, the Traders offers comfort and space, as well as signing privileges at the fancier Shangri-La Hotel, with whom it shares a private beach. The Traders is well located for sightseeing. Rooms are clean, spacious, and modern.

Al Raha Beach Hotel is a luxury property built in 2005, with 254 rooms across two buildings, as well as 24 villas. It’s on a private beach, although fans of natural beauty will be disappointed as there’s no sweeping sea view here -- merely a creek and a man-made wall. The location is a little isolated as it’s out of downtown Abu Dhabi, but the hotel provides free shuttles to the malls, and free car parking too. There are good facilities on-site, including a great spa, large pools, and five restaurants. Guest rooms here are large, with minibars and generously sized bathtubs, but nothing special in terms of decor. The hotel is a good option for families, as it provides luxury for the adults and great facilities for kids, including a kids' club and separate children's pool. Those looking for super-sleek contemporary style should consider the Yas Viceroy.  

The 327-room luxury Hilton Abu Dhabi Hotel, one of the city's oldest, sits on the Corniche, offering panoramic views of the Gulf and city skyline. The Hilton has a fantastic beach club, complete with a private beach, several pools, waterslides, hot tubs, a swim-up bar, and an abundance of water sports. The hotel has vintage charm but shows some wear, and the decor could use updating, but the location is great, with high-end shopping within walking distance. The comparable Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana nearby often has better prices. 

The upscale Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort is one of the older hotels clustered near each other in busy downtown Abu Dhabi, and it shows. Despite its branding as a resort, along with the availability of water sports on a lagoon and live entertainment, the hotel feels small and the public spaces are tired next to its more modern competitors. Its 272 rooms benefit somewhat from little balconies, but they're on the small side and have dated decor. On the plus side, its varied dining options are welcome and the rates are attractive. Though it lacks direct beach access, it's worth considering the nearby Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi.

The 234-room Le Meridien Abu Dhabi is an upscale, beachfront hotel right by Abu Dhabi Mall, on the eastern end of downtown. It's showing some age and has some dated decor, but traditional Arabian accents are charming and features are extensive. Rooms vary between old-fashioned and modern, but all have minibars, kettles, and flat-screen TVs, and some add furnished balconies. A private beach and outdoor pools are popular spots fo relax, and guests can make use of an expansive spa and extensive dining includes Italian, Greek, and buffet eateries. On the downside, private parties can get loud, free Wi-Fi is slow, and the location  isn't very walkable. Resort-seekers might also want to consider The Khalidiya Palace, which is more modern and has tons of family-friendly features.