Shangri-la Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi
Canal-side resort with Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque views, abra boat rides, and spacious rooms with private balconies.
The verdict
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
Shangri-la Qaryat Al Beri is a waterfront resort set along the Khor Al Maqta Creek, featuring abra boat rides through canal waterways and direct views of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Accommodations are generously sized with private balconies, plush linens, and marble bathrooms with soaking tubs. Dining across the property is varied and popular, especially the weekend brunch and Shang Palace. However, service at the pool can be infrequent, and the breakfast buffet becomes overcrowded during peak morning hours. 20211215
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- Guests consistently praise the views of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque across the creek, particularly from the beach and private balconies. 192116
- Bathrooms earn high marks for their deep soaking tubs, rainfall showers, and L'Occitane Jasmine and Bergamot toiletries packed in Chinese silk bags. 24122
- Dining receives widespread praise for varied options, including the Sofra Bld brunch and dim sum at Shang Palace. 212016
- Service at check-in and inside the lounge is noted for personal touches, including welcoming guests with Arabic coffee and dates. 20
The catch
- Some guests enjoy a peaceful breakfast experience early in the morning, while others find the dining room hectic and very busy later on. 10
- Reviewers appreciate the picturesque waterfront setting along the canal, but some mention that the immediate surrounding area holds little interest beyond neighboring hotels. 12
Who it's for
- — Travelers wanting direct views of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
- — Guests seeking large rooms with deep soaking tubs and balconies
- — Fans of destination brunches and Shang Palace dining
Skip it if
- — Travelers who dislike crowded breakfast buffets during peak hours
- — Anyone looking for vibrant walkable neighborhoods right outside the resort
- — Guests expecting swift and frequent poolside drink service
Seen on camera
2 moments · 1 video · Shangri-la Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi
Each moment is pulled at the second a cited reviewer said the words. Play it here, or open the original video at that timestamp.
“how can you not fall in love with this place yeah room blood amazing right Absolut brilliant hotel room one of the best…”
youtube.com6:47“all righty you seen the room bedroom so the bathroom through there so the point I was making is that first it's a very l…”
youtube.com12:01Frames are citations: each one links to its second in the source video, attributed to the creator who filmed it. Nothing here is supplied by the hotel. Creators who want a moment removed can ask and we take it down.
Paying $7 more direct is likely worthwhile if you value Shangri-La Circle points, status credit, or on-property benefits.
Prices shown are an estimated range, not a live quote — the booking site confirms the real rate for your dates.
This sits inside our estimated range for this hotel.
Confidence: low · modelled estimate, not a live quote. Check the supplier for the real rate on your dates.
Score breakdown
How the 94/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
97Location
90- “The prime location of this hotel makes it an ideal destination for exploring the delights of Abu Dhabi, set near to the airport, city centre and golf course.” 19
- “The Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, is located in a cluster of super luxe hotels, on the shore of beautiful Maqtaa Creek, with stunning views of the Sheikh Zared Mosque from nearly every vantage point.” 12
Room
96- “how can you not fall in love with this place yeah room blood amazing right Absolut brilliant hotel room one of the best I've say that yeah just talk you around it yeah Room 5 to1 it's called an Executive Suite” 46:47
- “The highlight of the room for me was the balcony which was much larger than the standard rooms. I had a beautiful view of the Mosque at night and it was a lovely way to end the evening sitting in the warm night air admiring the view.” 2
Service
95- “The staff were superb here with the lounge manager going round to each guest in the evening and chatting with them. She remembered everyone's names and what you had been planning to do each day which was quite a feat.” 2
- “Our check-in and check-out was easy and swift. We stayed in the Horizon Club Deluxe King room with the breathtaking views of the Khor Al Maqta Creek and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.” 21
Bed & Sleep
95- “You will find the Birds of Paradise brand in the residential serviced apartments while the rest are Shangri-La products. Those with a finer taste of cuisine will most definitely enjoy Pearl & Caviar. The ambience is lounge-like with the added wellness of a great spread of seafood.” 14
Value
90- “I stay at the Traders, which is on the same resort and has excellent value for money, especially since you can go to the main Shangri-La for dinner -the dinner buffet is lavish, I paid 250 AED flat and I probably ate 500 AED worth of caviar, and the vietnamese restaurant is also gorgeous-.” 22
- “It's a modern 'value for money' sister hotel of the Shangri-La, which is situated right next door. It's a beautiful four-star accommodation with a colourful Arabic décor.” 5
Where it is, how to reach it
Details checked 2026-08-31
Where it sits
Shangri-la Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi and the 11 other hotels we cover in Abu Dhabi. Hover a marker for the hotel; click to open it.
What’s nearby
Landmarks and transport around Shangri-la Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi. Distances are straight-line, so walking times are approximate.
- Abu Dhabi International AirportAUH — 16 min drive · 16.3 km
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
Beats what $$ usually buys
Scores 6 points above the mid-range median of 88, across 613 hotels in the same bracket. In Abu Dhabi it sits 1 point above the local median of 93.
- This hotel
- 94
- Bracket median
- 88
- Index median
- 90
Based on 613 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
- 1 mention
No location within the hotel draws repeated complaints yet.
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
View the 85 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
- “I usually stay at the Aloft in AUH, which I like quite a bit. The service is somewhat better, although not spectacular. The breakfast buffet is not as big, but has plenty for all tastes.” 22
- “The quality and variety of food was reflected at the breakfast and lunch buffets in Sofra BLD (Breakfast Lunch Dinner).” 23
- “An A la carte menu is also available although the selection of food on offer needs improving as does the wine menu.” 5
- “For the second and final night of our stay, we actually returned to Sofra bld to sample their famous International Dinner Buffet. Although the selection is huge and the dishes were great, if you have only one night, I would recommend choosing Shang Palace instead.” 20
- “I especially enjoyed The Gardens of Babylon brunch at Sofra Bld, Tea Ceremony by Master Liu Ping at Shang Palace, 4-course tasting menu at Bord Eau, Negroni Week at the sophisticated Al Hanah Bar and the unforgettable breakfast on the traditional Abra boat.” 21
- “Sofra bld, the buffet restaurant, serves a wide variety of excellent food, including dim sum and a chocolate fountain.” 12
- “daily), a splash pool, and various age-based discounts in the all-day restaurant. This hotel exudes Arabic charm and offers a unique setting in one of the most picturesque parts of the city.” 24
- “The food was fantastic by any measure, as ever there was room for improvement but dishes that are not the easiest to get right, such as Abalone, were well executed.” 23
- “From mouth-watering Cantonese cuisine at Shang Palace (signature plates include the whole roast Beijing duck) to an Instagrammable buffet at Sofra Blvd (be sure to visit the chocolate fountain and ice cream station for pudding), foodie couples will revel in the variety and the sheer standard of the dishes.” 16
- “The food scene was simply mindblowing and the views from the property are unbeatable.” 20
- “Great dining options ensure that guests have excellent choices, and the fitness centre and spa ensure that visitors are offered time to exercise in the gym or relax under expert hands.” 8
- “Shang Palace, Shangri-La's signature restaurant, serves authentic Chinese dishes, while award-winning restaurant Hoi An is the place to go for delectable Vietnamese specialities.” 19
- “Sofra BLD on the ground floor offers a good breakfast and various international dishes.” 8
- “Lovely property with so/so service, as is frequently the case in the UAE. The food was well prepared, however.” 22
- “The restaurants at Shangri-La are considered some of the finest in Abu Dhabi.” 19
- “The breakfast was good but nothing particularly different to what you would get in any other 5* hotel in the UAE.” 2
- “The brunch was pretty special if not cheap at £100 a head.” 2
- “The hotel has plenty of restaurants to choose from and for a short stay you wouldn't need to leave. I tried 3 out of the 4 restaurants that were open and was very happy with all of them.” 2
- “I had room for the chilled mango soup with coconut ice cream. This was a wonderfully refreshing dessert and not too filling.” 2
- “The wine was only Eaglehawk and a Hardy's Sparkling wine but they were drinkable. There were some nice nibbles too which you could have just about made into a full meal. There was usually salad, crudites, hummus, bread, cheese and 3 hot dishes plus nuts and olives.” 2
- “The first day I had decided to have breakfast in the main restaurant as I thought there would be more choice. Actually after sampling breakfast in the lounge the second day I stuck with that as it was a much more relaxed experience.” 2
- “While the breakfast definitely gets very busy later in the morning, we went early one of the mornings and it was incredibly peaceful. But no matter when you go, the choice is extremely wide and varied across many cuisines, and the quality is excellent throughout.” 10
- “If your flight arrives at 6am, make a beeline for the breakfast buffet. Buffet is an undersell. It's an extravaganza.” 15
- “In Tower One are British chef Gary Rhodes' Rhodes Mezzanine and Indian genius Vineet Bhatia's Indego By Vineet - they like to name their restaurants after themselves those two, just in case you were wondering who they belonged to - then across the road in Tower Two you have the Dubai outpost of London's celeb magnet Embassy nightclub and its superb Provencal restaurant Kitchen 45.” 18
- “Jumeirah Creekside Hotel The Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, one of the newest in Dubai, is rather nice. It has 292 rooms and suites, a cooking school, a couple of decent restaurants, a private cinema screening room and it runs an arts and cultural programme.” 18
- “Hungry? Atul Kochhar, the Michelin-starred chef at Benares restaurant in London, has a restaurant there. It's, predictably, incredible.” 18
- “Needless to say, everything was delicious but the desserts really stole the show, especially the mango soup!” 20
- “At Sofra BLD, the energy is vibrant, with live cooking stations and a menu that spans continents while remaining grounded in regional flavour.” 26
- “We decided to take the first morning easy and ordered breakfast to the room. The ordering process was smooth and easy: all I had to do was scan the QR code provided in the room and I could order everything online.” 20
- “It's a modern 'value for money' sister hotel of the Shangri-La, which is situated right next door. It's a beautiful four-star accommodation with a colourful Arabic décor.” 5
- “I paid £650 for 4 nights for a Club room + tax which I thought was a reasonable price.” 2
- “The brunch was pretty special if not cheap at £100 a head.” 2
- “I stay at the Traders, which is on the same resort and has excellent value for money, especially since you can go to the main Shangri-La for dinner -the dinner buffet is lavish, I paid 250 AED flat and I probably ate 500 AED worth of caviar, and the vietnamese restaurant is also gorgeous-.” 22
- “how can you not fall in love with this place yeah room blood amazing right Absolut brilliant hotel room one of the best I've say that yeah just talk you around it yeah Room 5 to1 it's called an Executive Suite” On camera46:47
- “Rooms at the Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, are sophisticated, with Arabian architecture and design that includes arched doorways and stunning hand-carved furniture with graceful curves that make each room seem much more than a cookie-cutter hotel cubicle.” 12
- “Every room comes with a comfortable balcony to take advantage of the region's lovely winter climate.” 6
- “The Club room felt large as I walked in and actually looked much better than the official photos that I had seen (normally it's the other way round).” 2
- “Book a Traders Club room for perks like access all day to a lounge offering guests food and drink, an alternative breakfast option, complimentary drinks on arrival as well as newspapers and magazines. Our room had a balcony with superb views over the Grand Canal.” 5
- “The highlight of the room for me was the balcony which was much larger than the standard rooms. I had a beautiful view of the Mosque at night and it was a lovely way to end the evening sitting in the warm night air admiring the view.” 2
- “We really need to work, as a country, on keeping our douchebags hidden rather than exporting them. We stayed in that exact room just two levels above you. But those two levels really made a difference in the view. We were over the trees and the view during the day and night was amazing.” 22
- “The balcony also provided an incredible view over the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque which was a sight to behold both during the day and the night.” 20
- “We stayed in a Club Horizon Deluxe Room for two nights. This large space contained a huge king-size bed, an entertainment zone with an LCD TV and an iPod docking station, a writing desk, and a seating area.” 20
- “Since our room came with access to Horizon Club, we took advantage of the opportunity and visited the lounge a couple of times during our stay. This lounge is located on the rooftop and provides incredible views of the Khor Al Maqta waterway and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.” 20
- “All of the rooms and suites at Shangri-La are lavish, each having a balcony or a terrace that provides an ideal setting for viewing striking ocean sunsets and traditional Arabic domes and minarets.” 19
- “Every room in the hotel has a private balcony - a more-than-appealing prospect given the mesmerising views across the calm water of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque.” 16
- “Ask for a deluxe room and tell them you want to be high up. Views of the sea trump views of the Burj Khalifa, but only just.” 18
- “all righty you seen the room bedroom so the bathroom through there so the point I was making is that first it's a very large room secondly it's very homely yeah” On camera412:01
- “If you're seeking a luxurious place to stay in Abu Dhabi then you can check into the Shangri-La and know that you're in good hands. We had tonnes of space in the room and appreciated the impeccable attention to quality and service in the decor and furnishings.” 20
- “After inaugurating the stay with a very delicious room service chicken shawarma burger out on the balcony, while enjoying the view out over the verdant gardens and towards the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, we decided to head out for a quick tour of the property on foot.” 10
- “First impressions - what a spacious room! Upon entering and to our left, was the very impressively-sized bedroom, with the bed on one side, a TV and accessories cabinet on the other side, and floor-to-ceiling windows facing out onto our balcony stretching across the full length of the room.” 10
- “The well-appointed and sizable space boasted a king bed, a writing desk, and a luxurious marble bathroom with soaking tub and walk-in shower.” 24
- “The palatial layout of the rooms and bathrooms ensure getting ready is a delight, as opposed to a chore.” 16
- “This large space contained a huge king-size bed, an entertainment zone with an LCD TV and an iPod docking station, a writing desk, and a seating area. Our private balcony looked out over the Khor Al Maqta canal and was a highlight of the room.” 20
- “Our spacious and luxurious suite with a big balcony had waterfront views.” 21
- “The room had a very comfortable large bed with good quality linens.” 2
- “The bathroom was by no means any less grand, as you can see, with a separate toilet, rainfall shower, and a bathtub; along, of course, with the classic Shangri-La washroom toiletries which I made sure to use excessively.” 10
- “The bathroom was large and had a nice deep bath for soaking as well as a large shower with a mirror and plenty of room for toiletries.” 2
- “The bathroom was huge, it had a bathtub, stand-up shower, sink with the mirror on the wall and a toilet area.” 21
- “Bathroom amenities featured premium quality toiletries like soaps, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, bath salt, dental kit, shaving set and a hair dryer.” 21
- “The Arabesque-style room was affixed to a generously sized marble bathroom with mosaic tiling, a walk-in rainfall shower, and a deep bathtub.” 20
- “Bathrooms are gorgeous, with deep soaking tubs and large stone and marble shower stalls with rainfall showerheads.” 12
- “The spacious marble bathroom has a walk-in rain shower and separate tub.” 6
- “Any questions or requests are dealt with smoothly and graciously using a Whatsapp concierge service (the response time is rapid).” 16
- “The property offers extensive range of services and facilities and their dedicated staff caters to all the needs of the guests.” 21
- “The staff were superb here with the lounge manager going round to each guest in the evening and chatting with them. She remembered everyone's names and what you had been planning to do each day which was quite a feat.” 2
- “The hotel also has a fitness centre [albeit a small one], a spa and a pool area. There is a relaxed vibe in public areas, although the service is still good.” 5
- “I haven't stayed there - I was at the St. Regis downtown - but did you there for dinner. Lovely property with so/so service, as is frequently the case in the UAE.” 22
- “The service is professional and warm.” 24
- “The reception, as you'd expect, is very grand, with a whole table of fresh flowers and plants acting as a visually arresting centrepiece.” 10
- “The staff would set up a chair for you with towels and a little icebox with some chilled water in. There was poolside food and drink service but they didn't come round that often so it was usually quicker to go to the poolside bar to order.” 2
- “Thoughtful touches, plush bedding, intuitive service, and meticulous housekeeping ensure that comfort is never in question.” 26
- “The Premier Inn you mention is actually decent for what it is. Tarmac views, pretty quiet, and nice staff.” 22
- “Staff will give you a warm welcome and offer Arabic coffee and dates on arrival. They were attentive throughout our stay and always willing to help when we needed support.” 20
- “Wheeeeee! It's also the personal touch - the receptionist notices I have a cold and a ginger and honey tea is waiting in my room. The buggy materialises - my chariot to the souq pharmacy.” 15
- “The lobby of the hotel is regal with a blend of Arabesque and modern interiors. Our check-in and check-out was easy and swift.” 21
- “The Shangri-La Abu Dhabi is the sort of hotel where you will return after a day at the beach to find your swimsuit carefully hung up to dry by a thoughtful member of staff.” 16
- “With ample sunbathing and dining options, as well as some of the most welcoming staff in the city, family holidaymakers can tailor their experience to suit everyone.” 6
- “Our check-in and check-out was easy and swift. We stayed in the Horizon Club Deluxe King room with the breathtaking views of the Khor Al Maqta Creek and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.” 21
- “The prime location of this hotel makes it an ideal destination for exploring the delights of Abu Dhabi, set near to the airport, city centre and golf course.” 19
- “The Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, is located in a cluster of super luxe hotels, on the shore of beautiful Maqtaa Creek, with stunning views of the Sheikh Zared Mosque from nearly every vantage point.” 12
- “If I had one piece of slightly critical feedback about the hotel's location, it would be that there is currently (May 2025) a housing estate construction project taking place on the other side of the canal, which is bound to interrupt the beauty of the view in time, and is currently the source of some mild construction noise.” 10
- “Most importantly the room was very quiet and the only noise I heard was the neighbouring room leaving for breakfast in the mornings (why do people have to let their doors slam in hotels in the morning??)” 2
- “Situated in the heart of the city but with a view that take your breath away like any hideaway resort does, the hotel is a good choice for stay in UAE's capital city.” 14
- “We managed to catch the Abra one evening at sunset, and the view out over the canal was spectacular - while we meandered our way gently around the narrow waterways of the property.” 10
- “You will find the Birds of Paradise brand in the residential serviced apartments while the rest are Shangri-La products. Those with a finer taste of cuisine will most definitely enjoy Pearl & Caviar. The ambience is lounge-like with the added wellness of a great spread of seafood.” 14
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- No reviewer has named an individual room number here yet.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Nothing reliable said about building or wing.
- Nothing reliable said about which side it faces.
- Nothing reliable said about view.
- Nothing reliable said about position on the floor.
- 15 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about Shangri-la Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Deep coverage · 20/100We read 0 sources for this property, covering 0 traveler mentions, boiled down to 0 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-08-31.
Watch this hotel
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Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
6 of 6 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 26 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 26Roadside Chic: Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabivicariousmag.comReview site2026-03-26Current8 quotes used
“And at Shang Palace, tradition takes centre stage, where dim sum and expertly prepared duck are presented with ceremony and care.”
Read originalvicariousmag.com - 21Staycation at Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri Abu Dhabimegsblogged.comReview site2024-10-30Ageing7 quotes used
“The property offers extensive range of services and facilities and their dedicated staff caters to all the needs of the guests.”
Read originalmegsblogged.com - 12Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabioyster.comReview site2024-08-17Ageing5 quotes used
“Rooms at the Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, are sophisticated, with Arabian architecture and design that includes arched doorways and stunning hand-carved furniture with graceful curves that make each room seem much m…”
Read originaloyster.com - 16Honeymoon Review: Shangri-La Hotel Qaryat Al Beri, Abu ...theweddingedition.co.ukReview site2022-05-09Ageing6 quotes used
“Any questions or requests are dealt with smoothly and graciously using a Whatsapp concierge service (the response time is rapid).”
Read originaltheweddingedition.co.uk - 20Hotel Review: Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri (Abu Dhabi)shewandersabroad.comReview site2022-04-09Ageing12 quotes used
“The balcony also provided an incredible view over the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque which was a sight to behold both during the day and the night.”
Read originalshewandersabroad.com - 5Traders Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabivivamanchester.co.ukReview site2018-04-24Ageing6 quotes used
“It's a modern 'value for money' sister hotel of the Shangri-La, which is situated right next door. It's a beautiful four-star accommodation with a colourful Arabic décor.”
Read originalvivamanchester.co.uk
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