Hotels in Abu Dhabi are literally fit for a King and Queen, but you certainly don’t need to be royalty to get the five-star treatment over here – you don’t need a princely sum of cash either!
That’s right: bets are that you’d be pretty surprised at the incredible value and standard of four and five-star hotels are in Abu Dhabi. What we’d consider “luxury” back here in Australia is actually pretty close to standard in this coastal gem of a city in the UAE.
But decide to travel in the low/shoulder season (their summer) and hey, you won’t have to just dream about having that luxury holiday or stopover anymore – you’ll be able to take advantage of some outstanding offers, making all your friends and family back home insanely jealous!
Here’s your quick luxe guide to Abu Dhabi.
Make sure you read right to the end where you’ll find out how you can WIN a spot on the Ultimate Abu Dhabi famil and experience its luxury offerings first hand!
Where to stay?
At Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, a luxury five-star hotel about 220 kilometres from the city centre, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to a modern day 1001 Arabian Nights fairy-tale. Experience real Arabic hospitality, try your hand at exotic activities like falconry or grab a sand board and take on some of the world’s highest sand dunes. Or you could just lounge by the pool overlooking the ever changing sands.
Qasr Al Sarab is surrounded by the mystic charm of Abu Dhabi’s Empty Quarter, and its rooms are elegantly decorated with the finest of Arabic design, whilst still featuring all the creature comforts you’d expect in a five-star resort.
Combine these comforts with exquisite fine-dining options, a refreshing swimming pool overlooking the dunes, a spa & wellness centre to give you the royal treatment, and you’ll finally understand what it’s like to live like a King or Queen.
In the city centre, close to all the action and shopping (see below!), then you really can’t beat the architecturally impressive Bab al Qasr and the regal-looking Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal.
Having just opened, the Bab al Qasr is a five-star hotel set on its own private beach in Abu Dhabi’s exclusive Corniche area, and it manages to combine elements of traditional Arabic hospitality with modern comforts – and spa treatments including a luxury gemstone massage! It’s truly world-class.
Just as dazzling is the superb Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, another five-star hotel that ticks all the boxes for a luxury escape. This hotel combines exceptional villas and suites amid Venetian-inspired buildings, all set against the backdrop of the iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (TripAdvisor’s second most popular landmark in the world).
Where to shop?
Rested, pampered, and feeling like a million bucks, you’ll probably feel like upping your wardrobe in Abu Dhabi to reflect the new you. And in Abu Dhabi, a city where shopping is considered a national pastime, you won’t have to look hard for high-end boutiques and a shopping experience to satisfy even the most fevered shop-a-holic.
The Galleria is home to the region’s highest concentration of prestigious luxury brands, selling everything from fashion, jewellery, watches and accessories. Other notable shopping enclaves include The Avenue at Etihad Towers, Yas Mall and Marina Mall.
Where to eat?
Assuming you’ve managed to free yourself from the gravitational pull of your luxury hotel, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to eating and drinking in Abu Dhabi. The city offers a cosmopolitan dining scene of world class standards.
Treat yourself at Hakkasan, a world-renowned Cantonese restaurant in the Emirates Palace with an opulent design and unmatched service. Check out its gorgeous outside dining area.
For something a little different, sit down for a meal and cocktails overlooking the sparkling waters at Asia de Cuba, which blends Asian and Latin influences so well your tastebuds won’t know what hit them!
And if you happen to be in town on a Friday then you are in luck! Friday is the national day of rest in Abu Dhabi, and it is widely celebrated with their famed ‘Friday Bunch’. Most major hotels offer an all you can eat and drink brunch, with each trying to out-do the other. Notable favourites are the Shangri-La and the recently relaunched Safina at Saadiyat Beach Club.
And for the perfect sundowner (or high tea) location, visit Observation Deck at 300 for supreme views of Abu Dhabi, the surrounding desert, and the turquoise Arabian Gulf.
WIN A SPOT ON THE ULTIMATE ABU DHABI FAMIL
Itching for a slice of the high life in Abu Dhabi? Want to experience what it’s like to live like a King or Queen – at least, for a few days? Then start booking your clients on Etihad Airways or Virgin Australia to Abu Dhabi (either as a standalone trip or as a stopover en route to Europe) and you and 49 other lucky agents could soon be heading to this luxurious capital on the Ultimate Abu Dhabi famil!
Visit winabudhabi.com.au (the incentive website) for more information.
Will you be getting your King or Queen on in Abu Dhabi?
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