Jumeirah at Etihad Towers

The Jumeirah at Etihad Towers makes a statement with every ostentatious light fixture, every plush seating area, every eye-catchingly bold graphic carpet. The hotel is huge and glamorous, with walls of glass looking over the Gulf, and the highest Observation Deck in the city, a glamorous cocktail lounge offering an unobstructed panorama of surrounding Abu Dhabi. (Formal Afternoon High Tea is served here.) The hotel screams wealth and excess, but the huge, sparkly chandeliers look just right against the blue Gulf backdrop and the super-modern UAE skyline. The lobby is cavernous but still elegant and refined, with sumptuous carpets defining seating areas, and every stick of furniture with a bit of a twist, a cool off-balance look, or a loud punch of color that works in the large glorious space. The beach and pools are pristine, with inviting turquoise water, decadent sunbeds, white umbrellas, and no shortage of opportunities for cocktails. Palm trees, tropical flowers, and waterfalls dot the grounds, and the pools abut the beach, offering something for every kind of sun-and-water worshipper. The Jumeirah offers the best of everything in striking surroundings that create a kind of futuristic Arabian fantasyland.

The Jumeirah at Etihad Towers is located in a five-tower business and residential complex on the western corner of the Corniche, overlooking the Gulf. The airport is a 30-minute drive. The Jumeirah is on the beach, within a mile of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club. Marina Mall is five minutes away by car, and Heritage Village is two miles away. There are interesting things to see in the immediate area, but none of the major tourist attractions are within walking distance, making this a better spot for business travelers than sightseers.

Rooms at the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers are destinations, with lots of pattern in the luxe carpets, plush fabrics, and pillows, and unobstructed views of the Gulf and city. Many rooms have floor-to-ceiling window walls in bedrooms and bathrooms. Bathrooms are large, sundrenched, and modern. Many have gorgeous freestanding soaking tubs; all have tubs and glassed-in showers, top-quality toiletries, and small, special details, such as a dedicated box for keeping hairdryers out of sight. Each room has a huge flat-screen TV with premium channels, an iPod dock, espresso maker, laptop safe, stocked minibar, and a spacious desk with an enviable view.

The Jumeirah at Etihad Towers features a sultan-worthy spa, Talise, with a vast treatment menu, and, for pedicures, velvet armchairs and hammered copper tubs to soak tired feet. Six P gym, open 24 hours a day, is flooded with natural light, loaded with cardio and weight equipment, and a juice bar. Each of the Jumeirah’s restaurants is stunning. BiCE serves Italian cuisine; Ray's Grill, a steakhouse on the 63rd floor, opened after our visit. There are French, Lebanese, Japanese, and buffet restaurants, a sleek poolside bar with swim-up stools, and the highest cocktail lounge in Abu Dhabi.