Not quite a beachside resort, Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi is set within the capital’s increasingly sophisticated financial and lifestyle district. The hotel is surrounded by water, skyline views and the polished energy of Al Maryah Island, yet its interiors create a calm retreat from the pace of the city. The 34-storey property was designed as an urban hotel that could move comfortably between business, leisure, dining and wellness, and that versatility remains one of its greatest strengths.
There is also a sense of place running quietly through the property. Embracing the capital’s cultural warmth, the hotel’s contemporary architecture and light-filled public spaces are softened by locally inspired design details, an extensive art collection and the welcome treat of dates and Arabic coffee. Being close to Abu Dhabi’s landmark destinations such as the museums of Sadiyaat Cultural District further reinforces the city’s growing reputation as a regional capital of culture, while the waterfront setting keeps the destination’s distinctive sense of place ever-present.
In Short:
Rather than attempting to compete with the capital’s grander resort hotels, Four Seasons takes a more metropolitan approach: this is a hotel designed around convenience, sophistication and embracing the pleasures of city living. Perfectly positioned for a quick weekend reset, this hotel delivers a tranquil city escape that feels worlds apart from the hustle of Dubai, whilst being just an hour down the road.
The Location
Location is perhaps the hotel’s most compelling practical advantage. Four Seasons sits directly on Al Maryah Island. Ideal for the summer months, this is connected by an air-conditioned walkway to The Galleria, placing luxury retail, restaurants and cafés effectively on the doorstep. The island itself has a almost 5.5 kilometre waterfront promenade, making it unusually easy to step outside the hotel and experience the city on foot.
The position works particularly well for a short Abu Dhabi stay. The hotel is around five minutes from the city centre, while Abu Dhabi International Airport is closer to 30 minutes away by car. Saadiyat Island, Louvre Abu Dhabi, the jaw dropping Zayed National Museum and the city’s cultural attractions are also within straightforward reach. For travellers who want a base that combines business convenience with access to shopping, dining and the waterfront, it is difficult to imagine a more efficient address.
The Background
Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi opened in May 2016 and forms part of a larger, mixed-use development on Al Maryah Island. Of the 34-floor building, the hotel occupies floors four through to 13, with 200 accommodations comprising 162 rooms and 38 suites, while residential units occupy the floors above. Its design deliberately moves away from the overtly traditional image of a grand Middle Eastern hotel, favouring a contemporary aesthetic that is most definitely informed by local culture and the surrounding area.
The Guests & Ambiance
Although a distinctly "local hotel", the guest profile mix reflects the hotel's location and breadth of nearby facilities. Business travellers are naturally drawn to the hotel's location in the business district, while local residents and their families and weekend visitors benefit from the shopping, restaurants and leisure facilities surrounding the property. The atmosphere is polished but rarely stiff, complete with that quintessential Four Seasons feel and flower displays.
The hotel's distinctive exterior features vertically lined render, in a selection of colours from pink hues, through to brighter sunshine orange-yellow, which has been inspired by the colourful textiles of the souks. While inside, white marbles meet jewel-toned accents, Arabian motifs and contemporary artwork give the spaces a distinctly regional character. The effect is modern and restrained, with the art collection providing much of the property's personality.
What makes the ambiance particularly unique is the sense of space. The interiors are bright and contemporary, while the hotel's position above the water means that the city and Gulf remain visible rather than feeling like distant scenery. Al Meylas, described by Four Seasons as the hotel's “Living Room of Abu Dhabi”, adds a distinctly local touch through Arabic coffee and Emirati-inspired hospitality.
The Rooms & Suites
The hotel's 200 rooms and suites are designed around understated comfort rather than visual excess. Guest rooms feature spacious layouts, those signature plush Four Seasons beds, living room areas and spa-like bathrooms. Artwork adorns the walls and corners, drawing inspiration from the waterfront whilst subtle Arabian motifs appear in decor. Edging between the modern and classic, the rooms offer guests a sense of place without overwhelmingly embracing the clean contemporary design aesthetic that many hotels in the Middle East opt for.
We stayed in room 60
The suites naturally raise the sense of occasion, with separate living and sleeping areas and substantially more space. The Premier Suite measures 148 square metres, while the Presidential Suite extends to 175 square metres and is designed for longer, more private stays. Across the accommodation categories, the emphasis is on light, calm and comfort, with the signature Four Seasons Bed and highly considered bathrooms reinforcing the residential quality of the rooms.
The Dining
Dining is one of the hotel's strongest assets, with a collection that ranges from Italian and American steakhouse classics to Japanese cuisine, casual breakfast and contemporary lounge experiences - with an utterly beautiful selection of cakes.
Set to reopen this October following an extensive refresh, Butcher & Still returns just in time for al fresco season with a brand-new terrace experience and an updated menu, this is (and will be) an essential reservation for the city's meat connoisseurs. Guests can expect an upscale steakhouse restaurant that transports guests to a 1920s Prohibition-era Chicago. The atmospheric interior serves as a moody backdrop for prime cuts of American beef, like the signature 21-day aged Tomahawk. Whilst those looking for a more Mediterranean approach to dining, Café Milano offers guests a menu of Italian specialities with views over the water.
But it is Saikindō that is the hotel's culinary gem, and brings something considerably more unexpected to the property. With a speakeasy-type entry, Saikindō is an immersive Japanese listening bar built around vinyl, analogue sound and contemporary drinks, with a hidden Robata Room specialising in yakitori. The menu moves seamlessly between delicate sushi and sashimi cut and made to order, theatrical robata-grilled dishes infused with smoky depth, and contemporary warm plates designed for sharing. Beyond the food, the space itself offers a low-lit, sophisticated atmosphere where dark woods and modern design elements take centre stage alongside 80s and 90s top hits humming in the background. Coupled an attentive, intuitive service team and leaving the Michelin stars aside, in my opinion it is Saikindo that truly stands out as one of the hotel's premier culinary highlights.
The variety of culinary experiences means the hotel works as a genuine dining destination in its own right, rather than somewhere guests simply eat because they happen to be staying there.
Spa & Wellness
The Pearl Spa & Wellness is designed as a complete wellness destination rather than simply a treatment room. The facilities include a men's barbers, two fully separate men's and women's fitness centres and an outdoor pool. For those not opting for a spa treatment, guests can avail of heated loungers, a vitality pool with hydro jets, experience showers, sauna and steam room, alongside separate male and female relaxation lounges.
In true Four Seasons style, the spa marries world-class wellness with authentic regional traditions. The menu features classic rituals alongside signature local treatments, including an immersive traditional hammam utilizing black soap, kessa exfoliation, a tailored facial, and full-body stretching. For deeper relaxation, the Tension Relief Massage incorporates rich Arabian oud to ease muscle fatigue. Designed as a complete sanctuary for two, the spa also features dedicated couples' suites where guests can share custom-tailored side-by-side massages and private treatments.
The Staff
Service is where Four Seasons' reputation becomes most tangible. The hotel's team combines the efficiency expected of a major international luxury property with an approach that feels attentive without becoming intrusive. Recent guest feedback consistently singles out the staff, with particular praise for their warmth, responsiveness and willingness to accommodate individual requests.
That level of service is especially valuable in a hotel with so many different functions. Whether the purpose of a stay is business, shopping, dining, wellness or simply escaping for a few nights, the staff appear well practised at making the experience feel seamless. It is ultimately this consistency — rather than any single grand feature — that gives Four Seasons Abu Dhabi its sense of polish. The hotel may be contemporary and highly connected, but its most convincing luxury is still the old-fashioned kind: knowing what a guest needs before they have to ask.
Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island,
Abu Dhabi Global Market, Second St, Al Maryah Island 1, Abu Dhabi
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