Where to Stay in Abu Dhabi: Fairmont Bab Al Bahr
As a winner of the 2022 Hotel of the Year Award for “Best Luxury Business & Leisure Beach Hotel Worldwide”, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr is the No. 1 hotel to choose when planning where to stay in Abu Dhabi!
It was December 2022 when my boyfriend and I decided to spend my 25th birthday in the UAE. A few days in Abu Dhabi and the rest of our time we would explore Dubai.
That was our plan.
So while searching various booking platforms for a good place to stay in each city, I found the hotel Fairmont Bab Al Bahr.
With its large and inviting pool, the epic location opposite the famous Sheikh Zayed Mosque & the spacious, luxurious rooms – the decision was made relatively quickly.
After all, it was my birthday trip and I wanted it to be something special!
And what should I say, the hotel Fairmont Bab Al Bahr was beyond any of my expectations!
But, read it yourself. 😉
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A View to Die For
Undoubtedly, one fact that made me choose this hotel so fast was its location. Hotel Fairmont Bab Al Bahr is not located in the city center, actually, it’s quite the opposite.
It’s situated by the channel Khor Al Maqta, a waterfront community on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. In fact, the journey to downtown and the famous Etihad Towers is a 20-30 minute car ride.
However, the one thing that makes this place so special and why it convinced me to book it is the fact it’s located right opposite the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
You know what that means, right?
Exactly! Absolutely epic views from almost everywhere in the hotel!
Whether you wake up and remove the window curtains, take the panorama lift down a few floors or relax at the pool bar with a drink in your hands – you always have the mosque in view.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is just truly awesome.
So, when you book your room at hotel Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, make sure it’s on the right side of the building to not miss out on having this great view from your bed as well!
Can I Move in, Please?
Speaking of rooms, the probability you want to move in and stay here forever is very high. It’s not only the excellent view but the room size, the interior and the amenities that make it so special.
The moment I took a few steps into our room, I immediately knew I would feel super comfortable.
With a size of 45 square meters, it’s incredibly spacious and includes everything one may need.
There’s a huge and unbelievably comfy king-size bed, a small sofa with pillows and a table, a large desk perfect for business travelers to do some work and many wardrobes along the wall offering enough space to store all your clothes.
There’s a large flat TV on the wall right opposite the bed and a minibar filled with all sorts of snacks, drinks and sweets.
The bathroom takes up about a third of the entire room space and is one of the biggest ones I’ve ever seen!
It features two large sinks with a wide mirror spanning the entire length, a separate toilet and a separate room with a bathtub and a rain shower.
Luxurious shower gel and shampoo, fluffy bath robes and slippers, a hairdryer and other amenities make the bathroom equipment complete.
a Perfect Start of The Day
I don’t know about you but to start a day the right way, I need a bit more than just coffee. Although I became a total coffee addict in the last couple of months!
Regardless of whether you’re just fine with a cup of hot coffee or also need something for your stomach like me, you’ll find both at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr.
In fact, the breakfast buffet is so rich, you could easily eat enough for the whole day! To be honest: I was absolutely blown away by the selection.
I had been to luxury hotels with enormous breakfast buffets before, like the Hilton in Malta, for example, but this was a completely different level.
Besides typical international breakfast dishes from Europe, Asia and the Middle East, there’s a big section with healthy fruits, fresh smoothies, different nuts, various types of plant milk, cereals and so on.
Basically, enough to choose from even for a vegan like me!
You can also find a few small open kitchens where cooks prepare requested dishes such as omelets, scrambled eggs, pancakes, etc.
I have a very sweet tongue so I rather have something sweet than savory for breakfast. Therefore I was really craving some pancakes so I asked the cook if it was possible to get some vegan ones.
Luckily for me, it was no problem at all and just 10 minutes later, a waiter brought my vegan pancakes topped with berries and extra maple syrup aside.
They tasted heavenly.
It was also no problem to get a caffè latte and a cappuccino with oat milk for my boyfriend and me.
So do not hesitate to ask for special meals or drinks, the staff will happily prepare them for you!
Let’s Have A Drink at The Pool Bar
Welcome to one of my absolute favorite places at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr: The huge palm-fringed swimming pool – including the pool bar hehe.
It’s located directly at the hotel’s two white sandy private beaches where you find enough sun loungers and cozy relaxation pavilions.
The size of the pool is a dream and perfect to swim a few laps. However, the coolest part is definitely the swim-up bar where you can enjoy a selection of cocktails, ciders, beers or cold coffee.
It’s seriously such a satisfying feeling to cool down in the pool, have a refreshing drink in your hand and do nothing else than watch the boats come and go in the canal.
Is That a Car in The Lobby?
I can still remember the very exact moment I entered the hotel.
Usually, standard hotel lobbies feature a reception and basic furnishings such as armchairs and sofas. But of course, it wouldn’t be the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr if it didn’t provide some special extra here.
At the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, the first thing you notice is a Mercedes-Benz Oldtimer car standing right there in the huge, airy lobby.
And it’s not just any oldtimer, but one with an interesting history: It’s the car that Queen Elizabeth II used during her first visit to the UAE in February 1979. Back then, the country was only eight years old.
Together with the contemporary style and modern decoration, the lobby lounge in the heart of the hotel is a fantastic place to enjoy afternoon tea and some sweets.
Let me do it For You!
Last but not least, the main reason why you have no other choice than to pick Fairmont Bab Al Bahr as your hotel in Abu Dhabi is the absolutely fantastic and helpful staff!
Whatever question you have or whatever information you need about sights, restaurants, public transport, etc. the concierge will happily assist you!
I remember one evening when we were on the lookout for a restaurant nearby offering both vegan and non-vegan options since my boyfriend isn’t vegan.
We decided to ask the concierge for help who immediately checked various restaurant menus for vegan choices. Moreover, he didn’t hesitate to phone some of them to ask them personally.
When we finally found a nice-sounding place, he insisted on calling them to ask for a free table and reserve one for us. It was such a sweet gesture to do all the work for us!
On the day we wanted to visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, I realized I forgot to bring a scarf to cover my hair. Spontaneously and with less hope, I asked the concierge if I could borrow one from the hotel.
Surprisingly, he said it wouldn’t be a problem at all and sent a colleague to get me one. Just a few minutes later, she came back with not only one but three different scarves so I could choose the one I like best!
As if that wasn’t enough, the concierge even got us online tickets so we don’t have to queue at the mosque – without us asking for it! He just printed out the tickets and handed them over.
The incredibly accommodating and attentive service truly left me speechless.
So yeah, I hope you now understand why I think Fairmont Bab Al Bahr is the best address to stay in Abu Dhabi!
Check out:
– Unmissable Things to do in Abu Dhabi
– Guide to Visiting Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
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Oh wow, palm-fringed swimming pool and that view? Count me in!
Haha perfect!
This place looks amazing! The bathroom is so spacious and the whole experience sounds perfect.
Yes it was one of the biggest bathrooms ever! Such a wonderful hotel overall 🙂
Great review. The car in the lobby certainly seems like an interesting attention grabber.
Definitely! First things I noticed 😀
This place looks great – I hope to get to Abu Dhabi one day and will consider staying here.
It’s wonderful! one of the coolest hotels I’ve ever been to!
The Fairmont Bab al Bahr sure looks luxurious. I have yet to travel to Abu Dhabi but will look out for this hotel when I do. It seems like it’s a given but there’s is nothing better than the hotel staff looking out for you and ensuring that you have the perfect stay, which looks like you did.
We had such a great experience and a big part was thanks to the friendly staff!