Located just seven minutes away from Downtown Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island is a premier mix of world-class leisure, culture and business. It has beaches, clubs, resorts, museums and plenty of other things for you to explore. Let’s dig deeper and look at the interesting things to do in Saadiyat Island.
Best Things to do in Saadiyat Island
With so many attractions to explore and apartments to dwell in, Saadiyat Island seems to be a haven for vacationers. You can spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of the city, discover a variety of attractions of the island itself and, of course, the city.
Make a splash at Saadiyat Beach
First and foremost, our list of things to do on Saadiyat Island includes a visit to the amazing Saadiyat Beach. Combining exclusivity, luxury and tranquillity at one place, the island’s main outdoor attraction, Saadiyat Beach is a stretch of pristine white sands. The beach is one of the key attractions on Saadiyat Island where you can indulge in a great many activities. From windsurfing and sailing to enjoying beach yoga classes, there are plenty of ways to have a fun-filled day at the beach.
It also exhibits native wildlife, serving as a nesting ground for Hawksbill Turtles. To prevent visitors from disturbing the turtles, the access to the beach is given through an elevated boardwalk. Adults can enter the beach for AED 25 while children are granted entry for AED 15.
A perfect weekend retreat for those renting apartments on Saadiyat Island, the beauty of this beach makes it one place that you will want to keep coming back to.
Tee off at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
The first ocean course of the region, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club harnesses the beauty of the island’s white-sand beaches to offer you a unique experience. The meandering course where you can enjoy stunning sea views with a beautiful sight of the dolphins playing in the glistening sea serves as a great retreat.
The 72-par golf course has tee boxes for both beginners and pros, making it one of the good activities in Saadiyat Island for a group of friends to try. Beginners can play their first stroke at 5290 yards while pros can go up to 7784 yards.
The place also has a couple of restaurants and a spacious patio to conduct different events and ceremonies. Those owning flats on Saadiyat Island may want to get a membership at this club to make the most of the attractions here.
Bask in the glory of art and heritage at Saadiyat Cultural District
A hub of premier cultural assets, Saadiyat Cultural District is another place to visit at Saadiyat Island. Unprecedented in its scale and scope, the place houses the aesthetic expressions of various cultures and civilisations. It is home to some of the best museums in Abu Dhabi including Louvre, the upcoming Guggenheim and Zayed National Museum.
At Louvre, you can explore collections of Leonardo Da Vinci and Vincent Van Gogh. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is an upcoming attraction on Saadiyat Island which is expected to be a platform for global contemporary art and culture. Zayed National Museum will transport you back in time and show you glimpses of the great transformation the UAE has undergone. Visiting these stunning cultural attractions is one of the unmissable things to do at Saadiyat Island.
Manarat Al Saadiyat, a high-tech centre for interactive cultural displays, is also located in the district so while you’re there, stop by this post-modern building as well. Check out if any temporary art exhibitions are happening there.
Culture vultures will certainly enjoy investing in one of the tasteful villas in the Saadiyat Cultural District, where the capital’s most exciting art events take place.
Relax, eat and repeat
There is an abundance of restaurants at Saadiyat Island. You can enjoy Mediterranean cuisine at Beach House, American at Caramel Restaurant & Lounge and European at the famous Shakespeare and Co.
For those who are fond of steak, Frangipani and The Park Bar & Grill are good options as well. Pizza fans can find solace in Escape from New York Pizzeria while fitness freaks can stop by Circle Cafe, enjoying a good combination of healthy, tasty and aromatic food.
Unwind at the resorts in Saadiyat Island
Saadiyat Island has five-star resorts as well; St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi and Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi are great places where you can restore your energy levels. Offering direct access to Saadiyat Beach, these are among the best resorts in Abu Dhabi where you can enjoy beautiful views and relax to the tune of waves crashing against the shore. They consist of state-of-the-art rooms, restaurants, an indoor pool and a spa.
Shop at The Collection in Saadiyat Island
The Collection is a perfect place for shopaholics. Laid out around an archetypical Mediterranean plaza, this miniature mall features 26 high-end stores, restaurants and cafes. You can find Spinneys supermarket, Yas, The Royal Name of Perfumes, Heritage Touch, Salwa Zeidan Gallery, Baskin Robbins, and Abd El Wahab along with other shops and outlets there.
These attractions bring Saadiyat Island to the limelight, showcasing the elegance and peacefulness this place denotes. Lying 20 minutes away from the Abu Dhabi airport, the place is a preferred destination for tourists as well. One of the biggest reasons for the area’s popularity is the fact that it’s a developing neighbourhood with a slew of exciting attractions. Whether you are renting a villa on Saadiyat Island or investing in an off-plan property in the area, you can rest assured that there will be no lack of entertainment.
Saadiyat Island is not only the leisure development that the capital city boasts of. Yas Island, too, is brimming with many sightseeing and tourist spots. There are many things to explore at Yas Island.
Each of them is prestigious in its own way so if you are looking for investment opportunities, you can count on any of them. Saadiyat Island or Yas Island – the choice is yours!
There are fun-filled activities on offer across the UAE. For example, Dubai extreme activities attract people from across the country.
