Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is Abu Dhabi's grand statement: a palace of domes, marble and gold leaf at the end of the Corniche, with about 1.3 km of private beach and gardens all around. It is the hotel couples picture when they think of Gulf glamour and staying here feels like an event.
For a honeymoon, the appeal is the combination of scale and calm. The building is enormous, but the beach and pools rarely feel crowded and the service is the polished Mandarin Oriental kind. The dining is wide-ranging, with a dozen restaurants from Hakkasan to Talea by Antonio Guida, plus the café famous for its gold-flecked cappuccino and an elaborate afternoon tea.
The location works well too. Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace open to visitors, is next door and the Corniche, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi are a short drive away. It suits couples who want a classic luxury hotel with a real beach. Couples looking for a small, intimate retreat will find it a little overwhelming.
Highlights at a glance
- About 1.3 km of private beach
- A domed palace of marble and gold
- A dozen restaurants including Hakkasan and Talea
- Spa with a hammam
- Next door to Qasr Al Watan
Why Couples Love Emirates Palace
The building is part of the experience. The central dome rises high above an atrium of marble and gold and the corridors seem to stretch for miles. Even seasoned travelers stop and look up the first time.
The private beach is the counterweight. About 1.3 km of sand along the Gulf gives you room to spread out, with loungers, cabanas and calm water for swimming much of the year. Few city hotels anywhere offer this much space.
Couples also love the sense of occasion at small moments: the gold-flecked cappuccino at Café Fountain, afternoon tea in the grand lobby, a sunset walk along the beach with the palace lit up behind you. It is theatrical and that is the point.
Rooms and Suites to Book
Room categories include standard rooms, club rooms, suites and connecting options. For a honeymoon, view and access matter most.
Ask for a sea or Gulf view rather than a garden view. The sight of the beach and water from your balcony makes the room feel resort-like. Club rooms give access to the EP Club lounge, with breakfast, evening drinks and a quiet place to relax away from the main lobby, worth the premium for longer stays.
Suites add separate living space and are often more lavish in decoration. Because the hotel is so large, mention your honeymoon and request a room within easy reach of the beach. That saves long walks in the heat.
Food, Drink and the Spa
With around a dozen restaurants and lounges, you could stay a week and eat somewhere new each night. Highlights include:
- Talea by Antonio Guida for Italian cooking.
- Hakkasan for modern Cantonese food.
- Martabaan by Hemant Oberoi for Indian dishes.
- Lebanese Terrace for mezze and grills outdoors.
- Sand & Koal and Strawfire by Ross Shonhan for relaxed evenings near the beach.
- Café Fountain for the famous gold cappuccino and cakes.
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Emirates Palace offers treatments, a hammam and wellness programs. A hammam ritual is a good choice for couples who have not tried one, followed by a slow afternoon at the pool.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Start next door at Qasr Al Watan, the working presidential palace, which opens its halls and library to visitors and hosts a light show in the evening. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, with its white domes and reflecting pools, is about 20 minutes away and is best visited in the late afternoon into sunset.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island is about 20 minutes by car; its floating dome lets light fall like rain. The Corniche is good for an early-morning walk or bike ride along the water.
For something different, spend a day in the desert at Liwa, roughly two to two and a half hours away, or try kayaking among the mangroves at Jubail Mangrove Park. Back at the hotel, you can simply spend a day on the beach.
Getting There
Zayed International Airport (AUH) is about 30 minutes by car. The hotel can arrange private transfers, or you can take a taxi. Dubai International (DXB) is about 100 minutes away, which makes it easy to combine Dubai and Abu Dhabi on one trip.
Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive in Abu Dhabi and ride apps work well. Most sights are 10–30 minutes away by car.
If you are combining with a desert stay at Liwa or the Al Dhafra coast, allow a full morning for the drive. Many couples start or end a UAE honeymoon here with three nights.
Is It Worth It?
For couples who want a grand, glamorous hotel with a real beach, yes. Emirates Palace offers more space and spectacle than almost any other city hotel and rates are often lower than you might expect for a property of its scale, especially in summer.
It is not intimate. The building is huge, public areas attract day visitors for tea and photos and the formal style will not suit everyone. Couples who want a quieter beach resort should look at Saadiyat Island, where resorts sit on a natural shoreline beside protected dunes. Those who want the desert should book a night or two at Qasr Al Sarab in Liwa.
Three nights here, with a beach day, palace visits and a few good dinners, is ideal.
Good to Know
Abu Dhabi is very hot from June to September. October to April is the best time to visit, with warm sea water and pleasant evenings.
Dress modestly in public areas of the hotel and in the city; at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque both partners must cover arms and legs and women need a headscarf. Swimwear is fine on the beach and at the pools.
Public displays of affection beyond holding hands are best avoided outside the resort. The hotel welcomes families, so pools can be busier during school holidays. Bring your passport for check-in.
Insider tips
- Request a sea-view room near the beach to cut down long walks.
- Visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque late in the afternoon and stay for sunset.
- Consider a club room for the EP Club lounge on longer stays.
- Book afternoon tea for a cooler moment in the middle of a hot day.
