Emirates Palace is the hotel that most visitors want to see even if they are not staying, and staying there is the splurge of an Abu Dhabi trip. Opened in 2005 and now run by Mandarin Oriental, it sits on its own stretch of the West Corniche at the tip of the city, a vast sand-coloured palace crowned with domes and set in gardens that run down to the sea. The hotel has 394 rooms, including 92 suites, spread over eight floors, many with sea or garden views and generous marble bathrooms. Facilities are on a palatial scale: a private beach with butlers and loungers, two temperature-controlled outdoor pools, a 1,500 square metre spa with a hammam suite, two fitness centres, a marina and running paths. Restaurants range from Hakkasan for Cantonese food and Martabaan for modern Indian to Mezlai for Emirati cooking and Le Café, known for afternoon tea under the great dome.
Location and getting around: the palace occupies the western tip of Abu Dhabi island at Ras Al Akhdar, with Qasr Al Watan directly next door and the Etihad Towers just across the road. The Corniche promenade runs east from here into the city centre. Taxis wait at the entrance, and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is around twenty minutes away by car, Saadiyat Island and the Louvre about twenty to twenty-five, and the Yas Island parks a little longer.
Rooms and who it suits: rooms are large and traditional in style, with rich fabrics, gold details and big marble bathrooms, and the suites are among the most lavish in the city. It suits couples on a special trip, families who want space, a beach and a pool on site, and anyone for whom the hotel itself is part of the holiday. Business travellers use it for its meeting spaces and central western location.
Good to know: the building is enormous, so expect long walks between the lobby, the rooms, the restaurants and the beach; ask for a room near the facilities you will use most. Breakfast and dining are priced at the luxury level. Non-residents visit for afternoon tea and the restaurants, so the public areas can be busy at weekends, but the beach, pools and spa are reserved for guests. Complimentary bicycles and non-motorised water sports such as kayaks and paddle boards are a lovely way to use the coast.
Why stay here
- ✓Private beach with butler service
- ✓Two temperature-controlled outdoor pools
- ✓Emirates Palace Spa with hammam suite
- ✓Two 24-hour fitness centres
- ✓Hakkasan, Martabaan and Mezlai restaurants
- ✓Afternoon tea at Le Café
- ✓Marina and 6 km of running paths
- ✓Free bicycles, kayaks and paddle boards
Good questions
How many rooms does Emirates Palace have?+
There are 394 rooms, including 92 suites, across eight floors. Many have sea or garden views.
Can non-guests visit Emirates Palace?+
Yes, visitors come for afternoon tea, the restaurants and the public halls. The beach, pools and spa are reserved for hotel guests.
What is near Emirates Palace?+
Qasr Al Watan is right next door and the Etihad Towers are across the road. The Grand Mosque and Saadiyat Island are each around twenty minutes by taxi.
