Hotels & accommodation

Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi

Mandarin Oriental · palace hotel on Abu Dhabi's West Corniche, opened 2005

Emirates Palace stands at the western end of Abu Dhabi's Corniche, a kilometre-long palace of pink granite, gold leaf and carved marble built as a venue for summits and state occasions. It opened in 2005 as one of the most expensive hotels ever constructed, and since 2020 it has been managed by Mandarin Oriental, which has layered its service culture over the palace's original grandeur without sanding down the scale of the place.

The 394 rooms and suites are spread along two wings either side of the central dome, most with balconies facing the Gulf or the palace gardens and marina. Interiors run to marble bathrooms, gold-leaf detailing and fabrics in soft greens and creams, and even the entry-level rooms are sized like suites elsewhere in the city.

Days here revolve around the grounds: a 1.3-kilometre private beach, two landscaped pool areas, a marina, and a spa whose marble hammam is one of the most photographed in the Emirates. Dining runs from the Emirati restaurant Mezlai to Talea, the Italian restaurant by Antonio Guida, alongside palace institutions like the gold-dusted cappuccino at Le Café.

As a scouting base it shows you the ceremonial end of Abu Dhabi life: Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace, is next door, the Corniche promenade runs from the door, and the government and energy-company districts that employ many of the capital's expats begin a few streets inland. It is a landmark first, a hotel second — and that is exactly the point of it.

• Mandarin Oriental — managed by the group since 2020
• Corniche Road West, Abu Dhabi — beside Qasr Al Watan
• 394 rooms and suites in two wings
• 1.3 km of private beach on the Arabian Gulf
• Opened in 2005 as Emirates Palace

Visit the property — Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental mandarinoriental.com

This featured showcase is an editorial selection by our editors. We have not stayed at this property and it is not a paid placement; no rating is implied. Paid placements never influence the United Arab Emirates liveability score, safety rating or warnings.