The Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi is one of the most luxurious and expensive hotels in the world. The building was once planned as a sheikh palace, but would eventually be used as a hotel. Accordingly imposing and magnificent is the luxury hotel, which stands out from the modern skyscrapers with its oriental architecture.
The Emirates Palace Hotel
The Emirates Palace Hotel is characterized by a blend of tradition and modernity. Thanks to its Arabic-Oriental style, the building has a unique selling point amid Abu Dhabi’s glass skyline.
While magnificent gardens with colorful flowers, palm trees and fountains can be admired in front of the hotel, silver, gold and fine mosaic dominate the interior. It shines and sparkles everywhere you look. On the other side of the hotel is the hotel’s own bay on the Persian Gulf with a 1.3 km private beach.
The hotel guests can expect spacious rooms and suites with a size of up to 680m². These are equipped with marble bathrooms, have balconies overlooking the sea and offer 24-hour service to complete the exclusive experience.
And how much does the pleasure cost?
Prices for one night stay
The cheapest rooms are available in the low season from about 270$ a night. In the peak season from November to March, they usually exceed the 500$ range. A suite is then available from about 1000$. I’d rather not even imagine how much the 680m² suite costs per night. However, if you book a 7-day package directly on the Emirates Palace website, you can save significantly.
Emirates Palace Tour
Fortunately, you don’t have to put so much money on the table to see the luxury hotel from the inside. For the visit is also possible for day tourists.
Admission and opening hours
The tour of the Emirates Palace Hotel is absolutely free of charge. You don’t need a ticket or a reservation to look around on your own. For the visitors, the hotel premises are open from 10 am. An early morning visit is highly recommended, as the big rush begins during the day. So you can still enjoy the peace and take pictures of the hotel without masses of people.
Hotel dress code
In order to enter the hotel complex at all, you have to follow the prescribed dress code. Thus, flip-flops, shorts, and muscle shirts or tops are not permitted. If you are dressed inappropriately, you will be turned away by security right at the entrance.
Men should at least wear long pants and a shirt, which can be short-sleeved. Women can also go for the long pants and combine it with a chic, not too revealing top or even put on a dress. It does not need to be evening wear especially during the day. Reasonably decent clothing is quite sufficient.
Which hotel areas are accessible to tourists?
For the day tourists, understandably, only the public areas of the hotel are accessible. This includes the garden area in front of the hotel, the lobby, the restaurants and cafes, as well as the stores selling mainly luxury items and exclusive souvenirs. For example, how about a small gold bar from the Gold-To-Go vending machine? For a 1g gold bar you pay here about 43$. And that’s also the cheapest thing the vending machine spits out. It would certainly make a unique souvenir.
The hotel’s private beach, the pool area and the wings leading to the rooms are off limits to tourists and are guarded accordingly. But if you look at the rest of the hotel, you can well imagine what it probably looks like in the rooms.
At the end of the tour you should definitely visit the restroom. Because the equipment is simply incredible. You get the feeling there you’ve landed in Caesar’s or Louis XIV’s bathroom.
Is photography allowed?
Yes, photography is allowed everywhere. You should just make sure that you do not bother or disturb anyone. Especially in the area of restaurants and cafes, you should not overdo it.
Le Café: Abu Dhabi’s best café?
Located at the back of the Emirates Palace, Le Café is a cozy spot for a luxurious snack. If you’ve always wanted to snack on gold leaf, here’s your chance. The infamous Emirates Palace Cappuccino with gold dust, for example, is available for a jaw-dropping 20$. After all, you’ve got to spoil yourself sometimes. But other treats like cakes or ice cream also come with a pinch of gold.
Afternoon tea at Emirates Palace
Le Café hosts a daily afternoon tea between 2 and 6 p.m., serving an array of savory and sweet delicacies. Seating areas are available both indoors and outdoors, with views of the gardens and skyline. The following three menus are available for selection:
| Traditioneller Nachmittagstee | 98€ für 2 Personen | zur Speisekarte |
| Königlicher Nachmittagstee | 122€ für 2 Personen | zur Speisekarte |
| Vegetarischer Nachmittagstee | 85€ für 2 Personen | zur Speisekarte |
Due to high demand, reservations are recommended at least 24 hours in advance. At this email address restaurants@emiratespalace.ae you can easily do the reservation and make known any intolerances or wishes.
Afternoon Tea at Emirates Palace is perfect for a special surprise or simply a unique afternoon in Abu Dhabi. Just dive into pure luxury for a few hours – that’s it.
Guided tours to Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi
If you spend a few days in Abu Dhabi, you can visit the Emirates Palace wonderfully on your own, whenever you want. Guided tours of the hotel are unfortunately not available.
However, if you are only planning a day trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, you can take an official tour that includes the transfer to Abu Dhabi. This way you can easily get from one emirate to the other and see the most important sights in Abu Dhabi within one day.
| Ab Dubai: Halbtagestour zur Scheich-Zayid-Moschee | 5 Stunden | 64€ |
| Ab Dubai: Ganztägige Sightseeingtour nach Abu Dhabi | 9 Stunden | ab 89€ |
| Ab Dubai: Tagesausflug nach Abu Dhabi mit Louvre & Moschee | 9 Stunden | ab 94€ |
| Ab Dubai: Abu Dhabi Tagesausflug Große Moschee, Königspalast & Mittagessen | 8 Stunden | ab 111€ |
| Ab Dubai: Abu Dhabi Tagestour mit Ferrari World | 10 Stunden | 205€ |
Conclusion: Is a visit to the Emirates Palace worthwhile?
The imposing luxury hotel, bursting with gold, is definitely worth a visit. When do you ever have the opportunity to experience such a magnificent hotel from the inside – and completely free of charge! The Emirates Palace definitely knows how to impress and should be on the to-visit list of Abu Dhabi.
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