THE EXPERIENCE
Conveniently located a short ten-minute drive from Abu Dhabi City center, as we approached the property, we were immediately struck by the impressive modern architecture and size of the resort. First impressions were certainly impactful, we couldn’t help but admire the light and spacious lobby with an array of glass ornaments artistically suspended from the ceiling.
The staff were extremely attentive and we immediately felt in good hands as we had a smooth and efficient check-in. We were soon being escorted to our room, taking in views of the manicured gardens and cobalt blue sea through the impressive floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
We found our room to be modern, bright and spacious with an extensive balcony area and unobstructed sea views. The room was generously appointed with modern comfortable furnishings and high quality linen. The stylish marbled bathroom had a large stand-alone bath, large basins and contemporary rain shower.
The resort is uniquely located on the pristine Saadiyat beach, one of the most spectacular beaches in the Arabian Gulf. There is a 400-meter private beach with promenade access through natural sand dunes to the extensive 9 kilometers stretch of beautiful white sand. The resort offers each guest a front-row seat to breathtakingly beautiful scenery and the chance to spot undisturbed wildlife including hawksbill turtles, dugongs, humpback and bottlenose dolphins, flamingos and gazelles.
The resort is sensitive to its unique location and has responsibly chosen to become a luxury ‘eco-conscious’ resort. In partnership with a local water treatment company, guests are offered locally-sourced filtered still and sparkling water in complementary reusable sports water bottles that can be refilled at the resort’s water stations. The resort has also eliminated the use of plastic straws, favouring straws made from recycled material instead.
Once settled, we eagerly headed down for a relaxing leisurely lunch at Mare Mare where we could sit beside the adults’ infinity pool and take in the stunning views of the beach and glistening sea beyond. Mare Mare is a seafood lovers haven offering mouthwatering dishes of the freshest seafood, divine pizza oven pizzas and other Mediterranean dishes. The seafood salad with raspberry dressing and fennel shaves, the sautéed mussels and clams with fresh tomato and the selection of seasonal grilled seafood come highly recommended! Our children’s faces lit up when they were presented with the wood fired Mickey Mouse pizzas from the kids’ menu!
After lunch, the children couldn’t wait to check out the vibrantly colourful Kids Club where they were made to feel extremely welcome and enjoyed the games room, soft play area, outdoor playground and crafts. They spent the rest of the afternoon in the outdoor kids pool and playing on the beach while we enjoyed a stroll along the promenade taking in the sea air before settling comfortably on a lounger for some serious down time.
Later in the afternoon, we were treated to a ‘Saadiyat Revitalizing Massage’; a full body, deep tissue massage, featuring ancient therapeutic techniques, deep flowing movements, acupressure point stimulation and light stretching. The SPA visit was a sensory experience in itself with NEOM organics essential oils diffusing welcoming aromas enabling stress to melt away immediately as we sipped on ginger tea and sank into the soft fleecy robes ready for our treatment. The massage was world class and expertly tailored to suit our specific personal ailments and aches and pains! We left floating on air and feeling utterly relaxed and refreshed.
We opted for ‘The Lounge’ for dinner, its fifth floor location provides superb sea views and the open-air vibe creates a marvelous contemporary space. Cuisine is European with a focus on flavour and innovative sharing plates making it the perfect place for a romantic dinner for two or a large social gathering. Highlights for us were the lobster tacos with spicy mayo and basil, the tuna poke with edamame sesame, ginger and shiso avocado, the spicy shrimp with mayonnaise and for desert the miniature fruit sorbet cones.
We thoroughly enjoyed the chic all day dining restaurant ‘White’, which offers local and international dishes alongside live cooking stations. The large open area is a delight to dine in and we were enthralled by the variety of dishes on offer. Breakfast was outstanding and offered a large range of healthy yet delicious dishes and tasting stations. The morning health shots and the frozen smoothie station were a bit hit where we could enjoy all of our 5 a day in one go!
In the evening, as a family, we enjoyed feeling the sand in our toes and the sea breeze in our hair as we built sand turtles and watched the sun set over the sea. We all made wonderful long lasting memories that we will certainly cherish.
ACCOMODATION
The hotel comprises of 293 beautifully designed modern, sunlit rooms that overlook the open ocean, six panoramic suites with floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies, plus eight private two, three and four bedroom villas with their own private pools.
DINING
The resort offers a variety of restaurants and lounges with a diverse, yet refined array of culinary options, serving up everything from sophisticated Middle Eastern cuisine to relaxed poolside dining.
THE LOUNGE
The Lounge’s unique take on dining brings people together through innovative sharing plates. Creativity and inventiveness are at the heart of the menu, giving flavour and provenance to every bite. Meanwhile the hip terrace becomes the perfect setting for sunset moments, as DJ’s create the atmosphere and skilled mixologists mix it up for you.
MAJLIS SAADIYAT
Majlis Saadiyat is the place to catch up over a cup of Latte Art, photo-worthy desserts, and light refreshments in a beautiful ocean front setting. Experience traditional Arabic dishes with a modern twist seated in a beautiful outdoor terrace. Try an Arabic inspires mocktail for a different taste, or create an occasion to remember with an Arabian Afternoon Tea using seasonal and local ingredients.
MARE MARE
The gorgeous poolside restaurant serves traditional Italian. Mare Mare is named after the Italian word for ‘sea’ in recognition of its location with magnificent sea views. Reminiscent of a rural Italian home, chefs deliver touches inspired by ‘Mamma’s home cooking’ through classic dishes and ingredients, taking you on a journey of coastal Italy.
WHITE
Embark on a culinary journey at the interactive White buffet with dishes from around the world tailored to your taste. This cool contemporary restaurant offers chic indoor and stunning outdoor dining choices all day long, with the enticing lagoon pool and the Mediterranean inspired sun deck just steps away and the unforgettable sea views surrounding you.
Take a tour around the diverse, interactive live cooking stations, and chat with the chefs while they craft dishes tailored exactly to your tastes.
TEAN
Immerse yourself in the flavours of the region and experience real Levantine dining culture, just footsteps away from the sea. Tean prides itself on using the finest ingredients available to elevate traditional Arabic cuisine. You’ll enjoy authentic dishes spiced up with a modern edge and beautiful presentation.
POOL BAR
Enjoy a variety of tasty salads, snacks, sandwiches, pastas and deserts while enjoying the spectacular sea view.
LEISURE AND ACTIVITIES
There are three large outdoor infinity swimming pools, a natural 400-meter private beach, a 700sqm Bodyism Wellness Centre and a floodlit tennis court. If you fancy some water sports, paddle boarding and kayaking are also available options to choose from. For those who want to workout al fresco you could always opt for the Yoga sessions on the beach.
SPA
The spa is the resort’s lavish 2,700 square meter haven of tranquility and quiet sophistication. It features a grand Moroccan Hammam, 15 treatment rooms with male and female facilities that include saunas, hydrotherapy pools, steam rooms, salt rooms, experience showers and a traditional Arabic rasul room. Guests staying in one of the four Spa Villas can enjoy pampering experiences in the privacy on their own room.
Indulge in a choice of organic spa rituals as well as innovative spa therapies from the holistic spa menu. Couples can enjoy a shared treatment in the Deluxe Suite that can be accessed via a private entrance.
KIDS AND TEENS CLUB
The Kids and Teens Club is packed with fun games and offers organised activities from beach fun to movie nights overseen by qualified staff. Opposite the Kids and Teens Club is the kids splash pool, a favorite with the little ones.
For more information, visit the website
For reservations and more information, please call: +971 2 811 4444 UAE Toll Free: 800 5863 4724 or email: JSIQuestions@jumeirah.com
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