Abu Dhabi is making a name for itself as a family holiday destination and this stylish hotel is the ideal place to stay with children.
Just half an hour from the airport, but set on a pristine stretch of golden sand, Jumeirah Saadiyat Island offers a wonderful beach escape to families of all ages. With fantastic restaurants, enormous suites and a wonderful kids’ club, here’s why it should be on your list for your next break in the UAE.
Spotlessly clean, super safe and filled with cultural delights for all the family, Abu Dhabi may not have been on your travel bucket list, but here’s why it should be. Compared to its more well-known UAE neighbour Dubai, Abu Dhabi offers a calmer and more sophisticated experience in the Middle East and thus has emerged as a popular destination for 2025, thanks also in part to an ever-increasing number of direct Etihad flights from London. Although perhaps best known for its skyscrapers and cutting-edge architecture, the city is also home to beaches that rival the Caribbean, with white sands and turquoise waters. Visitors can enjoy consistently good weather all year round, although the temperatures can reach the mid-40s during the summer months, which might be too hot for children – or even the most ardent sun-seekers. Abu Dhabi is the ideal place to book for winter sun and the family-friendly, five-star Jumeirah Saadiyat Island is the perfect hotel to stay in with children.
The Vibe
If you look for chic and elegant interiors on your travels rather than anything overtly ornate, then Jumeirah Saadiyat Island is the hotel for you. Sure, it still has the feeling of size and space that other Abu Dhabi properties offer, but the colour palette here is a simple mix of blues, whites and neutrals, echoing the hues of the sea and sky that you can see through every window. Speaking of the sea, the hotel’s location is also second to none – with direct access to a powdery sand beach and the sparkling Arabian Gulf beyond; calm, clear as a bath, and perfect for all ages and abilities. There are also three pools to enjoy, one adults-only and one super shallow for toddlers. Days can be spent relaxing under the palm trees on a sun lounger and cooling off with a swim, ice cream from the beach truck or a freshly cracked coconut. It feels very much like a postcard-perfect beach break – all the more magical considering the city and the airport are less than 30 minutes away, the ideal transfer time for those travelling with kids.
The Rooms
Take your pick from any of the 293 rooms and suites – all spacious, calming and comfortable for all the family. Each sophisticated sanctuary boasts a plush king-sized bed covered in the most luxurious linens and a wonderfully generous selection of pillows – perfect for diving right in to and enjoying a blissful night’s sleep. Stylish custom designed furniture elevates the space and the sleek marble bathrooms with huge soaking tubs and rainfall showers are the perfect spot to unwind in after a day of sightseeing.
Natural light is the star of the show here, with large floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the beautiful rooms with sunshine; some have balconies offering ocean views, with front row seats to the stunning nightly sunsets. Thoughtful touches such as Nespresso machines, well-stocked minibars, and 24-hour room service catered to our every need, while little ones are well catered for with cots and any necessary baby equipment available on request. Families with older children will love the ease of the interconnecting rooms.
Food + Drink
Foodies will be in heaven. The resort has eight restaurants offering a variety of cuisines so you are spoilt for choice. Start the day at White, the main buffet all-day dining restaurant where the number of choices on offer is just astonishing, from fresh pastries to an avocado toast station, Middle Eastern delicacies and heaps of colourful fruit. A real highlight is dinner at Tean, feasting on Levantine specialities like oven-baked feta cheese with olive oil, oregano and fig chutney, and fried kibbeh – the perfect restaurant for a grown-up evening. When dining with kids head to the relaxed eatery Mare Mare – think pastas, pizzas and gelatos. SAL beach club is the adults-only part of the hotel and here the cuisine is led by Mediterranean flavours, including mozzarella and tomato salads and huge grilled prawns and other delicious seafood cooked to perfection.
The Child’s Play
This is a place where parents can truly relax and enjoy their time away thanks to the wonderful kids’ club where you can leave little ones (over the age of four) while you enjoy a massage or hammam in the magnificent spa. The kids’ club is a creatively designed space with indoor and outdoor games, as well as a sizeable splash park, with a zip line, fountains and a pirate ship. Those under four can be looked after by a babysitter, just ask the hotel to arrange it. Dining options for kids are so good too; at breakfast they are treated to their own mini buffet shaped like a train, which is at the perfect height for them to help themselves to croissants, fresh fruit and yoghurts. This is also a great place to bring them for the buffet dinner which opens at 6.30pm and has so many options (picky eaters are well catered to). At Mare Mare you’ll find one of the best kids’ menus imaginable, offering mini plates of delicious freshly made pasta that most children will immediately wolf down. It’s very clear children’s tastes have been truly considered here and are far from an after thought added to an adult menu.
The Spa
Wellness is taken seriously here. The ultra luxurious spa is spread over nearly 30,000 square feet, has 15 treatment rooms and an impressive range of wellness experiences such as massages and facials along with the hammam. If you’d like to be a bit more active them check out the state-of-the-art gym which offers group sessions and personal training. Afterwards pop into the café for a healthy snack or a smoothie.
The To-Do List
View overlooking the sea. Louvre Abu Dhabi. Photography: Mohamed Somji
The hotel is ideally located for exploring Abu Dhabi’s many cultural attractions. Make sure to visit the nearby Louvre Abu Dhabi, a breathtaking building on the water’s edge filled with Da Vincis, Van Goghs and ancient art from across the Middle East. There’s also a dedicated Children’s Museum here that is great for inquisitive little ones to run around and interact with the exhibits. A tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a must. It is a magnificent monument to artistry with the world’s largest carpet and biggest chandelier. Children will love the National Aquarium, a beautifully curated exhibition of over 46,000 creatures from squid to sharks and jellyfish where you can get up close to the sea life, and also a trip to the Children’s Library shouldn’t be missed – designed with kids in mind and a great afternoon out. Older kids and teens might enjoy the sights of Yas Island which is home to Ferrari World, Waterworld and a Warner Bros. theme park – there’s lots of excitement and thrills to be had here.
We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
Any Questions or Tips to add?