Imagine waking up to clear blue skies, feeling white sand as fine as sugar between your toes, warm water nipping at your heels, and the vast expanse of the Arabian Gulf laid out like a feast before your eyes. If you’re lucky, you might see one, two or even a pod of bottlenose dolphins riding the waves or breaking through the water line.
This is what a Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi vacation feels like, specifically spending time at what some claim to be the best beach in Abu Dhabi: the Blue Flag-certified, nine-kilometre Saadiyat Beach on the Arabian Gulf coast of Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi, adjacent to the 59-square-kilometre protected area of Saadiyat Marine National Park.
Surely, this is inspiration enough to visit, but Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi has more in store for you than a leisurely time on its white-sand beach. Luxury stays and exclusive experiences make Saadiyat Island what it is – one of the best vacation destinations this side of Abu Dhabi.
Five-Star Resort Staycations
On a beach vacation, it’s convenient to stay at a waterfront resort. You’ll have the beach, swimming pool, gym, restaurants, and activities available on demand and at your convenience. For an even better time, stay at a luxury beach resort on a pristine island destination. This is exactly what’s on the agenda in Saadiyat Island.
Saadiyat Island has five luxury resorts. They are the following:
- Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort
- Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas
- Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island
- Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villas
- St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
All these resorts are waterfront properties, so look forward to a stretch of white sand beach you can enjoy all day, every day. Five-star amenities like kiddie play areas, fully equipped gyms, swimming pools, and multiple restaurants and dining options await.
As a case in point, here is a glimpse of the amenities you can expect at Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island.
In the Spotlight: Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort
Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort is a beautiful property set towards the northeastern part of Saadiyat Island, adjacent to the Saadiyat Beach Club. Its west-facing orientation makes it one of the best spots in Saadiyat Island to enjoy the famous Abu Dhabi sunset.
Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort sits amidst a backdrop of sand dunes and marine life-rich waters. Think Indian Ocean humpback dolphins, Hawksbill turtles, bottlenose dolphins, and ghost crabs – you may experience sightings of them here.
One of the resort’s most outstanding features is its infinity pools; there are three of them, and they have a convenient swim-up bar for lazy days spent swimming, floating and lounging around in the water. The resort also has multiple dining outlets, including the following:
- White, an all-day dining restaurant
- Mare Mare, serving Italian cuisine
- TEAN, offering Levantine cuisine, mezze and grills
- Majlis Saadiyat, specialising in Arabic cuisine
- Offside Gastropub, a sports lounge
- The Pool Bar, serving snacks and refreshments by the pool
- The Lounge, a rooftop restaurant with an outstanding view of the Arabian Gulf
The Jumeirah resort in Saadiyat Island offers activities like kayaking, paddleboarding and beach sports. It has an on-site spa featuring a Moroccan hammam, an Arabic rasul room, treatment rooms, hydrotherapy pools, a salt room, and a steam room. It is also committed to sustainability, successfully reducing single-plastic use by setting up water stations, providing guests with reusable water bottles, and choosing products made with recycled and biodegradable materials.
Cultural and Spiritual Experiences
Saadiyat Island has a cultural district. You can enjoy various cultural and spiritual experiences by visiting Manarat Al Saadiyat, the Abrahamic Family House, and Louvre Abu Dhabi. Soon, the cultural district will be home to the (under construction) Zayed National Museum, too.
Manarat Al Saadiyat is a contemporary space with an art gallery, an art studio and a photography studio. It’s a place to meet other creatives and artists. Meanwhile, the Abrahamic Family House encourages religious understanding and tolerance by gathering three houses of worship (Eminence Ahmed El Tayeb Mosque, St. Francis Church Abu Dhabi and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue) in a single space.
In the Spotlight: Louvre Abu Dhabi
Louvre Abu Dhabi is a universal museum, the counterpart of Le Louvre in France. It is a joint venture between the governments of France and the United Arab Emirates.
You can enjoy browsing through 12 collections exhibiting human creativity and ingenuity (including First Villages, World Empires, Sign and Memory, and Connected Modernities), catch exhibitions, and take part in many activities, such as drawing workshops, painting sessions, and even kayaking tours to enjoy the water and the unique water-bound perspective of the museum’s architecture.
Speaking of architecture, Louvre Abu Dhabi’s architecture (designed by Jean Nouvel) is one of the museum’s highlights. The structure is set on the water. Additionally, the shallow cupola-style roof looks like it’s suspended over the museum city. Inside, it throws dappled light patterns on the floors and walls because of its design: eight layers of geometric stars.
A Spot of Green
Capping off the luxurious Saadiyat Island experience is the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, which has a par 72-course designed by Gary Player.
Putt, drive, punch, and flop while enjoying the gorgeous blue of the Arabian Gulf and the pristine white sand of Saadiyat Beach. Pick a package from the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club Academy to get private coaching from a resident pro golfer to improve your game.
When you need a pick-me-up from all your activities on the green, proceed to Hawksbill Restaurant. It serves international cuisine from breakfast through dinner, so come anytime you want before or after your golf game.
Saadiyat Island: Premium Experiences
Saadiyat Island is an island in Abu Dhabi that offers a range of premium recreational and leisure experiences. Get some sun on the beach, swim in the sea, watch out for dolphins or sea turtles, or enjoy spectacular sunsets. Stay and get pampered at one of the luxury resorts in Saadiyat Island, browse through artwork and catch a show at the cultural district, or get a few rounds of golf in at the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.
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