Airbnb is officially licensed in Abu Dhabi, meaning there’s plenty of new options for getaways in the UAE capital.
Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism signed a deal with the accommodation provider platform in February on collaboration to help grow and develop the holiday home sector for visitors looking for alternatives to traditional hotels.
Since then, several properties have been listed on the short-term accommodation booking service, with hosted stays, unique properties and luxury lodgings all open for reservations.
Here are six listings in Abu Dhabi that caught our attention.
1. A luxury villa stay on Zaya Nurai Island
If you’re craving sea air and luxury living, then this luxury villa on Zaya Nurai Island might be one to consider. With six bedrooms, a private pool and its own stretch of pristine shoreline, Paradise Nurai Villa has everything you need for a getaway with family or friends.
There’s 18,000 square feet of living space that includes a lounge, dining room, al fresco showers and sun terraces. A shuttle service runs to and from the island every hour, so it's easy to get there. There’s also an on-call butler available throughout your stay.
Dh35,500 per night; www.airbnb.com
2. A desert-farm escape in Al Khatim
Farm 118 is located in Al Khatim desert, about 50 minutes from Abu Dhabi and away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The low-level traditional villa has a huge walled-in garden where you’ll find your own private swimming pool, outdoor seating area and BBQ set-up.
Inside, the decor is bright and homely, with comfortable couches, wooden flooring and lots of neutral tones. There are four spacious bedrooms, each furnished with two queen beds, and a small kitchen with a fridge, cooker and microwave to prepare meals. Surrounded by rolling sand dunes and a star-filled night sky, it's the perfect place for a remote desert staycation.
Dh7,000 per night; www.airbnb.com
3. A loft-style apartment with Soul Beach access
Located on Saadiyat Island, this stylish waterfront beach loft apartment is located right on Soul Beach, making it perfect for those who want to be close to the water. Inside, the first-floor apartment is entirely modern, with floor-to-ceiling double-height windows allowing in plenty of natural light, as well as retro-style armchairs and lots of polished marble.
The duplex layout has stairs leading to the bedroom, where there’s a king-size bed and two foldable beds that can be used if you have children or extra guests staying with you. A large infinity pool is located only a few steps from the apartment and there’s direct access on to the Mamsha Al Saadiyat Boardwalk with all its cafes, bars and restaurants.
Dh1,500; www.airbnb.com
4. A traditional Emirati farm stay
Escape to a traditional Emirati farm house for a rustic staycation in the desert. The Al Khateem Art Hub is a stone and timber house with a huge traditional-style majlis living room, three main bedrooms, several bathrooms and five single bedrooms located in wooden huts outside the main house. Perfect for groups or big family gatherings, don't go expecting marble and luxury at this dune-surrounded stay, but instead be ready to embrace the adventure of the desert.
Take a walk in the desert and enjoy Arabic coffee, dates and fresh camel's milk. You can also opt for breakfast and dinner prepared and served to you by local hosts for an even more authentic experience. You can enjoy it seated on the floor in the majlis, just as the locals do.
Dh2,600; ww.airbnb.com
5. A family-friendly city villa stay
Villa Blue is a luxury stay in Rawdhat that is ideal for a family escape. A spacious living room, dining room and large kitchen make up the ground floor, and upstairs there are three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The decor is sleek and contemporary — think industrial-style shelving, geometric artwork and plenty of texture with complimentary toiletries by The White Company.
Outside, there’s a patio and walled garden as well as your own private pool for cooling off. It’s managed by Nasma Luxury Stays, which means you’ll get a contact number and 24-hour concierge service in case you need anything during your stay.
Dh1,328 per night; www.airbnb.com
6. A coastal chic villa on Saadiyat Island
Saadiyat Island is known for its beautiful beaches and unrivalled nature and a stay at Villa Lazuli gives you access to all of that, alongside some seriously stylish lodgings. Make the most of the beautiful outdoors with a private swimming pool complete with a swim-up bar, a Jacuzzi, fire pit and BBQ dining area with an outdoor pizza oven and teppanyaki grill plate, ideal for entertaining.
Insider, there are four spacious en suite bedrooms, each with either a private balcony or patio. An open plan living area, fully equipped kitchen and 10-person dining table are presented alongside gorgeous coastal-chic interiors. There's even a private office if you need to get a bit of work done during your visit.
A live-in housekeeper is on hand to help with cleaning and cooking and there's also a driver who will be happy to chauffeur you around in your private golf cart, or you can opt to take the wheel yourself and explore the island. Guests also have access to an electric scooter and two bicycles during their stay.
Dh5,000 per night; www.airbnb.com
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
