Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental

About Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental

Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is a landmark luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi, situated on the Corniche. Originally opened as Emirates Palace, it became part of the Mandarin Oriental group. The building is known for its grand scale, domed architecture, and extensive grounds. It serves as both an operating hotel and a visitor destination, with public areas accessible to non-guests. The property occupies a prominent waterfront position and has featured in cultural and media contexts, including its appearance in a James Bond film. The kilometre-wide main building, landscaped grounds and 1.3-kilometre private beach make the property a functioning resort at monumental civic scale. Its central dome and gold, mother-of-pearl and crystal detailing draw day visitors, but the palace remains a hotel with guest privacy and operational boundaries. Mandarin Oriental manages the property and its restaurants, spa, tours and leisure programmes as separate bookable experiences.

Checked 2026-08-26

What's inside

The public-facing part of Emirates Palace centres on the domed lobby, monumental corridors and a large collection of restaurants and lounges. Paid experiences extend to the private guided palace tour, spa, Kids Palace and resort day access. Hotel guests and day-pass holders can use specified leisure facilities, including the private beach and pools. Accommodation wings and other operational areas remain restricted to authorised guests. Dining ranges from the Michelin-starred Hakkasan to Erth, Talea, Lebanese Terrace, Martabaan, Vendôme and lobby service at Episodes. The private guided tour opens selected ceremonial spaces beyond the ordinary public route. Kids Palace welcomes booked external visitors as well as hotel families, while resort day passes cover specified pools, beach areas, fitness spaces, cycling routes and family facilities rather than accommodation wings.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

How long to spend

Allow 30 to 60 minutes for a short visit to the designated public areas, or longer when the visit includes a restaurant reservation. The private guided palace tour creates a structured visit, while a resort day pass is designed for several hours at the beach, pools and leisure facilities. Arrival time should match the dining, tour, spa or day-pass booking because each experience controls access independently. A lobby look and coffee stop can fit into an hour, but a meal or afternoon tea normally turns the visit into two hours. The guided palace tour deserves its full booked slot because access follows a controlled route. Day-pass users should arrive early enough to use the beach and pools before sunset, while restaurant guests should allow time for the long approach from the main gate to the relevant wing.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Season and crowds

Emirates Palace operates as a hotel around the clock, but non-guests use designated public areas and the hours of a booked restaurant, tour, spa treatment or day pass. Morning offers quieter lobby viewing, while dining reservations define evening access. Weekends are busier for afternoon tea, restaurants and resort day passes. Each outlet publishes its own service hours, so the booking confirmation controls arrival time. Daylight reveals the gardens, fountains and pale stone exterior, while evening suits the illuminated dome and destination restaurants. Outdoor leisure follows daylight and outlet-specific schedules even though the hotel itself operates continuously. Friday and Saturday dining periods fill fastest. Summer daytime visits work best inside the public rooms, whereas the cooler season supports walking the landscaped approach and adjoining western Corniche.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Tickets

Entry to the designated public areas is free, but the accommodation wings, private beach, pools and leisure facilities are restricted. A private guided palace tour costs AED 150. Resort day passes cost AED 400 for an adult on weekdays and AED 450 on weekends, with partial food-and-beverage credit included. Hotel stays, restaurants, spa treatments and Kids Palace bookings each carry their own prices and access conditions.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Getting there

Use the West Corniche Road entrance in Ras Al Akhdar, beside the western end of Abu Dhabi Corniche and close to Qasr Al Watan. The hotel is about 30 minutes by car from Zayed International Airport. Taxi or ride-hailing gives non-guests the simplest direct arrival. Drivers with restaurant bookings follow the signed lobby or venue entrance and use the parking or valet arrangement stated by that restaurant.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

What to watch out for

Emirates Palace is a working luxury hotel rather than an unrestricted public monument. Non-guests may view only designated public areas unless they hold a dining, tour, spa, day-pass or room booking. Smart-casual and respectful clothing suits the lobby, while individual restaurants may require a stricter dress code. Contact the hotel before arrival for a specific step-free route, mobility assistance or access to a booked venue.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Photography

Handheld personal photography is appropriate in designated public areas when it does not disturb hotel guests or private events. Staff directions take priority, and accommodation corridors, security points, events and occupied dining spaces may be restricted. Tripods, lighting, staged shoots and commercial work require permission. The central dome, lobby details and exterior approach provide the clearest architectural subjects without entering guest-only areas.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Where it is

• 45 min

  7 min walk

  Founders Memorial

  • Must see
  • Historic monument
• 45 min

  15 min walk

  UAE Presidential Palace

  • Must see
  • Historic monument
• 45 min

  20 min walk

  Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi

  • Must see
  • Market

External links