Ian Schrager signs his first Gulf palace, and the Abu Dhabi EDITION feels more like a New York private club than an Emirati resort.
The Abu Dhabi EDITION
From
233.197 €
“Private marina with integrated yacht club, infinity pool facing the Gulf waters, Downtown Manhattan vibe transposed to Al Bateen.”
The Abu Dhabi EDITION occupies the tip of Al Bateen Marina, fifteen minutes from the centre, in an upmarket residential district where yachts exceed twenty metres. We recognise the Schrager touch from the lobby: cathedral volumes, polished concrete, Scandinavian blond wood, subdued light even at midday. The 198 rooms start at 35 m², floor-to-ceiling glass bays, grey terrazzo bathrooms, Smeg minibar, marina or Gulf view depending on the floor. Two pools (one on the roof, one at garden level), 850 m² spa with hammam and cabins facing the water, gym open 24h. From 233 € a night, we find here the best value for money among Abu Dhabi palaces, well ahead of the Emirates Palace or the St. Regis. The service stays discreet, efficient, without the golden emphasis of the grand Corniche hotels. An address for those who prefer design to marble, the marina to the desert ✨
Who is it for?
Who we recommend it to
We recommend the EDITION to thirty- and forty-somethings who flee the bling of the grand Corniche resorts and seek a design pied-à-terre, calm, turned towards the sea. It is a hotel for extended business stays (many expats base their suitcases here for three weeks), couples on a luxury city break without children, yachting enthusiasts. Families will find the pools suitable, yet the atmosphere remains resolutely adult, private club, without animation or kids club.
The building
Architecture and interiors
The hotel occupies a glass and concrete tower signed by the London agency Jestico + Whiles, delivered in 2021. Sober contemporary architecture, generous volumes (12-metre-high lobby), Nordic materials (whitewashed oak, linen, limestone) that contrast with the golden luxury of Emirati palaces. The rooms adopt the EDITION vocabulary: neutral palette, bespoke furniture, indirect lighting, no frills. The whole feels more like an enlarged New York boutique hotel than a tropical resort, and that is precisely what makes its singularity in Abu Dhabi.
At the table
Restaurants, bar, service
Three tables on the ground floor: Alba Terrace for breakfasts facing the marina (continental buffet, eggs to order), Market at EDITION (Mediterranean-Levantine, mezze, grills, open midday and evening), Café Isa for coffees and pastries during the day. The Loa Bar on the rooftop serves cocktails and tapas until 1 a.m., 360° view over the Gulf and the Corniche skyscrapers. Honest cuisine without stars, efficient service, lounge atmosphere. We come here for the setting and the mood, not for a gastronomic table.
Highlights
- 198 rooms from 35 m², glass bays, grey terrazzo, marina or Gulf view
- Two pools: rooftop infinity and garden level facing the yachts
- 850 m² spa with hammam, sea-view treatment cabins, 24/7 fitness
- Private marina with yacht club, pontoon reserved for residents
- Booking score 9.3/10 from 1 788 reviews, highest among Abu Dhabi 5★
Location & access
Where the hotel sits in Abu Dhabi
Al Bateen Marina lies west of central Abu Dhabi, an upscale residential district lined with villas and private marinas. Fifteen minutes by car from Corniche and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, twenty-five from the international airport. No metro nearby (Abu Dhabi has none), taxi or car essential. The neighbourhood is calm, green, without pedestrian life: we come for the hotel and the marina, not to stroll. Supermarkets and local restaurants ten minutes by car, yet everything essential happens on site.
Good to know
Before you book
- Parking
- Free private parking, valet included.
- Wi-Fi
- Free connection throughout the hotel, high-speed fibre.
- Pools
- Two pools open 7 a.m.–10 p.m., towels and loungers provided.
- Spa
- Spa open 9 a.m.–9 p.m., hammam included, treatments by reservation.
- Accessibility
- Adapted rooms for reduced mobility, lifts and access ramps.
- Check-in
- Arrival from 3 p.m., departure until 12 p.m., late check-out subject to availability.
Facilities
2 pools
Non-smoking rooms
Fitness centre
Spa and wellness centre
Restaurant
Room service
Facilities for disabled guests
Wi-Fi available everywhere
Private parking
Free parking
Free Wi-Fi connection
Location
Where The Abu Dhabi EDITION is located
Exact address
The Abu Dhabi EDITION
Address
Al Bateen Marina
In the same city
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