- Blog
- Bournemouth / Exeter / Southampton
- Family Travel
- London Heathrow
- Middle East
- Posted: 02/06/2025
Saadiyat Rotana Resort, Abu Dhabi – A Family Review
Laura
Visiting Saadiyat Rotana in the summer!
Abu Dhabi in the summer
I’m sure you’ve been told, “You can’t go to the UAE in the summer, it’s far too hot.” Luckily I’m here to reassure you that summer is actually an amazing time to visit. It’s become our go to destination for our family holiday each summer. With two lively boys, the UAE offers the perfect mix of fun, active experiences and luxurious hotels where you can truly escape the mundane everyday chores of parenting. Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas is our top pick for a summer stay. A five star luxurious hotel on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi.
How Do the Kids Cope in the Heat?
This was my biggest worry before our first trip, especially since we went in the middle of August. There’s no denying it: the heat is intense. But the UAE is incredibly well equipped to deal with high temperatures, since it experiences them for much of the year.
If your idea of a summer holiday is lounging by the pool all day and dining al fresco in the evenings, August might not be ideal. But if you’re up for temperature controlled pools (yes, they actually cool them down!), air-conditioned theme parks, and evenings in world-class restaurants, then summer in the UAE is for you.
My boys would spend all day in the pool if I let them. Once you’re in the water, it feels like any other glorious summer holiday. Outside the pool, it’s too hot for long walks but don’t worry! You’re never far from a helpful golf buggy to whisk you from A to B. It honestly feels like being a celebrity, chauffeured straight to the doors of any attraction.
Things to do in Abu Dhabi in the summer
Some of our favourite summer activities to escape the midday heat include:
- Warner Bros. World – fully air-conditioned
- SeaWorld Abu Dhabi – fully air-conditioned
- Ferrari World – fully air-conditioned
- Yas Waterworld – a brilliant water park
- Snow Abu Dhabi – go zorbing or slide down a snowy slope in a rubber ring
- The Louvre Abu Dhabi – with a children’s space museum inside
- Teamlab Phenomena – an immersive digital art experience like no other.
For great prices on Yas Island theme park tickets please click below:
Yas Island theme park tickets Abu Dhabi
My boys have very fair skin, so they wear long-sleeved rash vests and hats in the pool. This way, I never have to worry about sunburn, and they can play for hours in the lovely cool water.
Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas: Why we Love it
Where do I even begin? First and foremost the staff. The amazing team at Saadiyat Rotana can’t do enough for you. They go above and beyond, often anticipating what you need before you’ve even asked. They treated the kids like royalty, handing out free ice cream vouchers and chatting with them like they were mini VIPs.
The hotel sits on the stunning Saadiyat Beach, known for its turtle conservation and pure white sand, you could almost believe you’re in the Maldives. While the summer heat means you can’t spend much time on the beach during the day, we love strolling down there in the early evening with ice pops in hand for a quick splash in the sea. It’s like stepping into a warm bath, quite the shock for our boys who are used to the freezing sea in Dorset! The beach is also great for spotting some really special shells, fish, and even dolphins.
Saadiyat Rotana Resort Rooms
We booked a connecting two bedroom suite, which was absolutely huge, the biggest room we’ve ever stayed in. It had three balconies, two bathrooms, and even a guest toilet. In winter, this room would be eye-wateringly expensive, but here’s the best part… in the summer, we paid under £5,500 total, including flights and half board.
The suite came with club lounge access, which meant breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening drinks with canapés were all included on top of our half board. The Club Lounge staff were exceptional. They remembered our names, our drink preferences, and helped with any reservations. Sometimes, we were so full from the canapés that we skipped the full three-course dinner!
Top Tip: If you’re out during the day, come back around 3pm for afternoon tea, it makes a perfect lunch replacement, especially with the UAE being three hours ahead.
Etihad Holidays
£100 off with code TRAVELMUMS
Min spend £1500.
Saadiyat Rotana Resort: The Pool Scene
Another summer highlight is the pool area. The main pool is enormous, with a shallow section that’s is perfect for the kids to play ball games and stand up in . The swim-up bar is a summer essential, you can sip a cold drink while staying cool in the water.
Then there’s the kids’ pool, which includes a lazy river, a twisty turny cave, and a water slide that leads to another little pool. There is also a shaded toddler pool and a little playground. There are lifeguards everywhere, giving parents peace of mind.
The kids’ club is based by the pool and offers excellent activities throughout the day.
Back at your lounger you can order food and drinks via a QR code app and yes, the kids still managed to eat chicken nuggets and chips by the pool!
Saadiyat Rotana Resort: Restaurants
There are three à la carte restaurants and a main buffet with different themed nights. The options include:
- An Italian restaurant
- A grill (land and sea)
- A gastropub-style sports bar
- A pool bar, beach bar, and lobby lounge for delicious cakes and coffee
Our favourite was Turtle Bay which is the grill restaurant and the steak and lobster was the best. The kids would say the Italian was their favourite with Pizzas being made in front of them. A great choice of food on the kids menus in each restaurant and if you have fussy eaters then the buffet has a kids corner every evening with all the usuals.
Half board includes a three-course meal at any restaurant, with a few dishes requiring a small supplement. The hotel also offers an all-inclusive package, but we found half board more than enough since we were out and about for part of the days. We also had unlimited soft drinks included with meals and two alcoholic drinks.
Saadiyat Rotana Resort: Could Anything Be Improved?
This is a tough one because we really do love this hotel. That said, it’s worth noting (and this is standard across many UAE hotels) there’s no evening entertainment. Also, a separate teens’ room would be a welcome addition for older kids who might find the kids’ club a bit too young.
Travel Mum Rating
Travel Mum Score: 5/5
We would come back here again and again and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Saadiyat Rotana for a family holiday.
If you would like to book this hotel please see the below link to search for your holiday dates.
Book Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villa here
Head to the Middle East page for more blogs and great deals to the UAE.
Some links that appear in this blog are affiliate links.
Looking for something super luxurious?! Check out my review on the Rixos Premium!
Written by: Laura
Hi, I’m a mum of two lively boys and married to a husband who (unfortunately) keeps my holiday obsession in check! We’re all about fun, active family getaways as relaxing isn’t really in my boys’ vocabulary!
Our go to destination is the UAE, and over the years we’ve tried and tested plenty of hotels and experiences, which I love sharing on Instagram. Living in beautiful Dorset, I know just how exhausting the trek to London airports can be especially after a long flight. That’s why I’m here to help you discover amazing holiday deals flying from our more convenient local airports of Exeter, Bournemouth, and Southampton.
Whether it’s travel tips, hotel reviews, or family days out, I’m all about sharing our adventures and hopefully helping you find your next great holiday at a brilliant price.
RELATED ARTICLES
Costa Del Sol With kids – Things To Do
-
Maxine Hill
Keep up to date...
We absolutely love the Algarve in Portugal, not only because my husband is from there, but it is a fantastic spot for a family holiday 😍
Comment ALGARVE and I’ll send you a list of fab family hotels there plus some recommendations for what to do while there (including my favourite family restaurant!)
#thetravelmum #algarvecoast #familytravel #travelideas
Apr 27
We absolutely love the Algarve in Portugal, not only because my husband is from there, but it is a fantastic spot for a family holiday 😍
Comment ALGARVE and I’ll send you a list of fab family hotels there plus some recommendations for what to do while there (including my favourite family restaurant!)
#thetravelmum #algarvecoast #familytravel #travelideas
The last time I posted about this, there were so many comments from people saying you shouldn`t drink around children. Which I find mad as a child of the 90`s who grew up in working class England when pub culture was at its peak.
Kids entertaining themselves, a glass of wine with friends... If someone wants to open a soft play bar, I`ll be your first customer 🫡
#spain #softplay #thetravelmum #mumsofinsta
Apr 27
The last time I posted about this, there were so many comments from people saying you shouldn`t drink around children. Which I find mad as a child of the 90`s who grew up in working class England when pub culture was at its peak.
Kids entertaining themselves, a glass of wine with friends... If someone wants to open a soft play bar, I`ll be your first customer 🫡
#spain #softplay #thetravelmum #mumsofinsta
Menorca is a fab shout for a family holiday 🍹
Short transfers ✔️
Calm, shallow beaches ✔️
No chaos, just a relaxed vibe ✔️
It’s one of the easiest places we’ve travelled with kids. Safe, simple, and really stress free. Think beach days, ice creams, and slow evenings without the hectic scenes you can often get on Mallorca and Ibiza. We decided we wanted to live there on the first day of our holiday 😝
We went in August which was a little too hot for us and very busy on some of the most popular beaches. The next time we go we will try May/June or September/October.
Comment MENORCA and I’ll send you a link to our favourite Menorca hotels with splash parks plus a video I made about a cheap boat trip we did 💛
#thetravelmum #familytravel #menorca #travelideas
Apr 26
Menorca is a fab shout for a family holiday 🍹
Short transfers ✔️
Calm, shallow beaches ✔️
No chaos, just a relaxed vibe ✔️
It’s one of the easiest places we’ve travelled with kids. Safe, simple, and really stress free. Think beach days, ice creams, and slow evenings without the hectic scenes you can often get on Mallorca and Ibiza. We decided we wanted to live there on the first day of our holiday 😝
We went in August which was a little too hot for us and very busy on some of the most popular beaches. The next time we go we will try May/June or September/October.
Comment MENORCA and I’ll send you a link to our favourite Menorca hotels with splash parks plus a video I made about a cheap boat trip we did 💛
#thetravelmum #familytravel #menorca #travelideas
We visited Billund having no idea what to expect, all we knew was that it is the birthplace of LEGO (which was enough in itself to make us want to visit!) We visited LEGOLAND, LEGO House, Lalandia and Wow Park. It’s a very walkable city and really great for families.
Annoyingly Ryanair dropped a lot of routes there, so you can only fly directly from London and Edinburgh. A great alternative is flying to Copenhagen and getting the train. Some people even drive there!
If you go to our blog and search Billund, we have a couple of posts on there about the attractions we visited.
#legohouse #legolandbillund #thetravelmum #familytravel
Apr 26
We visited Billund having no idea what to expect, all we knew was that it is the birthplace of LEGO (which was enough in itself to make us want to visit!) We visited LEGOLAND, LEGO House, Lalandia and Wow Park. It’s a very walkable city and really great for families.
Annoyingly Ryanair dropped a lot of routes there, so you can only fly directly from London and Edinburgh. A great alternative is flying to Copenhagen and getting the train. Some people even drive there!
If you go to our blog and search Billund, we have a couple of posts on there about the attractions we visited.
#legohouse #legolandbillund #thetravelmum #familytravel
Unlock the perfect
Cheap holiday
Build a custom DIY trip in 30 seconds!
