Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, offers a tranquil space in the heart of the UAE capital, while serving up cutting-edge Michelin treats
Situated amidst a flawless expanse of white sandy shores and vibrant gardens, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri in Abu Dhabi showcases timeless Arabesque elegance, while embodying a culinary revolution.
“Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi is spread on a kilometre long pristine private beach,” Complex General Manager, Shangri-La and Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, tells us. “We offer our guests personalised luxury experiences where they can find their Shangri-La in the heart of Abu Dhabi. Our guests are encouraged to relax, enjoy culinary experiences at our award-winning restaurants, pamper themselves at the spa or hold intimate social gatherings and business meetings.”
Guests can also enjoy lush gardens, journey on traditional Abra boats across the canals of the Qaryat Al Beri Complex or visit the souk situated in the complex.
Says Issa: “Over the years, the city of Abu Dhabi has grown steadily. Once it had a population less than a million, today the city has over 1.5 million, almost thrice the number. In 2022, about 18 million tourists visited the city and now the aim is to attract over 24 million.
“The infrastructure of the city has developed extensively with all the development that has taken place across the city with several attractions from the wonderful Grand Mosque to the popular theme parks on Yas Island to Louvre on Sadiyat and Al Qana, which has opened next to Shangri-La.”
The 213-key property features six stunning villas, each equipped with private pools and four bedrooms. Shangri-La Residences present 161 expansive serviced apartments, spanning from studio to four-bedroom units, providing an excellent choice for extended stays.
“Shangri-La is an iconic flagship brand of the Shangri-La Group that puts heartfelt service at the core of its distinctive Asian hospitality experience. Through imaginative and nature-inspired design, delightful culinary and cultural experiences, and its authentic and thoughtful service, the brand enables guests to realise their own moments of Shangri-La.
“At Shangri-La we host our guests to colourful joys of life that enriches the mind, body and soul. Our teams are warm-hearted, dedicated and we absolutely obsess over customer service. We ensure that when our guests depart from their stay with us, they feel more enriched than when they arrived.”
With a host of award-winning dining venues scattered across the property, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, has swiftly become a culinary destination within the city.
The hotel is renowned for its unique dining experiences, serving up an enthralling culinary journey across popular restaurants and bars from the acclaimed Sofra bld to the signature Chinese restaurant, Shang Palace. Unwind at Al Hanah Bar with a spectacular twilight dinner, relax on the balcony while drinking in magnificent sunsets or hold a leisurely conversation at the adjacent Cigar Lounge. Meet and socialise at the comfortable Lobby Lounge or soak up the sun with a specialty cocktail at The Pool Bar & Restaurant.
The property stands out on the emirate’s culinary map with various ongoing initiatives. “We started our ‘Shangri-La Culinary Master Series, Abu Dhabi’ to provide exceptional experiences to our guests by inviting celebrity and Michelin Starred guests to host exclusive dinners. We have flown chefs from all over the world and the series is well-liked in Abu Dhabi. We host a popular Ramadan Village and during the football World Cup, we created ‘Shangri-La Football Village.’ Recently we successfully launched our ‘Gardens of Babylon’ brunch which is doing very well.
“Our Signature Experience has guests getting onboard an Abra boat and then dining by the beach under a gazebo, a very romantic and unique experience.
“In 2024, we plan to continue with the series. We are always looking at remaining our culinary offerings and will have some exciting offerings by the beach as well as during Ramadan.”
“We have plans to introduce some new culinary concepts in the coming months,” Issa tells us. “With the festive season coming up, we are all ready to welcome guests to celebrate an ‘enchanting’ holiday season with us. We have some exceptional stay and culinary offers that guests can take advantage of.
“We will be hosting a French-inspired New Year’s Eve celebration - Belle Époque - where guests can experience the world-renowned Shangri-La hospitality with a glamorous New Year’s Eve Soiree in a spectacular setting.”
The efforts on the culinary side have borne fruit with the hotel successfully drawing guests from outside. Around 35 per cent of the total revenue is generated by the property’s culinary outlets. The key feeder markets are UK, Germany, France and GCC and main segments are leisure, corporate and MICE, Issay explains.
“Luxury is a state of mind. It is a very subjective experience. Travellers expect intimate, personalised service and I think that does not change. Market conditions change, however, guests are always impressed by personalised, heartfelt service. And that is luxury. Of course, a product that is fresh and offers distinctive experiences matters.
“With the times are we are living in, it is important to take care of our planet and its resources. For example, we have reduced plastic waste, we take care of our beach and natural surroundings. It’s important to take all parameters into consideration and find a way to adapt and be agile.
“That’s how we can remain relevant, and I think, if there is a will, then yes, it is possible to excel in almost every sphere of luxury hospitality,” concludes Issa.