Fairmont Bab Al Bahr

Love this hotel - can’t fault the staff particularly Alfam, Steven, Angela - all the staff in Marco’s were brilliant. The view over the creek is great when you open your curtains, and location we loved as it was quiet yet not too from the usual Abu Dhabi attractions. we had a huge room on the 8th floor, with the gold package, and it became our home from home when the Iranian missile interceptions started - the hotel made arrangements quickly for beds in conference rooms with no windows if people wanted to use them, directed people calmly inside when alerts went off, and looked after us without fault and at no cost to us until we were able to get flights to leave. couldn’t have imagined what it would have been like otherwise - thankyou to all the staff, who whilst we could and did end up leaving, continued on with smiles on their faces.

Another fantastic stay at The Fairmont. Fairmont Gold room staff were amazing. Ranjan, Aflan, Poo, Angela, Steven, paolo all so professional and made our stay memorable. Also Brett at pool bar was very attentive and professional. Rooms were are spacious and beds very comfortable. Great pool and beach area. Will definitely be back.

Above and beyond! What a place, just incredible. We were unfortunate (but actually very fortunate) to be staying here when the Iranian conflict started. All the staff took very good care of us and did not appear anything other than chilled and relaxed with sirens and alerts going off. We felt very safe to be here. Luckily we were spoilt for choice with all the onsite restaurants, a bar and a coffee shop. Their gym overlooks the beach with has everything you need. At least 4 bottles of water left daily and the bed was so comfy. This hotel is extremely well looked after and I cannot fault the cleanliness whatsoever. When our flights home were repeatedly cancelled, extending our stay was not problem at all. Stephen on the 7th floor was incredible at getting us over to the Fairmont Dubai to catch a flight home. Not only is this an incredible beach front, Grand Mosque facing property, the staff 100% make this place extra special. Shout out to Rafat Sarah, Christian, Angella, Stephen, Eric Lee, Paolo, Sumana, Farley, Alfam, Mark and Phoo who all contributed to a very memorable stay. We will most definitely be back.

We sadly picked the most awful time to travel to Abu Dhabi - a day before the conflict in the Middle East began. Despite the trauma experienced due to the missiles and drones being intercepted and having to find a flight home, the hotel itself and the staff were absolutely amazing. I could not fault them at all - they were friendly, kind, supportive and everything else you would want, in the middle of a crisis. I would highly recommend the hotel, purely based on the staff alone. However, the hotel rooms, restaurants and pool area were also amazing.

Having stayed in many hotels across the UAE, I arrived at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr expecting the usual high standard of polish and professionalism. Unfortunately, this was my least favourite stay in the region so far. It’s not a bad hotel by any means—just distinctly average, and in a destination where the bar is set very high, that really shows. For comparison, the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi is in a completely different league. 👍 Pros • Lovely big pool – spacious, clean, and a genuinely relaxing place to spend time. • Stunning view of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque • Excellent Lebanese restaurant – the standout experience of the stay. • Peaceful, spacious property – the overall atmosphere is calm and uncrowded. • Large bedrooms – plenty of space, a proper seating area, and fabulous floor‑to‑ceiling windows. 👎 Cons • Cramped beach – not the expansive beachfront you might expect. • Constant music around the pool and beach – unnecessary and intrusive when you’re trying to relax. • Thin walls - noisy neighbours disturbed a few nights sleep unfortunately. * Service is polite but very slow – staff are pleasant and clearly trying, but the hotel feels understaffed and lacks the slickness you find elsewhere in the UAE. • Breakfast is average – and drinks take an exceptionally long time to arrive. • Air conditioning is ferocious – difficult to get the room to a comfortable temperature. • Bathroom design not ideal – wet‑room style with transparent glass; not great for families with teen siblings sharing. • Poor storage for such a large room – oddly limited wardrobe and drawer space. • Operational inefficiencies – for example, beach staff wandering around trying to match food/drink orders to guests. Numbered tables or umbrellas would solve this instantly Fairmont Bab Al Bahr has some lovely features, but it lacks the refinement, efficiency, and thoughtful design that make UAE hotels stand out. With stronger staffing levels, better service flow, and a rethink of some room and beach layouts, it could be much better. As it stands, it’s fine—but nothing special.