For those who want more than a room key, here are six of Abu Dhabi’s most compelling escapes.
Abu Dhabi resists a single narrative. Ancient and ambitious, the capital is a place where desert stillness and urban splendour exist side by side — and its hotels mirror that balance. From Bedouin-inspired escapes deep in the Empty Quarter to imposing palaces along the coast, each retreat offers something of its own. Whether you’re visiting for a business trip or a soul-searching break in the flame-red sands, here are six of the best hotels in Abu Dhabi.
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara
To experience Abu Dhabi at its most soulful and cinematic, Qasr Al Sarab delivers in every sense. Nestled in the golden dunes of the Empty Quarter — the world’s largest sand desert — this landmark resort was commissioned directly by the royal family, and no detail was spared in its craftsmanship. Blending Bedouin tradition with barefoot luxury, the resort is an invitation to a slower, older UAE: camel rides through the dunes, oud-scented hammams, fire-cooked dinners beneath the open night sky.
Rooms and suites are spacious, with warm desert tones and carved wood details, while larger families can opt for a grand villa complete with a private pool and sweeping desert views. Dining at Qasr Al Sarab spans global and regional flavours, but a standout is Al Falaj — a Levantine-style al fresco experience set in the open dunes (don’t be surprised if one of the resort’s camels rests just beyond your table).
This Abu Dhabi retreat invites total immersion into landscape, silence, and story.
Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island
Four Seasons Al Maryah beautifully captures Abu Dhabi’s newer, more cosmopolitan side. Spanning 34 storeys, this five-star hotel is connected directly to The Galleria — the city’s most premier mall — and has fast become favoured among high-flying business people, dignitaries and jet-setting gourmands. The rooms are elegant and understated, with floor-to-ceiling windows, marble bathrooms, and calm interiors by Tihany Design.
Dinner is a highlight at Four Seasons Al Maryah: Café Milano, the UAE outpost of Washington D.C.’s famed power lunch spot, delivers a sharp Roman menu with waterfront views, while Chicago-style Butcher & Still serves up one of Abu Dhabi’s best steaks in a moody, prohibition-era setting. Wellness is just as considered, with a traditional spa, an 8th-floor pool deck and tailored treatments that go far beyond the usual, such as Bellabaci therapy.
For those seeking a permanent foothold in the capital’s financial district, Four Seasons Al Maryah has an extraordinary portfolio of private branded residences with designer interiors and world-class lifestyle services.
W Abu Dhabi Yas Island
Bold and playful, W Abu Dhabi on Yas Island brings high energy and high design to the edge of the Yas Marina Circuit. It’s the only hotel in the world built directly over a Formula 1 track, and it has become the go-to base during race season, drawing everyone from global headliners to trackside VIPs. With its futuristic architecture and creative interiors, the hotel is imbued with a year-round sense of occasion, not just during the Grand Prix. It’s also pet-friendly, so four-legged companions are welcome too.
Guest rooms are sleek and modern, with full-height windows framing views of the circuit or marina. Dining here is ingredient-forward and international, whether it’s elevated Indian street food at Garage or creative small plates at W Lounge. On the rooftop, the lively WET Deck is a destination in itself, with live DJs, inventive cocktails and private cabanas. When it’s time to reset, the two-storey AWAY Spa and fitness centre brings a welcome balance of calm and restoration.
For travellers who want luxury with a bit more fun and adrenaline, this is the one to book.
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
If Abu Dhabi’s hotel scene had a crown, this would be it. Set on the edge of a topaz stretch of sea, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is where beachfront escape meets royal palace. A testament to its calibre, the penthouse has six Rulers’ Suites reserved exclusively for dignitaries and royalty. As might be expected, rooms here are among the city’s most refined, with gold and marble finishes and Arabic motifs. Most open onto balconies with views across the beach or lush gardens.
With a dozen restaurants on site, dining is central to the experience at Emirates Palace. Talea by Antonio Guida and Hakkasan both hold Michelin stars, while Strawfire by Ross Shonhan serves authentic Japanese Warayaki cuisine (cooking over straw fire flames) in a romantic, dim-lit dining space. For rejuvenation, the multi award-winning Mandarin Oriental spa is vast and deeply atmospheric, with cavernous hammams and domed treatment rooms.
This regal Abu Dhabi hotel maintains a rare sense of calm, with beautifully manicured gardens and water features throughout. It’s also family-friendly — little ones can explore the imaginative new ‘Kids Palace’ while parents unwind beside the pool.
Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi
Known as the ‘leaning tower of Abu Dhabi’, Andaz Capital Gate is one of the UAE’s most architecturally striking hotels. This bold, gravity-defying landmark tilts 18 degrees westward and holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s furthest man-made leaning building. Inside, gallery-like interiors celebrate Islamic and Emirati art in contemporary form, with ornate wooden details, colourful calligraphy, and a permanent café-gallery space on the ground floor (165 Below) spotlighting local artists.
Rooms and suites are pared-back with organic textures, bright pops of colour, and calm coastline views. Dining in Andaz Capital Gate is led by the Parisian-themed Cyan Brasserie, while Rayana Latin Tapas Bar is the spot for a livelier evening dinner with authentic Spanish tapas, music and cocktails.
With its dramatic architectural lines and boutique sensibility, Andaz Capital Gate is ideal for travellers seeking something a little off-centre — in the best possible way. A convenient base for a business trip, the hotel is 15 minutes from the airport and is adjacent to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa
Al Wathba is an idyllic desert escape that isn’t quite as far-flung as Qasr Al Sarab (just 45 minutes from the city). Modelled on a traditional Arabian village, this boutique hotel has 103 low-rise rooms, suites and villas spread across palm-lined courtyards and sandstone alleys. The setting is deliberately pared back — earthy and elegant with flickering lanterns, patterned tiles and private terraces that open directly onto the desert.
The pace here is slow, centred heavily around cultural and personal enrichment. Guests can go horseback riding across the nearby sabkha flats, take a guided sunrise hike through the dunes, or simply spend the afternoon soaking up the golden desert sun in the resort’s infinity pool. The Saray Spa is the soul of Al Wathba. Spanning 2,200 square metres, this otherworldly retreat draws inspiration from ancient caravanserais (rest stops on the Silk Road) and relies on regional practices and rituals, with Dead Sea mud, oud oils, and a dramatic snow cave for contrast therapy.
Dining is spread across several venues: pan-Arabic cuisine at Bait Al Hanine, woodfired Italian at Terra Secca, and sunset drinks with mezze at the rooftop bar. Al Wathba may be a more intimate setting than its more famous counterpart in the Empty Quarter, but it offers something just as special — stillness, space, and the sense that the desert truly begins at your doorstep.
