As quick as you can utter “United Arab Emirates,” Western luxury hotels have begun popping up in the Middle East. On Nov. 1, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas opened on Saadiyat Island, the burgeoning paradise just off the coast of the Emirates’ capital city.
The luxury hotel offers business travelers and vacationers the ability to combine the Western indulgences and convenience they’re accustomed to with the exotic locale of the UAE. Each of the 306 rooms, suites or villas at Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi features a separate balcony or terrace, and every one of the Beach View Suites, Garden View Suites and Villas has a larger private terrace with plunge pools, outdoor rain showers and sun beds.
The Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi offers the complete resort experience, with such dining options as The Café, which focuses on Arabic specialties and Western comfort foods; The Park Bar & Grill, which serves Western and Asian cuisine from a show kitchen; and Beach House, a rooftop perch where every dish comes with a side of Persian Gulf vistas. And the Atarmia Spa will further indulge your senses, combining Kerstin Florian and Natura Bissé products with ingredients full of rich, Arabian history. The Opulence of Atarmia, for example, incorporates gemstones, diamond dust, honey and hot olive oil into treatments for your face, hair and body.
If you’ve never heard of Saadiyat Island before, there’s a good reason: It’s part of Abu Dhabi’s construction boom, with plans to become the cultural hub of the Middle East. Already, the UAE’s second-largest city offers the Corniche, the beautiful coastal strip of land; Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, an indoor Ferrari theme park; and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a striking architectural wonder. But plans are already under way for the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum, all scheduled to open on Saadiyat Island within the next two years. But if you visit before then, you’ll still have sprawling beaches to enjoy, and if you pack the sticks, you can also play the island’s Gary Player-designed course, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. Saadiyat is just 10 miles from Abu Dhabi’s financial district, and Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi’s concierge can help arrange travel to and from the island during your visit.
Photos courtesy of Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi
