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Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi – Introduction and Booking
Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel is a 5-star luxury hotel in the prime West Corniche location in Abu Dhabi. The hotel offers stunning views of the Presidential Palace and Emirates Palace, set against the turquoise Arabian Gulf. 35-min drive from the International Airport (AUH), the hotel is conveniently located across the Corniche and a short walk to the city’s business hub and shopping districts.
This review is part of a series covering my trip from Canada to Australia, with a hop over in Abu Dhabi;
Review – Etihad A350 Business Class from Chicago to Abu Dhabi
Review – Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi
Review – Ritz-Carlton Melbourne
Review – Qantas Business Lounge Melbourne (Domestic)
Review – Qantas A330 Business Class from Melbourne to Sydney
Review – Park Hyatt Sydney
ANA Business Class Meal Extravaganza: A 22-Hour Culinary Journey
Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi – Exterior
A Category-4 in the Hyatt award chart, a standard room at Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi can be redeemed at 12,000 points (off-peak) per night or a cash rate of ~ CAD 280. It is an excellent use of a Cat-4 free night certificate to book a one-night layover in Abu Dhabi.
For those seeking value in booking cash rate at the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi;
Current Offer: Get up to 15% off stays from May 25 – September 10 when you book by May 23. Hyatt members are rewarded further with breakfast included.
Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi – Arrival and Check-in
After a 13+ hour flight from Chicago to Abu Dhabi on Etihad A350 Business Class, we were keen on getting to the hotel for a proper shower and a full bed. As the Uber pulled into the hotel property, I was blown away by the futuristic black and white exterior. The hotel’s lobby was expansive, with check-in desks tucked away to the left and a beautifully appointed common seating area in the middle. The hotel interior wore the traditional brown and gold, representing the desert and beautiful dunes intertwined with the region’s rich culture.
Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi – Lobby
Check-in area
Common area in the lobby
At check-in, the staff confirmed that we had been upgraded to a Grand Suite as a Globalist benefit. They also gave us a full rundown of the hotel amenities and complimentary perks that came with Hyatt status and the Suite;
- Breakfast at Sahha restaurant served between 6:30 – 11:00 am
- Complimentary all-day service (tea, coffee, juices, fruits & pastries) at the Grand Club Lounge of the hotel
- Complimentary evening cocktail service (house wine, spirits, cocktail, with hot and cold canapes) between 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm every night
Hotel Lobby – view from the lounge
We arrived at the hotel around 2 pm, and unfortunately, our Suite was not ready yet as the standard time for check-in was 3 pm. However, the staff assured us that the wait would not be more than a few minutes and invited us to the Grand Lounge for some complimentary drinks.
Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi – Grand Club Lounge
The Grand Club lounge was an elegantly designed modern space for guests to socialize. However, the lounge was lonely due to Ramadan and was not serving any alcoholic beverages or food during our visit. But we did enjoy a lovely cup of coffee and some fruit juices while soaking in the views of Emirates Palace from the outdoor terrace. The staff confirmed that outside the fasting hours, the lounge put out a full selection of hot and cold appetizers to compliment the evening non-alcoholic drinks service for all hotel guests with access to the lounge.
Grand Club Lounge
Grand Club Lounge – Outdoor Seating
View from the Grand Club Lounge
Shortly after settling in the lounge with our drinks, the staff came around to confirm that our Suite on the 35th floor was ready, so we made a swift exit towards our Suite.
Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi – Grand Suite 3501
The hotel boasts 36 luxury suites, including a Presidential and Royal Suite, and all suites come with private balconies. The expansive Grand Suite featured a private balcony with stunning views of the Arabian Gulf or the Presidential Palace, a grand living room, a dining area for up to 6 guests, and a separate workspace.
We were welcomed to the Suite with a lovely arrangement of tropical fruits and a handwritten note from the Guest Relations Manager, Paulina.
Welcome Note – Suite 3501
Grand Suite King with Balcony
Dining area – Suite 3501
View from Suite 3501 Balcony
Grand Suite King, with Balcony
Grand Suite – King Bedroom
The main Bathroom in the Suite was also genuinely luxurious, with a full bathtub in the center, a double vanity basin unit, a full walk-in closet, and a separate shower and toilet. Bathroom amenities included full-size premium Balmain shampoo, conditioner and body wash.
Grand Suite – Main Bathroom
Main Bathroom with walk-in closet
Full-size Balmain amenities
Grands Suite – guest washroom
Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi – In-Room Dining
Settled into the Suite, we opted for the convenience of Room Service before napping for a couple of hours. The in-room dining menu offered an all-day breakfast and an excellent continental and regional fare mix. We opted for the following;
- Addas – Arabic Lentil Soup
- Foul Medames – traditional slow braised broad beans
- Vietnamese Fried Rice
- Penne Arrabiatta
- Dark Chocolate Tart
The food was brought in a trolley setup for two people. We were hungry as we polished away most of the food, which was equally pleasing to the eyes and the senses.
In-room dining for two
As the sunset over the Arabian Sea, the night views from the suite balcony were spectacular, and it quickly became our favourite hangout spot during our short stay.
Grand Suite – Balcony views
Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi – Other facilities
Unfortunately, our one-night stay was too short to enjoy the expansive facilities and hotel amenities. Among those that we missed and would love to come back for are;
- Restaurants, Bars and Lounges on the property
- Pearl Lounge – Dining lounge and bar
- Verso – Italian Trattoria
- Sahha – International buffet restaurant
- Lexx – Wine bar and cigar lounge
- Recreational Facilities
- Lum’a Fitness Center and Spa (which offers a flat 25% discount for all hotel guests)
- Steam room, sauna and hammam
- Infinity pool overlooking the Arabian Gulf
Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi – TakeAway
The hotel reminded me why the Middle East and Asia hospitality industry is leaps and bounds ahead of its North American and European counterparts. Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi could easily be an award Category-6 or above in the Hyatt portfolio, based on the sheer grandeur of the property. This hotel would be my contender for the best Hyatt Cat-4 redemption in the world. An absolute ‘steal’ considering the value and elite benefit recognition at the property, I am already looking forward to returning to Abu Dhabi, perhaps on an extended layover to maximize my time at the hotel.
Who would you nominate for the best Hyatt Cat-4 property in the world? Share with a comment below!
