"Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island has become a cultural and architectural playground with the opening of the Jean Novel–designed Abu Dhabi outpost of The Louvre and plans for Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum. But it’s also a place to indulge in all-out luxury. The Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi echoes the island's design-forward offerings. Its 306 sand-hued rooms incorporate nods to Islamic art (in the metal-trimmed headboards and lattice-accented bathroom doors) with modern amenities like Nespresso coffee makers, standalone tubs, and Le Labo bath products. An infinity pool lined with open-air cabanas looks out on the Arabian Sea, the beach sits on a protected strip of waterfront just a short walk away, and a lazy river winds its way around the palm tree–studded grounds like a desert mirage. After a day spent sinking putts on the greens at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, soothe sore limbs with a massage at Atarmia spa, then dine on international dishes that range from Italian to Middle Eastern at one of the resort’s three restaurants."

"Only 10 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi—but a world away in spirit from the city rush—St. Regis Saaydiyat Island looks like a Mediterranean palace but feels like pure Abu Dhabi. The impressive architecture blends luxe finishes like calacatta marble, chisel-edge stone, and petrified wood with a golden color palette that’s offset with views of the turquoise waves of the Arabian Gulf (look close enough and you might even catch a dolphin swimming in the distance). Indulge in a pampering session at the Iridium Spa, go for retail therapy in the property’s shops, or hit the greens at the Saadiyat Island Golf Club. If that sounds like too much exertion, you might prefer to simply lounge in a cabana near one of four pools while sipping an Arabian Snapper, a classic Bloody Mary made with zaatar spice."

"Work travelers are likely already familiar with Al Maryah Island, home to Abu Dhabi’s business district, but vacationers have plenty of reason to make a pit stop. Retail addicts will appreciate the more than 130 luxury shops—including Celine, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, and Bottega Veneta—at The Galleria, a gleaming, glass-enclosed mall along the island’s waterfront. Gastronomes will follow suit at the shopping outlet’s nine restaurants. And when they need a place to rest for the evening, they need look no further than a few stories up to Rosewood Abu Dhabi. Connected to The Galleria by a series of corridors, the hotel’s 189 guest rooms have tech-friendly amenities—everything from climate to black-out curtains is controlled with an in-room iPad—and a masculine aesthetic highlighted by stone tiling and dark wood paneling. Palms seem to sprout up from the pool, which is shaded with metal sculptures that look like futuristic trees, and the spa offers can’t-miss hammam cleansing treatments."

"With its verdant park grounds, topaz pools, stone pathways, and sandy beach, the St. Regis Abu Dhabi feels like a desert oasis. Set in the Nation Towers building on the Corniche, the 283 rooms are the ultimate in Middle Eastern luxury with statuario marble baths, plush white linens, and hand-tufted wool carpeting. The dune-colored interiors are punctuated with opulent gold details that nod to the Arabian architectural canon, including mashrabiya -inspired tiling and finishes, a theme that continues in the 34,000-square-foot Remède spa, where gilded mosaics resemble the rising sun. Restaurants, pools, and a chic beach club are located just across the street, reached via a pedestrian tunnel under the road. There’s also a mini water park and kids club, making the St. Regis an easy choice for the whole family."

"Some experienced travelers would never consider a hotel a “sight,” but Emirates Palace is a full-blown spectacle. A world onto itself, this luxurious spot opened in 2006 to the tune of roughly $6 billion with every conceivable amenity—plus a few you never knew you needed. There’s a beach club with a lazy river, football fields, and nearly four miles of jogging paths; a golf course where you can get tips from a PGA pro; a Bedouin tent for relaxing before a beachfront camel ride; and a luxury spa complete with Moroccan hammam.Marble and gold embellish surfaces everywhere on the property, including in the magnificent tiled dome above the lobby. Whether or not you feel like shelling out serious dough to say you stayed here, you won’t regret a stroll in the lobby for curiosity’s sake."

"From the impressive three-story lobby to the box of chocolate-covered dates that turns up in your room at check-in, an air of refined elegance pervades Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, the 382-room hotel set in one of five slender blue towers on the corner of Abu Dhabi island. Richly detailed elevators bring you to lavish gold-accented accommodations with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the presidential palace or the Persian Gulf.Impeccable service follows you throughout the property: at three pools and an umbrella-studded private beach, a spa and marble-clad hammam, a high-end shopping mall, and six restaurants that serve everything from Italian and Lebanese to Japanese and Indian."

"Perched on one of the area’s only hills, the InterContinental has views of all of the surrounding landmarks across the island of Abu Dhabi. The waterfront resort also offers guests access to the beach and a marina. Restaurants include the Belgian Cafe (for unlimited mussels on Mondays and Tuesday), Fishmarket, Byblos Sur Mer, and many other beautiful and palatable options. The interior elegance will make guests want to meander through the lavish hallways. And the resort's spa services will encourage even the most stressed person to relax. The InterContinental continues to be a destination in Abu Dhabi."

"The Capital Gate building's most impressive feature is the 18-degree angle at which it leans out of the ground. The structure was designed with graceful elegance and looks as if it's rising out of Abu Dhabi Island. You can’t miss this tower on a drive from the airport to the Corniche right along Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street. Capital Gate is also home to the Andaz hotel, which occupies floors 18 to 33 of the 35-floor building. The modern architectural wonder is part of Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre’s development, where many conferences and events are held throughout the year."

"Short of visiting the iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque itself, you won’t find a better view of the whitewashed masterpiece than at this Shangri-La hotel, which shimmers like a jewel opposite Abu Dhabi Island on the mainland of the Arabian Peninsula. The rest of the hotel's palatial appeal sprouts from a deep appreciation for Middle Eastern tradition, seen in spectacular carved archways, mosaic-tile baths in the rooms, and winding waterways navigated by an abra (local ferry boat). Hop on board to journey to the hotel’s contemporary take on a souk, where you can purchase clothes, jewelry, and other souvenirs before choosing between French, Vietnamese, and Chinese specialties at four on-site restaurants. Four pools ensure you won’t wilt in the desert heat, while a CHI spa provides soothing comfort for those beat from a day spent skyscraper hopping."