Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island Review: Our Family Stay in Abu Dhabi

First Impressions

From the moment we arrived, we were impressed. The resort is beautiful, with elegant architecture, immaculate grounds, and a welcoming atmosphere that instantly puts you into holiday mode.

Located on the stunning shores of Saadiyat Island, the hotel enjoys direct access to a gorgeous stretch of white sand beach and crystal-clear turquoise waters. It genuinely felt like we’d travelled much further than Abu Dhabi.

The Rooms

One of the biggest challenges when travelling as a family of six is finding a room that gives everyone enough space. Thankfully, this wasn’t an issue at Rixos. We stayed in a spacious interconnecting room, which worked perfectly for our family. One room had a double bed and a cot for our youngest child, while the second room had another double bed with an additional bed added for the children.

The rooms were beautifully decorated, spacious, and had a real luxury feel without feeling overly formal. Each room had its own bathroom, which made getting ready much easier, especially after a day at the pool or beach. One feature I particularly loved was the sliding doors between the bathroom and bedroom, which created a bright, open feel and added an extra touch of luxury.

What impressed me most was that this wasn’t even one of the resort’s exclusive Club Privé room categories. Despite being a standard interconnecting room, the space and quality were exceptional. We never felt cramped, and it comfortably accommodated our family throughout the stay. For larger families looking for luxury without necessarily upgrading to the highest room category, this was a huge plus.

The Food & Drinks

If you’re a foodie, you’re in for a treat. The all-inclusive offering at Rixos is fantastic, with an incredible variety of food available throughout the day. Even with four children and varying tastes, everyone found something they loved. The buffet offered a huge selection of international dishes, fresh cooking stations, and plenty of family favourites.

One thing that really stood out to me was the dedicated sushi station in the main buffet restaurant, which was available every day during our stay. It’s not something you often see included as part of an all-inclusive buffet, and it added a lovely touch. Whether you wanted something familiar or were keen to try something new, there was always plenty of choice.

Family Facilities

As a parent, this is often the section I care about most when researching a hotel. The children’s facilities at Rixos are excellent. The splash park was a huge hit with our children and provided hours of entertainment. I also liked the fact that alcohol isn’t permitted anywhere within the splash park area, helping maintain a family-focused atmosphere.

Next to the splash park is the kids’ club. Whilst we didn’t leave our children there during our stay, we were able to visit and explore the facilities with them whenever we wanted. It looked welcoming, well-organised, and offered a variety of activities throughout the day. The resort also offered dedicated children’s entertainment, completely separate from the adult entertainment. This meant the children had activities designed specifically for them, while adults could enjoy a more relaxed evening atmosphere elsewhere in the resort.

In the evenings, we loved grabbing a drink and listening to the live singers, bands, and saxophone players. It created a lovely atmosphere and felt like a real treat after a busy day exploring Abu Dhabi. One feature I absolutely loved was the hammocks dotted around the resort grounds. They were perfect for taking a quiet moment, reading a book, or simply enjoying the surroundings.

We spent most of our time around the main pool, which quickly became our favourite spot. Despite its popularity, we never struggled to find a sunbed during our stay. We did travel slightly outside of peak season, so experiences may vary during busier periods, but the pool area always felt spacious and relaxed.

Poolside & Beach Service

The service around the pool and beach was one of the things that really made this resort stand out. One thing the children thought was brilliant was watching the bartenders deliver drinks around the pool on roller skates. It sounds like a small detail, but it became one of those little holiday memories that everyone still talks about. You could also press a service button from your sunbed whenever you wanted food or drinks brought over, which made relaxing by the pool incredibly easy.

The beach area was equally impressive. There was a lovely boho-style beach snack bar serving fresh fruit, healthy snacks, drinks, and frozen açaí bowls throughout the day. It was the perfect place to grab a light snack while enjoying the sea views.

The Beach

The beach quickly became one of our favourite places in the resort. The white sand and turquoise water were absolutely stunning and honestly looked more like somewhere in the Indian Ocean than a destination only around seven hours from the UK. We spent hours walking along the shoreline, enjoying the views, and simply soaking up the sunshine. If you’re looking for a beautiful beach holiday without a long-haul flight, this really is a fantastic option.

Exploring Abu Dhabi

One of the things we loved most about Rixos was its location. Whilst the resort is perfect for relaxing, it’s also an excellent base for exploring Abu Dhabi. Yas Island is only around a 10-minute taxi ride away, making it incredibly easy to combine beach days with family adventures.

During our stay we visited the breathtaking Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which is one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen. We also spent time at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, all of which were fantastic for families.

Another highlight was our desert safari experience. Seeing the desert landscapes, trying traditional activities, and watching the sunset over the dunes created memories we’ll never forget. We also visited one of Abu Dhabi’s shopping malls, which was perfect for a little retail therapy and an escape from the midday heat. What I loved most was the balance. One day we could be relaxing by the pool or beach, and the next we could be enjoying world-class attractions just minutes away.

We came for the architecture and stayed for the simple fact that, for once, everyone in the family was happy at the same time.

Our Favourite Things About Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island

• Spacious interconnecting rooms that comfortably accommodated our family of six
• The beautiful white sand beach and turquoise sea
• Roller-skating bartenders around the pool
• The daily sushi station in the buffet
• The hammocks hidden throughout the resort grounds
• Separate entertainment for children and adults
• Being just 10 minutes from Yas Island
• The excellent balance of luxury and family-friendly facilities

Who Is This Hotel Perfect For?

• Families looking for a luxury all-inclusive holiday
• Larger families needing spacious accommodation
• Couples seeking a luxury beach escape
• Multi-generational family holidays
• Winter sun getaways
• Travellers wanting to combine relaxation with sightseeing

Final Thoughts

Our stay at Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island exceeded every expectation. What impressed me most was how well the resort catered for families without sacrificing the luxury experience. As a family of six, that can be surprisingly difficult to find.

From the spacious rooms and beautiful beach to the thoughtful touches like roller-skating bartenders, poolside service, hammocks throughout the grounds, and fantastic entertainment, every aspect of the resort felt carefully designed to help guests relax and enjoy themselves.

If you’re looking for a luxury all-inclusive resort that works just as well for families as it does for couples, Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island should absolutely be on your shortlist. If you’d like to find out more or discuss whether it’s the right fit for your next holiday, I’d love to help.

Escape Reality. Discover Luxury. — Sarah Knowles, Earth Escapes