Take a moment to contemplate the thought of experiencing pure luxury accommodation on the Arabian Peninsula. Imagine that this dream could become a distinct reality, all at an affordable price that won’t break the bank like many luxury options around the world. This is exactly what you can experience at the amazing Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana in the United Arab Emirates. Where to stay in Abu Dhabi? I’m sure it’s an inevitable question for anyone heading to the capital of the UAE. We think that Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana is the perfect option!
Let’s take a look at why Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan is such an amazing experience. Abu Dhabi is a beautiful city for many reasons, none more so than it being the home to the spectacular Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the breathtaking Yas Marina Formula 1 circuit and of course, Ferrari World.
However, if you are visiting Abu Dhabi for the first time, you will be looking for the perfect place to explore this city. There is a myriad of hotel options throughout the city but having spent a night at Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan, we are convinced that this has the competitive advantage over many of its rivals.
Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana Information
Cast away in the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf Sea and conveniently located near the breath-taking Presidential Palace.
The opening line advertising the Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana in Abu Dhabi pretty much sums up this gorgeous resort. Having arrived in Abu Dhabi at the central bus station, we took a quick taxi ride to the hotel and the moment we saw the gorgeous hotel from a distance we knew this was going to be a great experience.
5-star luxury accommodation is offered to visitors from all corners of the world and the atmosphere throughout the hotel epitomizes the contemporary Arabian culture we associate with this part of the world. We will share more details on this later when we explore the amazing suite that we stayed in.
Whether you are looking for a hotel in a great location to explore the immediate surroundings, enjoy a relaxing experience by the beach or simply indulge in the local cuisine, we firmly believe that Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana checks all of these boxes and more.
Let’s look at some of the key components when researching hotel options in a city.
Location
A short walk from the UAE Presidential Palace and just a short distance from the Marina Village, Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan is situated in a perfect location to enjoy the Arabian Gulf Sea or head out and explore the nearby attractions. We decided to experience the Big Bus Hop On, Hop Off tour of Abu Dhabi, and this hotel is conveniently situated by the Etihad Towers which is a pick-up spot for the bus tour.
The real selling point of this hotel is the location directly on the Arabian Gulf Sea. Imagine waking up every morning to the sight of those pristine, turquoise waters and then having the opportunity to wear your swimming attire and enjoy this amazing stretch of coastline.
And that’s before we even mentioned the stunning swimming pool and ability to enjoy a romantic sunset soiree with your favorite beverage in hand!
Address
Corniche Road West, Opposite Emirates Palace
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel: (971 2) 657 0000
Website
Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana
Hotel Amenities
Luxury Swimming Pool
I have to start with the swimming pool because it’s such a gorgeous amenity that will certainly help attract guests.
For those that prefer to relax by the pool with their favorite drink, there are views towards the Arabian Gulf while other parts are secluded for a more private experience.
The pool itself is incredibly spacious with two different parts separated by a bridge. Perhaps an early morning swim will see you enjoy a strenuous workout, while later in the day you may prefer to relax in the cool water while admiring the sunset. We felt privileged to enjoy a gorgeous sunset on the night we stayed at Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan.
Plethora of Cuisine Options
One of the benefits of staying at Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan is having the ability to sample a variety of dining options from around the globe.
The Sunset Bar is inevitably the choice for those lounging around the pool area, with tapas dishes and light snacks readily available while enjoying the relaxing environment of the pool.
For those wishing to experience an “authentic Arabian flavor”, Kamoon is a perfect choice. The charming atmosphere and intricate decor throughout the interior of this restaurant, making this a must-try for anyone. Even if you are a little skeptical about trying new food, Kamoon offers freshly prepared dishes that will entice you to expand your palate.
Horizon is the obvious choice given that entering the lobby area of the hotel, this is the one that immediately grabs your attention.
Don’t let this fool you into thinking it will be a standard hotel restaurant because the cuisine does everything but disappoint!
Themed buffet dinners are the highlight here and during our visit, it was “Chinese” night which I have to admit looked pretty tasty and that’s from someone that doesn’t like Chinese food!
Although we opted against this, we didn’t have to wait long to experience Horizon.
The breakfast buffet offers a wide variety of dishes, from traditional Arabian to the standard breakfast items we are all familiar with.
From hot dishes to freshly prepared cold options, the Horizon breakfast buffet offered a plethora of menu options to satisfy everyone’s palate.
We don’t frequently entertain room service but given that it was relatively late when we got back to our room, we decided to sample Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan’s in-room dining experience.
A roast chicken sandwich accompanied by chips (french fries) was a delicious late night snack and the service was extremely quick, friendly and oriented towards ensuring we had everything we needed to enjoy our evening.
Fitness Facilities
If the spacious swimming pool or the prospect of taking a stroll or run along the pristine beaches that line the Arabian Gulf are not enough to satisfy your fitness needs, don’t worry there is plenty more at Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan.
A fully-equipped gym is available as are two outdoor tennis courts and two international size squash courts, all of which can be utilized by guests at the resort (there is a surcharge of AED 100 per hour to rent the squash court).
Fitness professionals are readily available to provide in-depth guidance on best practices to ensure you remain healthy and in shape while staying at Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan. Given the amount of amazing cuisine available here, it’s a nice touch having this service ready to take advantage of.
The outdoor swimming pool is open from 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily.
The Rooms
Have you ever checked-in to a hotel and looked around admiring all of the amazing amenities and then think, “This has to be too good to be true!” This is exactly what crossed our minds as we headed upstairs to our suite.
Surely the experience couldn’t get any better right? We were so WRONG! As we opened our door, we were greeted with a spacious room overlooking the Arabian Gulf. WHAT AN AMAZING ROOM!!!
There are not enough superlatives in my vocabulary to describe how breathtaking our room was. Large windows surrounded our room providing panoramic views across the beach and beyond.
The only drawback to this hotel room was the fact we were only spending one night here. It simply wasn’t enough, as this room at Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan defined “ultimate Arabian luxury.”
The bathroom was fully equipped to meet all your needs and the water pressure in the shower I later found out was possibly the best I have experienced anywhere around the world. The exquisite details emitted the character and ambiance we felt the moment we stepped inside this hotel and the room provided the final touches to an amazing stay.
I am not going to go into details about everything inside the room because this may just spoil it for you! You will just have to make a reservation and experience this luxury for yourselves.
Summary
I think you have probably painted a pretty clear picture about the Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana resort in Abu Dhabi. We frequently find flaws and disappointments in hotels that we stay at around the world but there was nothing at all negative about our experience here.
If you are planning to spend a few days in Abu Dhabi, we highly recommend considering Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan as a viable, affordable option. We cannot wait to return to the Arabian Peninsula to experience those breathtaking sunsets and Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan is the perfect destination to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere throughout this city.
Disclaimer – We would like to thank Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana for hosting us for a night in consideration of a blog post. The views contained within this post are entirely our personal opinion/experience and we received no final compensation for this.