Review: The Abu Dhabi EDITION

Towards the end of my time in the Middle East, I booked myself into The Abu Dhabi EDITION to seek out another experience with the EDITION brand.

This boutique luxury lifestyle property was the brand’s first property in the region, having opened its doors in 2018. Given my many recent positive experiences with EDITION hotels, I was curious to see how the Abu Dhabi location would compare.

The Abu Dhabi EDITION – Booking

The lowest cash rates at this property fall at around 700 AED ($260 CAD); however, on average, you can expect to pay 1,000 AED ($370 CAD). During the busiest times, they can climb upwards of 2,500 AED ($915 CAD).

Meanwhile, redeeming points at The Abu Dhabi EDITION will typically run you between 35,000–60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Luckily, I was holding a Free Night Award worth 50,000 points from my American Express US Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, which I then topped up with another 10,000 points, for a total award cost of 60,000 points.

For those with an eligible Free Night Award on hand, if the nightly cash rates are on the higher end, it can indeed be a worthwhile use at this property.

Given the high cash rates at the time of my stay and our target valuation of Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.9 cents per point (CAD), I was pretty happy with the value that I got out of this redemption.

If you don’t have Bonvoy points or Free Night Awards at your disposal, The Abu Dhabi EDITION participates in Marriott STARS, a preferred partner program.

By booking your stay through an authorized travel advisor, you’ll pay the same as the best-available flexible rate, but you’ll enjoy a suite of perks, including complimentary breakfast for two, a $100 (USD) property credit, and more.

In addition, there’s a nice extra perk for Marriott STARS bookings at The Abu Dhabi EDITION: guests will be eligible to use the beach club facilities of the nearby St. Regis Abu Dhabi.

The Abu Dhabi EDITION – Location

The Abu Dhabi EDITION sits smack dab in the middle of the Al Bateen Marina, just west of Abu Dhabi’s city centre.

The Al Bateen Marina neighbourhood is a quiet and historic area amidst the city’s extensive development projects. The stunning waterfront marina is one of its main attractions.

North of the area is a popular promenade called The Corniche. Stretching for several kilometres along the city’s coast, there are stunning, picturesque views of the Persian Gulf and the city’s skyline.

The area is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, with walking and cycling paths, parks, and beaches.

Just a quick five-minute drive from The Abu Dhabi EDITION lies the Emirates Palace Hotel and the Marina Mall, two of the area’s notable points of interest.

If you’re looking to head to Abu Dhabi’s city centre, it’s a 10-minute northeasterly drive. This area is home to popular spots such as the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Qasr Al Hosn Fort.

The hotel perhaps isn’t the most ideal for sightseeing, since prominent attractions of Abu Dhabi are a distance away. Many hotspots are around a 20-minute drive from the hotel, such as The Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum and the Abu Dhabi Mall.

For those flying into or out of the city, Abu Dhabi International Airport is a 30-minute journey by vehicle or taxi to the hotel.

The Abu Dhabi EDITION – Check-In

When we arrived at The Abu Dhabi EDITION, the hotel was beautifully set against the backdrop of the Al Bateen Marina.

The exterior is a blend of modern and traditional architecture and traditional, featuring clean lines and a smooth, white latticed façade over the glass structure.

There are two buildings that make up the hotel, the second of which is mostly residences. There’s also a walkway on the fifth floor linking the two buildings, or alternatively, you can use the ground floor driveway.

Between the two buildings is where the main entrance is nestled, surrounded by lush greenery.

Passing through a set of glass sliding doors, I stepped into an impressive lofted five-storey atrium. Peach tones, marble floors, and ample natural light dominated the space.

The lobby serves as a social hub and is well-appointed with several seating areas at the back and a bar, and barista station just off it.

Between local-inspired bronze partitions are plush sofas, armchairs, coffee tables, and decorative accents.

Beyond this seating area is a pool table, and aloft is a moving art installation dangled from the ceiling as a dramatic centrepiece.

Immediately to the right of the entrance is a brass-clad check-in desk. Fronting the check-in desk is another seating area with plush white sofas and armchairs and a large wooden coffee table.

While beginning check-in process, the associate noted my Titanium Elite status, and confirmed our upgrade to the Superior Suite, before giving us a walkthrough of the hotel’s facilities.

After a smooth check-in, I made my way over to the elevators and up to the third floor, where Room 325 awaited.

The Abu Dhabi EDITION – Superior Suite

Upon exiting the elevator, the hallways leading to the guest rooms curve along the multi-level atrium. 

From here, there’s an overhead view of the lobby, as well as the stunning fan-shaped water feature and adjacent co-working area on the third floor, creating a sense of fluidity and continuity.

The Superior Suite opens to a calming and minimalistic living area. The room is adorned with contemporary furnishings, a cream colour palette, and herringbone and grey oak timber flooring, among other natural materials.

A light oak desk is to the left, paired with a leather armchair and bench at each end.

Bordering the windows is a white upholstered sofa and two armchairs around a stone coffee table, making up the seating area. During the day, the floor-to-ceiling windows extend lovely marina views.

A thoughtful handwritten note was proactively set on the coffee table upon my arrival, wishing me a pleasant stay. The note was paired with a slice of “activated charcoal” banana bread – allowing for a mix of nutrition and indulgence, as the note described. 

Opposite to the sofa is a wall-mounted flat-screen TV. I must say, the usual clean lines and minimalistic surfaces of the EDITION’s signature style were looking particularly striking at this property. 

Tucked away in a charming wooden pantry is a Nespresso machine, accompanied by glass bottles of fresh water.

Heading into the bedroom, a comfortable king bed is framed by a dark oak accent wall. Ambient lighting emanating from behind the headboard gently draws in your attention, creating a subtle interplay of light and shadow.

(Note that unlike other EDITION locations, this hotel doesn’t feature the brand’s signature fur throw blankets in the bedroom. Instead, select rooms are outfitted with simple accent blankets, but this Superior Suite had no bed decoration at all.)

In the left-hand corner of the bedroom is another armchair, while parallel to the bed is a lengthy light wood desk, with multiple built-in power outlets for ample connectivity.

Unfortunately, the desk chair here serves more of a decorative piece then functional, and became quite uncomfortable after sitting down for a while. 

Mounted above the desk is a secondary flat-screen TV, optimally positioned for viewing from the king bed.

On the right-hand wall of the bedroom is a large glass window that creates a seamless connection between the bedroom and bathroom, adding a touch of openness, though there is a privacy curtain that can be drawn. 

The bathrooms in the Superior Suite are spacious and refined with a cohesive stone-clad design. There’s a lengthy double vanity, modern fixtures, and an enormous back-lit mirror.

Positioned by the window is a free-standing circular bathtub. A shower, toilet, and bidet are housed in glass rooms, which are adorned with smooth beige floors and walls. 

(A minor complaint would be that the marble floor tiles were starting to show some signs of water stains, given that it’s been almost five years since the hotel opened.) 

The suite also features a secondary bathroom, which has a toilet and a single vanity.

Lastly, the Superior Suite features a lengthy private balcony, equipped with a single lounge chair. The private balcony affords sweeping views of the Al Bateen Marina and the promenade, as well as the hotel’s pool area.

The Abu Dhabi EDITION – Deluxe Room

I also had the opportunity to tour some of the other room types available at this hotel, including the base-level rooms and a few top-tier suites.

The Deluxe Room with two queen beds is the lowest room type available at The Abu Dhabi EDITION. For a base-level room, it’s quite spacious, with two queen beds, a desk, and armchair.

An equally spacious balcony with views of the marina is accessible via a door built into the floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s quite a nice feature that even the base-level rooms at the hotel come with a balcony. 

The bathroom boasts a deep oval-shaped bathtub on the right, accompanied by a single central vanity. The shower and toilet are discreetly housed behind glass doors on the left.

Design-wise, the room and bathroom were essentially almost identical to the Superior Suite we were staying in.

The Abu Dhabi EDITION – Premier Suite

The living room in the Premier Suite is exceptionally spacious, characterized by a minimalist and contemporary ambiance.

A comfortable L-shaped sofa, sleek coffee table, and armchair are arranged around the flat-screen TV. A wooden accent wall with decorative motifs offers an elevated touch.

Adjacent is a desk, which doubles as a dining table equipped with a chair and bench.

The bedroom maintains a consistent aesthetic with the other room types, featuring a king bed, armchair, and desk.

This suite has the convenience of two bathrooms. A half-bathroom is situated within easy reach of the living area, and a luxurious primary bathroom is accessible through the bedroom.

The Abu Dhabi EDITION – One-Bedroom King Apartment

Lastly, I checked out a One-Bedroom King Apartment, which goes above and beyond what you might expect in a typical suite. The apartment features a spacious living area, a private bedroom, and a fully equipped kitchen.

The kitchen is complete with a refrigerator, stove, oven, and dishwasher, all in a sleek and modern design.

The living area has a comfortable couch, coffee table, and flat-screen TV, and the bedroom has a king bed, desk, and secondary flat-screen TV.

Overall, The Abu Dhabi EDITION yields an impressive variety of room types, each designed with a signature EDITION style that’s consistent with the brand’s reputation for boutique luxury and subtle sophistication.

The Abu Dhabi EDITION – Breakfast

Breakfast is available at the Market at EDITION, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant just off the lobby.

The venue is a modern take on a traditional Middle Eastern market. It has natural finishes, beautiful marble floors, and tall shelves that reach the ceiling, decorated with potted herbs.

Breakfast runs from 6:30am–1:00pm, accommodating the later wake-up times that are common in the Gulf region. However, note that breakfast is not included as a Titanium Elite member, as the EDITION brand doesn’t participate in this particular benefit.

Breakfast is à la carte. Expect to pay 60 AED ($22 CAD) for an order of eggs, and then upwards from there for mains.

Nevertheless, we decided to indulge on the morning of our stay, ordering the avocado toast and fried buttermilk chicken with waffles for our mains. Both dishes were delicious and presented beautifully, making for a fulsome and satisfying breakfast.

I also grabbed a pistachio croissant from a selection of pastries and sweets on display for purchase. The coupled richness of a buttery pastry with the nuttiness of pistachio filling was delightful.

It’s worth noting that you can also stop by the Market at EDITION for quick juice and some grab-and-go options if you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to sit down.

The Abu Dhabi EDITION – Dining

There are three main eateries at The Abu Dhabi EDITION, as well as a bar. The menus at each were designed by Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens.

Oak Room features velvet sofas and drapes, and a monolithic marble bar, surrounded by sophisticated dark oak panelling. The restaurant puts its own spin on a steakhouse, and looks like a nice evening spot to indulge in wine pairings.

At Alba Terrace, you’ll find a coastal Mediterranean ambiance, complete with light marble tabletops, terrazzo flooring, and a grand brass-covered bar.

The restaurant serves continental dishes, afternoon tea, and cocktail hour amidst lush green foliage and pools of water surrounding the restaurant.

Nestled between the lobby and pool, Library Bar boasts the iconic EDITION design. It’s an intimate bar adorned with language- and writing-inspired décor.

I popped down for a drink and some snacks one evening, and found it to be a great spot for unwinding or having pre-dinner drinks.

Note that EDITION hotels typically have bars in the lobby, and it tends to be one of the first things you see when you step in. At this property, however, the signature lobby bar was passed over out of consideration for local customs here in the Middle East.

The Abu Dhabi EDITION – Other Facilities

The property features two pools. One is located on the ground level, just outside Alba Terrace, and the other situated on the fifth floor of the residences building.

The ground-level pool features a stunning poolside deck. The area is complete with loungers arranged along one side, while the other side is adorned with lush trees and luxurious wooden and white cabanas.

Similarly, there are two fitness centres, one situated in each building. The hotel-side fitness centre, located on the second floor, offers stunning views of the outdoor pool and Alba Terrace.

The facility operates 24-hours a day, and is well-equipped with cardio machines, treadmills, bikes, several weight machines, and free weights.

It’s worth noting that the fitness centre in the second building for residences is arguably more comprehensive, and would make for a fuller workout.

The EDITION Spa provides tailored treatments that incorporate traditional practices from Abu Dhabi. There are seven private treatment rooms available among specialty drinks and light snacks.

Lastly, there’s a three-level Annex Lounge & Nightclub entertainment venue on the property. The venue is open Wednesdays through Sundays, and separate from the main buildings.

Conclusion

As the inaugural EDITION property in the UAE, The Abu Dhabi EDITION is a top-notch addition to the city’s luxury hotel scene, with a memorable boutique aesthetic and understated sense of luxury.

The hotel’s lobby, which features a breathtaking lofted atrium and a distinctive motion sculpture, is a true highlight.

Our Superior Suite was a comfortable and spacious place to stay the night, and the hotel’s rooms and suites as a whole offer a striking design and open-concept layout.

The hotel’s dining venues boast impressive interiors for a unique and memorable dining experience. I particularly appreciated the vibes at Library Bar, which was another great example of the beautiful bars that EDITION hotels around the world are known for. 

Overall, I’d recommend the Abu Dhabi EDITION for those seeking a blend of live-like-a-local city life and poolside relaxation, even though it may not be the most well-situated from a sightseer’s perspective.