THE CITY’S BEST BEACH CLUBS
WHERE TO GO TO UNWIND FOR A DAY
01 The Beach Club At Emirates Palace GOOD FOR: FAMILIES
While it is possible to chill and unwind at this beach club, the activities on offer mean it won’t just be all the sea air that sends you and your kids home yawning. It has two wings, east and west – the west wing is more suited to families (it has a lazy river and waterfalls), while there’s a swim-up pool bar in the east wing. Beach club access includes use of the beach, gym, the pools, tennis courts, and more. You can also, for an additional fee, borrow a bike, go for a camel ride and try watersports such as kayaking. There’s also a children’s club.
Emirates Palace, West Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, daily 7am to sunset, Sun to Thur Dhs300, Dhs150 children, Fri and Sat Dhs400, Dhs200 children. Tel: (02) 6907311. Taxi: Emirates Palace. kempinski.com
02 Nation Riviera Beach Club GOOD FOR: COUPLES
Situated on the Corniche, Nation Riviera has a 200-metre beach, a temperature-controlled beach lap pool and swimup bar, sauna and steam room, outdoor Jacuzzi, and cabanas. Kids are also catered for (the Treasure Island Children’s Club sits inside a pirate ship, for kids aged four to 12). This beach club is a classy looking affair, and it’s one of our picks for couples or groups of friends looking to unwind after a tough week’s work in the city. St Regis Abu Dhabi, Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi, 6am to 9pm, Sun to Thur Dhs100 to 150, Dhs200 to Dhs250 couples, Dhs300 to Dhs350 family of four, Fri and Sat, Dhs100 to Dhs200, Dhs200 to Dhs300 couples, Dhs300 to Dhs400 families. Tel: (02) 6944780. Taxi: St Regis Nation Towers. stregisabudhabi.com
03 Bayshore Beach Club at InterContinental GOOD FOR: FAMILIES
Absolutely perfect for kids, Bayshore has a 300-metre long beach, a shaded children’s pool, a splash pool with a water slide, a huge main pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi, an infinity pool with swim-up bar, plus nonmotorised watersports such as snorkelling. It has its own restaurant, plus the hotel’s health club is attached to it – inside you’ll find a gym, plunge pool, sauna and steam room.
InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, Sun to Thur 8am to sunset, Dhs100, Dhs80 ladies, Dhs60 children, Fri and Sat Dhs200, Dhs150 women, Dhs70 children. Tel: (02) 6666888. Taxi: InterContinental. ihg.com
04 Saadiyat Beach Club GOOD FOR: COUPLES
There’s nothing complicated about a day at Saadiyat Beach Club. The facilities are simple – a stunning pool and access to the beach (dolphins have been spotted here on more than one occasion), plus an infinity pool, but this place is just as much about the vibe as the facilities. There is also a workout room you can use while there (sauna steam, Jacuzzi). You can also hire a cabana for Dhs600 on a weekday, or Dhs1,000 on the weekend.
Saadiyat Beach Club, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 8am to sunset for pool facilities, Sun to Thur Dhs250, Dhs350 couple, Fri and Sat Dhs375, Dhs525 couple. Tel: (02) 6563500. Taxi: Saadiyat Beach Club. Saadiyatbeachclub.ae
05 Sheraton Abu Dhabi GOOD FOR: FAMILIES
One of Abu Dhabi’s oldest hotels also has one of its most popular beach clubs, in part thanks to its affordable day rates. You’ll get to splash about in three swimming pools, including one with an attached pool bar, a family pool with waterslide and toddler’s pool and you can use all the facilities in the price including the beach, sauna, steam, gym and Jacuzzi.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Resort, Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, 8am to sunset, Sun to Thur Dhs100, Dhs155 couples, Dhs260 family of four, Fri and Sat Dhs130, Dhs210 couples, Dhs315 family of four. Tel: (02) 6773333. Taxi: Sheraton Corniche. sheratonabudhabi-hotel.com
06 The Club GOOD FOR: FAMILIES AND GROUPS OF FRIENDS
Abu Dhabi’s British Club in Al Meena has two beaches covering 300 metres of the capital’s coastline, a swimming pool, plus two children’s pools. It’s also just added a Wibit – a bouncy castle assault course on water. There’s several restaurants here as well and for an additional fee, you can use the gym. There’s just one thing to remember – members must accompany non-members. You can now join The Club and pay for the membership fee monthly by direct debit.
The Club, Al Meena, Abu Dhabi, Dhs70 to Dhs100 for non-members accompanied by members, Dhs575 a month membership fee (24 monthly instalments). Tel: (02) 6731111. Taxi: British Club, Meena Port. the-club.com