Best hotels in Abu Dhabi: where to stay, from Saadiyat to the desert

A palace on the beach

Emirates Palace sits at the end of the Corniche, with domes, marble halls and a private beach more than a kilometre long. It was built as a palace, and the lobby is so vast that guests often stop and stare before checking in.

It appeals to travellers who want grandeur and a classic luxury experience. Distances inside the hotel are long and the style is opulent, so if you prefer simplicity, look elsewhere. Afternoon tea in the lobby, with cakes dusted in gold leaf, draws plenty of visitors who stay elsewhere.

Glass and water on Al Maryah

Rosewood stands on Al Maryah Island, surrounded by water on three sides with a long promenade outside. The hotel is modern and light, and the rooms have big windows over the channels and the skyline.

It gets our vote as the design pick and suits travellers who want a central base with excellent restaurants and the mall nearby. It is a city hotel without a beach, so you will take a taxi to Saadiyat or the Corniche to swim. The island promenade is lovely in the evening, once the heat has eased.

Canals in Venetian style

The Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal is built in Italian style along a canal, with views of the Grand Mosque from many rooms. It has extensive gardens, several pools and a beach on the canal.

It is well suited to families and couples who want to stay near the mosque and the airport with space around them. Saadiyat and the centre are further away, so expect taxis for most outings. The mosque is at its most beautiful at sunset, when the marble changes colour.

Abra boats and a souk

Shangri-La sits on the Khor Al Maqta canal and has its own souk of shops and restaurants. From the beach on the canal you can see the mosque, and small abras, traditional wooden boats, ferry guests along the water.

It takes our value pick among the luxury hotels and suits travellers who want good service and pleasant evenings by the water. It is a large hotel, and the beach faces the canal rather than the open sea.

The beach where turtles nest

Park Hyatt sits on Saadiyat Beach, where sea turtles nest in season and the dunes in front of the hotel are protected. Rooms are calm and light, and Louvre Abu Dhabi is a short taxi ride away.

It is our pick for a first visit: beach, culture and calm, with the city within reach. It is not a party hotel, and evenings are quiet. In the morning you can walk the beach for an hour and meet hardly anyone.

Low-slung and spread out

Jumeirah also faces Saadiyat Beach, built low and stretched along the sand with paths between the wings. It has large pools, a kids' club and one of the island's most popular beach restaurants.

It suits families and couples who want the beach and plenty of space. Distances within the resort are long, so expect to walk a fair bit, and the city is a drive away.

The hotel over the track

W Abu Dhabi straddles the Yas Marina Formula 1 circuit, under a glass canopy that lights up in changing colours at night. During the Grand Prix late in the year you watch the cars from your room, and the rest of the year the marina and bars keep things lively.

It is a good fit for motorsport fans and groups of friends. Prices soar around race weekend, and the mood is energetic. Families are better off next door. Outside race season it is calmer, and midweek rates can be good.

Close to the parks

Hilton Yas Island is on the beach at Yas, minutes from Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World and Yas Waterworld. It has big pools, children's areas and a free shuttle to the parks.

It earns our family pick: practical, good value for the area and close to everything children want to do. It has less character than the Saadiyat hotels, but that is not why people stay here.

A fort among the dunes

Qasr Al Sarab is in the Liwa desert, around two hours from the city, built like a fort with towers and walls among tall, red dunes. From the pool you see nothing but sand in every direction, and at night it is silent and full of stars.

It is our romantic pick, for two or three nights at the end of a trip. You can cycle, ride a camel or walk into the dunes at sunrise. It is far from everything else, so it is a place to stay, not to commute from.