It’s quite a statement, but Saadiyat Beach Club is definitely a contender for, if not the winner of, this title.
Nestled on Saadiyat Island, just outside of Abu Dhabi and some sixty minutes away from Dubai, Saadiyat Beach Club is an exclusive members only beach club that boasts some of the most stunning natural scenery of the entire UAE.
If you are looking to get away from a day, escape the hustle and bustle of the city and just relax, there is simply no better place than here.
Open to non-members via a lofty day pass or monthly fee, it still conveys better value that most of the other beach clubs in either Dubai or Abu Dhabi. If you could put a price on a view or on a beach, I think you’d probably agree Saadiyat is worth more than AED 420 (weekend price).
From the impressive villa style club pavillion itself to the view of the spacious infinity pool that stretches out beyond the main glass doors, you know you are onto something slightly special as soon as you arrive.
Make the most of the expert facilities by hitting The Workout Room before you laze in the sunshine, it’s not like you can’t still enjoy the beautiful views whilst you’re at it through the architectually designed floor-to-ceiling windows. With state of the art Technogym and cardio-monitoring equipment, each with individual TVs and media players you can opt to train alone or work out with one of the highly skilled resident personal trainers.
If that all sounds a lot like hard work, then the pièce de résistance of Saadiyat Beach Club is of course, the beach itself, although the infinity pool comes a close second.
The pool, a 650 square metre chilled oasis is surrounded by private cabanas that appear to float magicalyy on the shimmering water seemingly cascading out onto the rolling sand dunes beyond. The cabanas come with two large day beds and are available to hire for around AED600 which is great for larger groups or families with children as it gives you direct pool access and lots of shade.
Of course it’s not hard to find an amazing swimming pool in the Middle East, with luxury hotels galore, what is hard however, is to find a completely uninterrupted sea view, a beach that doesn’t look out onto a construction site or a man-made island of some shape or form. Saadiyat Beach Club does exactly that.
The 9km beach on Saadiyat Island is certified Blue Flag eco label, which is easy to see why when (if you’re lucky) you spot some dolphins playing in the sea or even turtles on the beach as the club is part of a protected habitat where Hawksbill turtles have nestled for countless years. Although we didn’t see any turtles on the particularly scorching Friday that we visited, we did see a herring playfully splashing in the surf angling for one of the countless species of fish that live in the water here.
The beach is simply breathtaking. With powdery white sand that you sink into, the decked walkway leads out onto a truly spectacular place whatever the time of day. If you get there early enough (the club opens at 8am and the beach from 9am) the views of the shoreline, totally uninterrupted by people are picture-perfect.
There is a small selection of loungers on the beach, with separate sections for members and non-members and it’s easy to whittle away the day peacefully under the hot Arabian sunshine. Enjoy drinks and a snack on the beach or head back up to one of the numerous bars or restaurants.
One word of advice, if you arrive early and fancy a spot of breakfast, you can’t get it here with food only being served from 11am, which is a slight disappointment. However, There are 4 restaurants and lounges at SBC, from the Mediterranean Safina restaurant
which also offers a fantastic brunch every Friday serving a large selection of dishes to the popular De La Costa which serves food on the beach direct to your sunlounger or under a sun-shaded veranda on the terrace. However, the place really comes alive as the sun sets, the daytimes chilled-out sounds turning up a notch, all accompanied by a sundowner or two. Regular live events add to the party atmosphere.
The sunset over Saadiyat beach is something you simply can’t miss, with a smeared palette of orange and pinks reflecting over the gently lapping waves, it’s impossibly romantic.
Take a stroll across the sand, arm in arm and reflect on how truly lucky you are to live in this part of the world.
A beach club worth every penny, how often can you say that?
The Insider UAE 