Abu Dhabi has over 200 islands scattered across 400 kilometres of coastline. To the south, the Empty Quarter stretches toward Saudi Arabia, where dunes climb past 300 metres. In between, mangroves thrive in protected areas and fishing dhows share the water with luxury yachts.
The emirate's best resorts have figured out how to work with this geography. Some sit hours in the desert. Others occupy private islands reached only by boat. A few are amongst mangrove channels where the coast turns wild. From desert fortresses to private islands, these are the best resorts to stay in Abu Dhabi.
Desert Resorts
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara
The drive to Qasr Al Sarab takes two hours southeast from Abu Dhabi, straight into the Liwa Desert, where the landscape turns to nothing but rust-coloured dunes. Built in traditional Arabian style, the fortress resort features hand-carved wooden doors, wind towers, and courtyards where the only sound comes from fountains and wind moving through palm trees.
Inside the 206 rooms and villas, mashrabiya screens filter the desert light. The Royal Pavilion Villas come with private pools and outdoor majlis areas positioned to catch sunset over the dunes. In summer, those dunes turn shades of amber and gold that shift as the light changes. In winter, mornings and evenings turn surprisingly cold (terrace breakfasts require blankets and hot coffee).
Camel treks run at dawn before the heat sets in. Local Bedouin trainers handle the falconry demonstrations, working with birds trained to hunt. After lunch, usually taken by the infinity pool that seems to float above the sand, the spa offers traditional hammam treatments. Evenings mean sundowner drives, climbing the tallest dunes to watch the desert change colour as night arrives.
Qasr Al Sarab is served by two restaurants. Suhail does Levantine food under the stars, while Ghadeer focuses on multi-course Middle Eastern meals, ending with Emirati ghawa ceremonies. The ritual matters here. The ghawa arrives in small cups, served three times, each pour meaning something different according to Bedouin custom.
Location: Liwa Desert, Empty Quarter
Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa
Forty minutes from Abu Dhabi's centre, Al Wathba sits in a desert conservation area where the landscape stays protected. Each of the 103 villas and rooms comes with a plunge pool and terrace facing the dunes. Unlike most desert resorts that treat the landscape as backdrop, Al Wathba built itself around wellness. Not just spa treatments, but the idea that being in the desert – a setting so still and quiet – gives guests time to truly rest.
Guided meditation happens at sunrise. Yoga platforms face the open desert. Conservationists lead nature walks, explaining how much life actually exists in what looks like empty sand: beetles, lizards, plants that only show themselves after rare rain. The approach is less about conquering the environment and more about just being present in it.
The spa building operates as its own wellness centre. Treatments use local ingredients like date seed scrubs, camel milk baths, and healing clays sourced from the region. Some guests book treatments daily. Others ignore the spa entirely and spend time on the guided walks or simply sitting on their terrace as the day unfolds.
Three restaurants cover different approaches to food. Bait Al Hanine focuses on international and Arabic dishes, and Al Mabeet does traditional Middle Eastern and Bedouin-inspired cuisine. Terra Secca serves Italian fare. The Fire restaurant hosts evening gatherings around an open fire pit, the kind of setup that makes conversation easy.
Location: Al Wathba South, Abu Dhabi
Beach Resorts
Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort
Saadiyat Island now hosts the Louvre Abu Dhabi, with the Guggenheim coming next. Jumeirah's resort claims 10 kilometres of beach on the island's northern coast, with sand so fine it feels more like powder. Contemporary Arabic design defines the 293 rooms: geometric patterns and warm woods, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Gulf.
What sets this resort apart is its location near the island's museums. Mornings at the Louvre, lunch at Mare Mare (the Mediterranean restaurant where tables sit directly on the sand), then afternoons at Talise Spa or on the beach doing nothing. Families can use the dedicated kids' club and family pool and couples head to the adults-only pool with its swim-up bar and cabana service.
Marine turtle conservation programmes run throughout the year, as Saadiyat's beaches serve as important nesting grounds. During nesting season, guests can join guided walks to observe the process. The rest of the year, water sports run from the beach club: paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing. But it's equally easy to claim a lounger under a palm tree, order grilled prawns and cold wine, and let the afternoon disappear.
Location: Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
Further along Saadiyat's coast, The St. Regis takes a quieter stretch of beach and turns it into something more Mediterranean than Gulf. All 377 rooms and suites have private balconies or terraces, many with direct pool or beach access. Each suite has marble bathrooms, walk-in wardrobes – an air of classic luxury that never goes out of style. The signature St. Regis butler service operates 24/7, offering personalised assistance that covers everything from unpacking and garment pressing to in-room dining and itinerary planning.
Nation Riviera Beach Club has become one of Abu Dhabi's more popular beach spots. Tiered sun terraces lead down to an infinity pool. The Mediterranean menu changes based on what's available, but the setup stays consistent: loungers, cold drinks, attentive service.
Inside, Olea serves Levantine cuisine in a setting reminiscent of the Mediterranean: open, sunlit, and warm in tone. 55&5th The Grill recreates the energy of a classic New York steakhouse, pairing USDA Prime cuts with a Napa Valley-level wine cellar. The Iridium Spa runs 10,000 square feet, offering hydrothermal experiences, hammam rituals, and signature Remède treatments.
The best moments happen outside the scheduled activities. Sunset yoga on the beach. Private cabana service where staff bring chilled towels and fresh fruit. Evening walks once it cools down and the resort's lights take over.
Location: Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
City Resort
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Since 2005, Emirates Palace has held its singular position in central Abu Dhabi. When Mandarin Oriental took over in 2020, it refreshed the 394 rooms and suites but kept the gold-leaf detailing and extravagance. This isn't a place for minimalism. Chandeliers hang heavy with crystals, corridors seem to go on forever, and the private beach extends along 1.3 kilometres of coastline.
Palace Suites offer 170 square metres and above that tier are the Royal Suites. Each feature separate living areas, marble bathrooms with jacuzzis, balconies overlooking either the Gulf or the gardens. Service remains the palace's strength. Staff remember preferences, the concierge arranges everything from private yacht charters to desert trips, and yes, the 24-carat gold cappuccino (with actual gold flakes) exists and arrives exactly as advertised.
Ten restaurants and lounges mean guests and visitors dine and lunch somewhere different every day for over a week. Talea by Antonio Guida focuses on Italian fine dining, Vendôme on French classics. Mezlai serves Emirati cuisine, the kind of local food often overlooked by visitors who stick to international menus. The palace's marina hosts luxury yachts, the spa offers treatments in gilded rooms that match the hotel's general aesthetic.
Location: Corniche, Abu Dhabi City
Private Island
Zaya Nurai Island
A 15-minute boat ride from Saadiyat Island's marina takes you to Zaya Nurai. The resort maintains 32 beach houses, 54 beach villas, and six water villas built on stilts over the Gulf across the 350,000-square-metre island. Low density ensures privacy.
Villas follow contemporary design with Arabic influences: high ceilings, natural materials, and outdoor spaces that blur boundaries between inside and out. Each comes with a butler available 24/7.
The water villas deserve special mention. Built above the Gulf with direct water access, one could easily step from the bedroom straight into the sea.
Smokin' Pineapple is the island's single restaurant, serving everything from breakfast to late-night cocktails. Menus change based on the day's catch and whatever arrives fresh from the mainland. The Beach House Spa runs treatments in cabanas facing the water and sports like kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and sailing are included with your stay.
You can walk the island's perimeter in 20 minutes. Most guests claim a section of beach as their own for the afternoon, or retreat to their villa's private pool. The island's size becomes its advantage. The world contracts to just what's immediately around you.
Abu Dhabi's resorts each have their own character and complement the emirate's natural beauty. Excellence here isn't about stars or ratings, but about how authentically each property showcases its location – desert, Gulf, or island.
