The Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal in Abu Dhabi is one of the more distinctive Ritz-Carlton properties. Italian-inspired architecture meets Middle Eastern hospitality on the shores of the Grand Canal.

The property features a Venetian Village with eight restaurants, a rotunda lobby with chandeliers, and a small beach alongside a large pool. It's designed to feel like a destination resort rather than just a place to sleep.

I stayed here during my Abu Dhabi visit, booking through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts at about $300 per night. This was $100 cheaper than comparable options like the Rosewood or St. Regis, and the location closer to the main mosque and Yas Island made it an appealing choice.

The property promised Italian elegance in an Emirati setting. But Abu Dhabi's oppressive heat and some dated room furnishings raised questions about whether the Ritz-Carlton brand delivers the same experience across all properties.

Here's my complete review of the Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal Abu Dhabi and whether it's worth choosing over other luxury options in the city.

The Room

I booked a one king bed deluxe room. On arrival, thanks to booking with Fine Hotels & Resorts, I was upgraded to a high-floor one king bed deluxe room.

I've noticed recently that hotels are now using "high floor" as an upgradeable room class, where it used to be a preference they could or couldn't accommodate.

Upon entry, the bathroom was immediately to the left with a long hallway into the main bedroom.

The bedroom featured one king bed with two nightstands. Across from the bed was a vanity with a TV mounted on the wall, plus a couch closer to the windows.

The windows had tall, grand doors leading out to the balcony. The balcony had two seats and a table.

However, during midday it was oppressively hot. So hot that sitting outside was uncomfortable.

The room and all the fixtures felt a little dated. Nothing dirty or unclean, just dated.

Something I kind of expected for this price point, more on this below. Still a little surprising given the Ritz-Carlton brand.

The Property

The property was very large and expansive. Driving up, you're welcomed by grand gates with "The Ritz-Carlton" at the top. A guard has to wave you through.

You'll drive up the long driveway and be greeted at the lobby. Doormen and bellmen are there to assist.

The lobby is incredibly expansive, structured like a rotunda with balconies. Multiple beautiful chandeliers hang from the top.

In the lobby, there's a person who serves Arabic coffee and dates. Something I've become accustomed to in Arab countries like Morocco and the UAE.

At the back of the lobby you can go downstairs to the Venetian Village, where all the restaurants are located. There are eight on-site restaurants offering a range of cuisines, including three signature restaurants focused on Middle Eastern, Asian, and steakhouse flavors.

Outside large floor-to-ceiling glass doors off the Venetian Village is how you access the pool and outdoor space.

There's a large open pool with plenty of poolside seating, along with a small beach that lies on the Grand Canal.

I dipped my feet in the water at both the pool and the beach but didn't go in. I sat at the beach for about an hour before realizing it was too hot to sit outside.

Food & Beverage

Since I booked through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, I had $100 in property credit to use. I decided to use it for one night at the on-premise steakhouse called The Forge.

The Forge

I ordered the Petite Filet Mignon with a side of seasoned charred broccolini. Everything was very good, and the steak was cooked and seasoned perfectly.

The only small criticism was that they sliced the steak, which usually lets a bit of the juice out. Nonetheless, it was delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal.

I finished with the Crème Brûlée.

Breakfast at Giornotte

Every morning breakfast was served at Giornotte, one of the restaurants in the Venetian Village. Breakfast was served from 6:30 to 10:30 AM on weekdays, extending to 11 AM on weekends.

When I noted my nut allergy, head chef Luca came around to personally introduce himself and told me to direct any questions to him. Overly thorough and diligent, which I very much appreciated.

Additionally, there was a crème brûlée cart going around freshly flambéing Crème Brûlée. What a treat for breakfast!

I will note, however, that the breakfast overall wasn't amazing. It was good but definitely left a bit to be desired. The food tasted bulk and generic.

Booking

I booked this for just about $300 per night via American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts. While there wasn't much more to it than that, I found rates in Abu Dhabi to be competitive last minute when using these booking platforms.

For example, I was also looking at staying at the Rosewood or St. Regis, which were slightly more expensive at about $400 per night.

Given this property's location closer to the main mosque and Yas Island, I figured it was a good tradeoff to take the cheaper location.

Final Thoughts

The Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal Abu Dhabi is a solid luxury property that delivers good value at $300 per night, though it doesn't quite reach the heights you'd expect from the Ritz-Carlton name.

The property itself is impressive with grand gates, a spectacular rotunda lobby with chandeliers, and the Venetian Village concept creating a resort-within-a-resort feel. Having Arabic coffee and dates served in the lobby added authentic Middle Eastern hospitality touches.

The room was comfortable but noticeably dated. Nothing was dirty or poorly maintained, just showing its age. For $300 per night this was expected, but still slightly surprising for the Ritz-Carlton brand. The balcony with two seats would have been nice if Abu Dhabi's oppressive midday heat didn't make sitting outside nearly impossible.

The Forge steakhouse delivered an excellent meal with my Petite Filet Mignon cooked and seasoned perfectly. The only criticism was slicing the steak, which let some juice escape. The crème brûlée finished things nicely.

Breakfast at Giornotte had high points and low points. Head chef Luca personally introducing himself about my nut allergy was impressively thorough. The crème brûlée cart flambéing fresh crème brûlée for breakfast was a delightful touch. But the overall food quality was good rather than great, tasting bulk and generic.

The pool and beach on the Grand Canal looked appealing but the heat made extended outdoor time uncomfortable. I lasted about an hour at the beach before retreating inside.

At $300 per night via Fine Hotels & Resorts with $100 property credit and breakfast included, this represented solid value compared to the $400 per night Rosewood or St. Regis. The location closer to the main mosque and Yas Island was a practical advantage.

The Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal Abu Dhabi is a good choice for Abu Dhabi luxury at a reasonable price point. Just don't expect it to compete with newer Ritz-Carlton properties or the best hotels in more established luxury markets.

For a few nights in Abu Dhabi with easy access to the city's main attractions, this works well. Just plan to spend most of your time indoors where the air conditioning keeps things comfortable.