Rixos Saadiyat Island

This month’s gourmet getaway is to Saadiyat Island’s first and only all-inclusive resort, the newly-opened Rixos Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi.

- Sophie Voelzing

Perfect for a weekend getaway, the newly-opened Rixos Saadiyat Island is located just an hour’s drive from Dubai. Considering it’s just a straight-through, easy ride along Sheikh Zayed Road and across Yas Island, arriving at Rixos Saadiyat Island makes you feel like you’re a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life, with beautiful aqua waters and white sand beaches stretching along the private front of the property – and not a crane in sight (bliss!).

Representing the first resort of its kind on the island to provide an all-inclusive offering within its room rates, Rixos Saadiyat Island represents the brand’s fourth opening in the Middle East, following Rixos Premium Dubai, Rixos The Palm, and Rixos Bab Al Bahr in Ras Al Khaimah.

Inside, the hotel’s interiors are luxuriously designed, and our first impressions are that it feels nothing like an all-inclusive property. No expense has been spared on the design, with a grand chandelier, opulent water feature, marble flooring and vaulted ceilings to greet guests as they enter the lobby.

Drawing inspiration from the brand’s Turkish roots, design elements throughout the hotel are selected to mirror palaces of the Ottoman Empire. Think fresh shades of green, blue and turquoise on crisp white backgrounds with plush velvet fabrics and rich golden furnishings – it’s all very tastefully done.

Located on the private beachfront of Saadiyat Island, the resort’s location is what really sets the scene for an inviting stay, with uninterrupted views out over the Arabian Gulf and an unpopulated stretch of sand that’s perfect for taking morning and sunset strolls upon.