Nurai Island

Resort hotel · Abu Dhabi

Nurai Island

Resort hotel · Abu Dhabi

Nurai Island - Nourai Island - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates

Highlights

Private-island resort with luxurious villas that offer sea views while being designed to blend in.

Nurai Island - Nourai Island - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates Get directions

nuraiisland.com

@cntraveler

"Set the scene for us. Zaya Nurai Island is an oasis that feels farther from the capital than it actually is; in fact, it's only 15 minutes away. Who stays here? Staycationers and families fleeing the city for a weekend by the beach. The good stuff: Tell us about your room. Our one-bedroom beachfront villa, the entry-level category, was bright and spacious, with a private plunge pool, an outdoor shower, a private dining area, and a cabana with direct beach access. The lovely open-plan layout featured a king bed, a separate lounge area, and a gorgeous bathroom with a standalone soaking tub and walk-in rain shower. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that worth a mention for good or ill? Each villa comes with a bike—an ideal way to get around the island. Molton Brown toiletries are a luxurious touch. In-room tech was modern but not always functional. There are no USB outlets, for instance, and the Bose entertainment system and remote-controlled curtains were a bit difficult to operate. What do they have for food here? There's a range of dining options here, from casual to high end. With its contemporary bar and upbeat vibe, Dusk, the Mexican cantina, is a great choice for families and groups. Hooked does Levant-inspired seafood; Frangipani is an all-day dining establishment that serves Friday brunch. Breakfast here is compact, yet high quality, complete with a cheese case, pastries, a pancake station, and a kids' corner. And anything we missed? The resort's seasonal outdoor movie space, wave pool, and teepee-style beach tents are all standout features, as is the over-water swing and giant sunglass installations. Getting to the resort requires a 15-minute speed-boat ride, a fun, Bond-style experience, and the Nurai Spa offers the only floor-to-ceiling-glass overwater spa suites in the capital. There's also a kids' club and babysitting services available. Bottom line: Why are we staying here? Come for a few days—you'll feel like you're on your own private island." - Melinda Healy

The Zaya Nurai Island - Hotel Review | Condé Nast Traveler

View Postcard for Nurai Island

@cntraveler

"Zaya Nurai Island is an oasis that feels farther from the capital than it actually is; in fact, it's only 15 minutes away. The beachfront villas, even the entry-level category, are bright and spacious, with a private plunge pool, an outdoor shower, a private dining area, and a cabana with direct beach access. The resort's seasonal outdoor movie space, wave pool, and teepee-style beach tents are all standout features, as is the over-water swing and giant sunglass installations. Getting to the resort requires a 15-minute speed-boat ride, a fun, Bond-style experience." - Melinda Healy

15 Best Hotels in Abu Dhabi | Condé Nast Traveler

View Postcard for Nurai Island

@cntraveler

"From there, it’s a 20-minute taxi ride (and then 15 minutes by boat) to Zaya Nurai, the private-island resort, for beach time before your flight."

How to Turn an Abu Dhabi Layover into a Mini-Vacation | Condé Nast Traveler

View Postcard for Nurai Island

Faisal AlRashdi

Google

Nurai Island is an absolutely amazing vacation getaway in Abu Dhabi. This fancy island looks and feels just like the Maldives, offering an exquisite escape from everyday life. The deals they offer for stays or day visits are fantastic, making it accessible for a variety of budgets. The beach vibe is incredible, and the level of relaxation you experience is simply unbelievable. The pristine waters, soft sandy beaches, and luxurious amenities make every moment spent on the island pure bliss. Whether you're traveling solo, as a couple, or with family, Nurai Island has something for everyone. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to experience a piece of paradise right here in Abu Dhabi. A must-visit destination for unforgettable memories!

Matt

Google

Pros: - beautiful rooms, modern amenities and big private pool - pizza restaurant was good - some staff were very helpful and friendly - big breakfast selection Cons: - extremely expensive for what it is. Didn’t feel 5 star - other food was average - half of the facilities were closed - chair and loungers at the beach and pool didn’t have cushions - slow internet - the pool was advertised as heated, but ours was extremely cold for majority of the stay - the bikes were rusted with flat tires - had to call multiple times to get someone to check the pool

Halyna M

Google

As a mother coming to this hotel was something I looked forward to for a long time. We booked a one bedroom bungalow with promising privacy and a swimming pool. Just before 7AM we were woken up by a terribly loud drilling sound. It was so loud that I practically jumped out of bed. Needless to say, sleeping in and relaxation was gone out of the window. We called the reception and they promised to stop. It didn’t stop and continued endless to the point that around 10AM we gathered our belongings and left the room. Outside, staring at our “private” pool were several workers on the roof so enjoying the pool or the beach was out of question. The hotel manager offered us a free lunch which we respectfully declined because we came to relax and to sleep in not to have a mediocre free meal at over AED 3800 per night. I simply asked for another stay when the construction was over and we could get exactly what we paid for. I wasn’t interested in anything free- what I expected was for the management to simply refund us the money for the stay they couldn’t provide, move us to another villa away from the noise or offer a complimentary stay in the future to make up for a ruined holiday. None of these options were offered, none of our emails were answered and at this point we have decided to take this further. Yes, construction is something that will end eventually and this post may feel irrelevant. However, this is not about construction- this post is about terrible customer service when a client who paid in full and paid premium is placed into a situation where no resolution is offered and any discomfort is not something the hotel is willing to take responsibility for. Inna situation where room is paid at check out - I would have never paid but because prepayment is required the hotel has nothing to lose. This is not luxury - this is ignorance and if you are looking to spend your hard earned money - I would look at other options where your business is valued, appreciated and where from the moment you step inside the hotel and up until you leave - everything is catered to ensure you have a pleasant stay. Very disappointing and frustrating at the same time.

Khalid Sbitan

Google

One of the worst experiences, my stay at the hotel was extremely disappointing. We were unexpectedly kicked out early without compensation or immediate refund, they promised us a free ride to Dubai but couldn’t find a car to pick us up. Additionally, the rooms were not clean and looked worn out. A thoroughly unsatisfactory experience overall.

rana el yamani

Google

Gave this place another chance, but not satisfied again! Number of kids and age were shared upon booking and reconfirmed before arrival yet no sleeping arrangement nor bicycles were prepared for them. Kids club staff are lovely and the rule is no shoes inside the kids club, though I was there and saw a mom and son with crocs! Not consistent. Boat is often delayed and over crowded. Not well maintained curtains don’t close had to call maintenance team , basically you need a day just to settle! Only the view from the beach villa is worth it!

Fatima Kassem

Google

Really unpleasant and very disappointing experience. Unfriendly staff, with poor communication skills. Not worth the money at all. Average breakfast with average rooms. We rented a 2 bed pool villa and our pool had broken marble bits which led to our kids scar their legs with lots of bleeding… Not a luxurious hotel feeling due to private owned villas being located in the hotel with a lot of construction site and noise… We tried the two restaurants, the Lebanese seafood restaurant was average . The Mexican restaurant DUSK was super expensive and definitely not worth the money. Overall don’t expect anything luxurious and definitely not coming back to this hotel.

Devaki Jethwa

Google

Our experience started when we got to the welcome centre and we were told by the lady to quickly get on the boat. She said that the people on the boat have been waiting for us and are not happy. This was not a very warm or nice welcome to the welcome centre. We got straight off the plane and had a transfer booked through Nurai island so we didn’t think we were late or had a specific time to be there by. As far as I’m aware the boat goes across every 30 mins, therefore we would have been happy to wait for the next one, and had a warm welcome. We then reached the island and were shown some restaurants on the way to our room by the bell boy. After that we weren’t sure where to go or what to do. We weren’t given a map or welcome information regarding the island. Throughout our stay we had to find our own way around the island, we also had to go to the reception to get our own map of the island when we asked for it. When I arrived to the reception for a map of the island, the receptionist said ‘did you not get a welcome pack’ and we said no we didn’t. He then just gave us a map. We knew nothing about the bikes, and it was only when we saw some children riding them that we rang reception to ask for a bike for our son. Whilst we were there we walked over to the spa, we were shown around the spa and then when we went into the massage room overlooking the ocean, there was a huge boat & crane outside the window. The price you pay for an experience was again taken away from us, therefore we didn’t have a massage that we wanted whilst we were there. Even the lady showing us around seemed a little embarrassed and closed the curtain. It was advertised that we would have a butler throughout our stay on the island. We were never introduced to one and didn’t see one the whole stay. We had complained on the second day and even after that we had no sight of a butler. So you had advertised something and we had been sold something that we didn’t actually receive. We did not receive the service that was advertised. The service during our stay was far from 5 star, and this is not what we expected. We therefore, had a very unenjoyable stay at Nurai island after spending a lot of money on this holiday.

Harry Thompson

Google

We had a one bedroom pool villa, it was nice with plenty of space for 2 adults and 2 kids. The view was great from our room 117. I don’t really know how to sum up this place. It is not 5* luxury that’s for sure. It is a bit of a mess in places and the service is very average. The beer selection is poor and there are random giant fibreglass sandals and sunglasses everywhere which is really tacky. There is plenty of construction on the island even though the operator promised me there wasn’t when I was booking. The food is fine, the pizza at Smokin Pineapple was actually very good. The Mexican Dusk restaurant was rubbish and it was so expensive it made my eyes water. For simple fajita for four people and a basic bottle of wine we spent nearly 2000AED!! Ridiculous premium for being on an island. The kids club was good, nice enough staff and the kids loved the playground and water park section. This was a great asset if not a little quiet and sad. Breakfast was nice and had loads of options. Once you got over the sound of construction and land reclamation all around you, it was quite a relaxing weekend I suppose but it really depends on what your expectations are. Think of it as glamping and you will be happier. A few suggestions to management: - don’t charge guests who booked through an agent for the boat ride to the hotel, it really sours the first interaction and comes as a surprise to most - if you’re going to charge so much for food and drinks, it needs to be better