Ritz-Carlton Makes Abu Dhabi Debut

 

Finally: The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal has opened its doors today. The 57-acre resort is the first Ritz-Carlton in Abu Dhabi and the ninth property in the Middle East for the hotel operator.

Inspired by 15th to early 17th century Renaissance architecture and the urban planning of the city of Venice, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal is located at the waterfront and consists of ten buildings arranged in a crescent formation. Overlooking the 1,600 square meter pool, the backdrop of the hotel is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. 

The property has 447 guestrooms and suites, in addition to 85 private one- and two-bedroom villas. (It goes without saying that those villas are the top picks at the hotel. They come with outdoor terraces, separate arrival palazzo and private butler service.) The Ritz-Carlton Club Level provides a dedicated concierge, private check-in, plus five food and beverage offerings throughout the day within an exclusive lounge boasting panoramic views of the property, canal and city skyline,

For private functions, the 1,550 square meter Roma Ballroom can accommodate up to 900 guests and is divisible by three. The ballroom also provides an exclusive elevator directly from the private Bridal Suite into the venue. Two expansive marble foyers with natural daylight, 14 additional meeting rooms, and a traditional majlis (literally meaning “a place of sitting” in Arabic) are other top business perks of the hotel. 

Other perks include the 10 restaurants and bars, including three signature restaurants created by award-winning Japanese designer Super Potato. Li Jiang, meaning “beautiful river” in Chinese, is a modern Southeast Asian restaurant with an open kitchen specializing in noodles and dim sum; Mijana, a contemporary Arabic restaurant, serves traditional Lebanese and regional fare; while The Forge is a signature steak house. The all-day dining restaurant, Giornotte (blending the Italian words for “day” and “night”), has an indoor seating capacity of 358 and serves light Mediterranean fare. Dolce, an Italian gelato and coffee café; Alba, the lobby lounge serving Afternoon Tea; Sorso, a traditional Ritz-Carlton lobby bar; Al Fresco, the pool restaurant; plus two pool bars round out the remaining food and beverage offerings at The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal.

A 1,600 square meter outdoor pool, one of the largest in UAE; a fully-equipped health club; and the Ritz Kids Club are just a few of the other leisure facilities available. 

Abu Dhabi, the largest of UAE’s seven emirates, was a fishing village known regionally for its pearl trade just 50 years ago. Today, the city draws over 2 million visitors annually. Made up of 200 small islands, Abu Dhabi’s beaches, expansive desert and lush oases are great for adventure or relaxing, while the old souks and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (recently named one of the world’s top visitor attractions) offer an intimate look into Arabian culture.

For more information, visit www.ritzcarlton.com/AbuDhabi.