Amenities on the ever-expanding Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

What's in and around Saadiyat Island

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is the only beachside course in the Middle East. Stephen Lock / The National

What's there?

Hotels

Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi The 306-room hotel opened in November and is home to five food and beverage outlets, a three-storey spa and four outdoor pools.

The St Regis, Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi also launched late last year. It features seven themed restaurants as well as the Iridium Spa.

Golf

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club The Gary Player-designed course weaves between the sea and sand dunes, and is anchored by a Frank Gehry-designed clubhouse.

Yas Links Golf Course Located a short distance from Saadiyat, it is the first links course in the region.

Wildlife

The island's south-east coast is home to natural wetlands and lush mangrove forests, which are a haven for local wildlife.

A nine-kilometre stretch on the northern end of Saadiyat Beach is a nesting site for the endangered hawksbill turtle. A series of elevated boardwalks have been set up so that people can watch the turtles without disturbing their nests.

Cultural facilities

Manarat Al Saadiyat A 15,400-square-metre visitor centre designed to highlight the vision behind the island.

The UAE Pavilion On display for six months at the Shanghai Expo 2010, it was recently relocated to its permanent home on Saadiyat Island. The Fosters + Partners-designed structure acts as an exhibition and events venue.

Beach club

The Monte-Carlo Beach Club, Saadiyat The now fully operational club offers its exclusive members an expansive outdoor swimming pool, luxurious cabanas, a kids' pool and extensive spa facilities. Restaurants range from the club's signature fine dining venue, Le Deck, to Sea Lounge, a permanent outdoor venue modelled on the club's Monte Carlo counterpart.

The Club Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, The Club is located just on the Abu Dhabi side of the bridge joining the two islands, so there's no fighting the commuter traffic to get there. Along with a gym and tennis courts, it boasts nine restaurants and lounges and various community activities.

Outdoor activities

A short distance from Saadiyat, The Yas Gateway Park is an ideal setting for outdoor pursuits, whether you want to cycle, fly a kite, play football with the kids or simply lounge in the sun.

Motorsports

The Yas KartZone and Yas Racing School at Yas Marina Circuit offer an opportunity for visitors to hone their driving skills.

Amusement

Ferrari World on Yas Island features the world's fastest roller coaster plus other rides for young and old.

Museums and cultural centres

The Zayed National Museum will focus on the region's history, and is due to open in 2016. The Louvre Abu Dhabi will display art, manuscripts and objects of historical, cultural and sociological significance and is due in 2015. The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be a platform for contemporary art and culture when it opens in 2017. A Zaha Hadid-designed Performing Arts Centre will be built as part of Saadiyat Cultural District's second phase of development.

Marina

The Saadiyat Beach Marina Village will feature a 150-berth marina with facilities for vessels between 10 and 25 metres.

More golf

The Saadiyat Reserve Golf Club will be a 72-par, 18-hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones II.

Amusement

A new waterpark is set to open at the end of next year on Yas Island, right next to Ferrari World. It will feature more than 40 rides including slide tubes, a lazy river boat ride and cable skiing - a form of water skiing.

General

The Saadiyat Beach District will eventually include a community centre, post office, nursery, medical centre and grocery store.