The 22 Best Luxury Hotels in Abu Dhabi

On the city beach: At the Mandarin Oriental Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, adults swim in a temperature-controlled pool with a swim-up bar, while families head for the Mandarin pool with its waterfalls next to the Kids Palace. At the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, three pools and the hotel's own beach flow into one another, including a lap pool with the Lillet Pool Bar. From The St. Regis Abu Dhabi a tunnel runs under the shore road to the beach club, where a temperature-controlled pool with a swim-up bar awaits.Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers · West CornicheOn the canal: Across from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, resorts spread out around large pools. The Fairmont Bab Al Bahr has an Olympic-length pool with creek views that connects to the beach. At the Shangri-La Qaryat al Beri Abu Dhabi you look out over Khor Al Maqta from the infinity pool, and at The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal you swim across 1,600 square meters toward the private beach. Our advice: if you want to swim proper laps at one of the luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi, stay on the canal.

On Saadiyat Island: Here the pools of the luxury hotels lie right on the beach. The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi has a pool reserved for adults with private cabanas, in-water loungers and Jacuzzis. The Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi has a wide, shallow pool with daybeds, and all 18 villas have plunge or private pools. At the Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi, three infinity pools face the sea.

For families: The Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island has a wave pool and an aqua park with water slides. At the Saadiyat Rotana Resort Abu Dhabi you wade into a large lagoon pool just as you would into the sea, with a lazy river and a slide at the Aladdin's Cave kids' club. The Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi adds a kids' pool and an aqua park to its three pools.

With a view: At the Al Wathba Desert Resort Abu Dhabi, a 1,000-square-meter infinity pool faces the dunes. The Aldhafra Resort Abu Dhabi has its infinity pool with a swim-up bar in the central courtyard, overlooking the dunes of the Empty Quarter. At the W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island you look straight down onto the racetrack from the WET Deck. Almost every 5-star hotel in Abu Dhabi has a pool; the view is what sets them apart.

In the palace and in town: At the Mandarin Oriental Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, the spa covers 1,500 square meters with a hammam, steam room, sauna and spa cabanas; products come from Tata Harper and Oto, every treatment journey lasts at least 90 minutes, and guests must be 16 or older. At the Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Sense, A Rosewood Spa blends local healing traditions with hammam rituals, up to the three-hour Arabian Nights milk-bath ritual. Guests of The St. Regis Abu Dhabi use the steam room, sauna and whirlpool at the Remède Spa free of charge; the signature massage uses four hands.Rosewood Abu Dhabi · Al Maryah IslandOn the island beach: On Saadiyat Island every luxury hotel has a spa of its own. The Iridium Spa at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi has twelve treatment rooms plus an ice bath, steam room and sauna. At the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, the Atarmia Spa spreads over two floors; its nine treatment rooms have private outdoor terraces, and an ice fountain waits after the sauna. At the Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi, the Talise Spa covers 2,700 square meters with a Moroccan hammam, a salt room and a traditional rasul.

In the desert: The spa at the Al Wathba Desert Resort Abu Dhabi takes its cue from the old caravanserais. The spa's 2,200 or so square meters hold eleven treatment rooms, a crystal salt sauna, a Turkish hammam, snow caves and an open-air yoga pavilion. Our advice: set aside half a day for the spa at your 5-star hotel in Abu Dhabi, ideally around midday.

On the Corniche and in town prices start low: the Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche from 80 €, the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers from 86 €, the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi from 98 € and the Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi from 99 €.Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche · Al DanahOn the canal the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr costs from 101 €, the Shangri-La Qaryat al Beri Abu Dhabi from 143 € and The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal from 170 €.

Around Al Bateen and on the city's islands rates begin at 122 € at the Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi, 167 € at the W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island, 183 € at the Rosewood Abu Dhabi and 187 € at the InterContinental Residences Abu Dhabi.

On Saadiyat Island the luxury hotels cost a little more, and in return you stay on the beach in spacious grounds. The Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi starts at 268 €, the Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi at 287 €, the Saadiyat Rotana Resort Abu Dhabi at 295 € and The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi at 327 €. At the Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island, from 353 €, all-inclusive for two replaces breakfast.

In the desert the two luxury hotels start at 104 € at the Aldhafra Resort Abu Dhabi and 181 € at the Al Wathba Desert Resort Abu Dhabi. The Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island is booked on request; our travel advisors get the rate for your dates directly from the resort.

At the top end are The Abu Dhabi EDITION from 450 €, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi from 612 € and the Mandarin Oriental Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi from 627 €. Which rooms are free on your travel dates, and what they cost then, is shown in the hotel list further down.

Always included: Breakfast for two is included at 21 of the 22 hotels, every hotel offers an upgrade subject to availability, and almost all allow an early arrival and a late departure, again subject to availability. A hotel credit comes on top at 21 hotels, usually 100 US dollars; at the Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi it is 50 US dollars, and at the Rosewood Abu Dhabi it applies to food and drinks from two nights. 17 hotels add a welcome gift.

Minimum stay: The benefits apply from two nights at the Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island and from the very night you arrive at every other hotel.

Programs: Marriott Bonvoy applies at six hotels, such as The St. Regis Abu Dhabi and The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Abu Dhabi, ALL (Accor) at four and World of Hyatt at three. The Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers gives double Hilton Honors points. Then there are IHG One Rewards, Shangri-La Golden Circle, Jumeirah ONE, GHA Discovery and Fans of Mandarin Oriental. Because we book your 5-star hotel in Abu Dhabi at the direct rate, points and status nights are credited, and your status is honored on site.

Abu Dhabi through the year: From October to April the days are warm and sunny, ideal for the beach, desert trips and long evenings on the terraces. For the winter months, secure your 5-star hotel in Abu Dhabi early. In summer the day starts early on the beach, at midday the spa, the hammam and the museums of Saadiyat Island beckon, and in the evening the rooftop bars and terraces open up.

How long to stay: Three to four nights at a 5-star hotel in Abu Dhabi are enough for the Corniche, the mosque, the Louvre and a beach day. Add at least one more night for the desert, and rather two for Sir Bani Yas because of the long journey.