Abu Dhabi is booming – so we checked into Shangri-La

Abu Dhabi is booming, so Olivia McEwan checks into one of the best hotels, find out the truth

weekend: Occupying a stretch of private beach on the Khor Al Maqta Canal, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri offers 213 rooms with views of Abu Dhabi’s main island. Its design prides itself on Arabic architectural details, and each of the hotel’s individual villas has its own swimming pool. The hotel is part of the Qaryat Al Beri complex, which includes a souk offering shopping and dining experiences. You can walk there, but you should take Shangri-La’s Abra cruise ship, which takes you along the charming mini-canal that runs through the hotel.

Where? Abu Dhabi is the second most populous city in the United Arab Emirates after Dubai. Its government has been consciously investing in industry, real estate, tourism and retail in recent years, meaning it is fast becoming an international destination. Visitors immediately sense the vastness of the land, with new developments springing up; at its center, a gleaming modern skyscraper designed by Norman Foster sits alongside its oldest city wall, Qasr Al Hosn The ancient walls of the city share the sunny blue skyline, which is now an excellent museum that shares the traditions of Abu Dhabi’s history. The sense of tradition remains strong; if cosmopolitan Dubai is party-centric, Abu Dhabi is more family-oriented.

food: Shangri-La has six different restaurants and bars, ranging from classic French to authentic Chinese. It hosts a culinary masters series, featuring short pop-ups featuring celebrity chefs from around the world, each with their own signature menu. 2022 welcomes Chef Chatchai Klanklong from L’Orchidée in Alsace, the only Thai restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star. Shangri-La hosts a very unreal breakfast experience at the aquarium, where before opening hours you can dine in the longest aquarium tunnel in the Middle East as thousands of glistening fish swim above your head.

ask: New developments and urban planning give you a first-hand look at how the city is changing. Al Qana is a massive 2.6km beachfront destination with new restaurants, wellness centers and children’s attractions – notably the largest aquarium in the Middle East – accessible via picturesque walkways. For art lovers, Louvre Abu Dhabi is located in the Saadiyat Cultural District on Saadiyat Island. Opened in 2017, it operates in partnership with the Parisian museum of the same name and houses a permanent collection and pieces on loan from Parisian museums on a rotating basis. The building is as attractive as its content. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the eight-story geometric metal star-shaped breathable “floating dome” roof allows sunlight to dapple the courtyard and waterway below.

Must see: Most impressive and humbling is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a dazzling architectural feat designed by Sheikh Zayed as a symbol of peace, tolerance and coexistence. It was built between 1994 and 2007, and its gleaming white marble and ornate Arabic decorations are a remarkable display. Marble inlay work represents flowers from around the world, chandeliers imported from the Faustig company in Munich, Germany contain countless Swarovski crystals, and a hand-woven rug believed to be the world’s largest Iranian-made rug. The space can accommodate 55,000 worshipers; its intentions are intentionally open and welcoming to anyone, no matter their faith or background.

need to know: Etihad Airways direct flights from London Heathrow; rooms Shangri-La From £100 per night.

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