Hilton hotel in Abu Dhabi, circa 1975. The hotel is undergoing a refurbishment and will reopen as a Radisson. Courtesy Alain Saint Hillaire
Michael Stokes during his visit to the Beach Hotel, Abu Dhabi, with his father, a pilot for Gulf Aviation, in the mid-1960s Photo: Michael Stokes
The hotel's exterior. A lone palm tree stood at the entrance. Photo: Michael Stokes
Michael inside the Beach Hotel in the 1960s. Photo: Michael Stokes
Michael on the roof of the hotel. The view is in the direction of Qasr Al Hosn. Photo: Michael Stokes
A different view from the roof. Beyond is what would become Mina Zayed. Photo: Michael Stokes
Abu Dhabi town in 1963, with the Beach Hotel at the top. Photo: David Riley
A closer look at Abu Dhabi in 1963. The Beach Hotel is in the middle of the red circle. Photo: David Riley
The hotel would close in the mid-1970s with larger plans in place for the area. Photo: BP Archive
The crossing into Abu Dhabi island in the early 1960s. Al Maqta Tower is on the left and the customs post is ahead. Photo: David Riley
What we now know as Abu Dhabi Corniche, at some point between 1962 and 1964. There was no port then, meaning larger ships anchored offshore, and smaller vessels brought goods to land. The island was also then prone to tidal flooding. Photo: David Riley
Abu Dhabi Corniche in the early 1960s, with the Beach Hotel circled left. Photo: David Riley.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi was built close to where Beach Hotel once stood. Photo: Sheraton Abu Dhabi
Hilton hotel in Abu Dhabi, circa 1975. The hotel is undergoing a refurbishment and will reopen as a Radisson. Courtesy Alain Saint Hillaire
Michael Stokes during his visit to the Beach Hotel, Abu Dhabi, with his father, a pilot for Gulf Aviation, in the mid-1960s Photo: Michael Stokes
The hotel's exterior. A lone palm tree stood at the entrance. Photo: Michael Stokes
Michael inside the Beach Hotel in the 1960s. Photo: Michael Stokes
Michael on the roof of the hotel. The view is in the direction of Qasr Al Hosn. Photo: Michael Stokes
A different view from the roof. Beyond is what would become Mina Zayed. Photo: Michael Stokes
Abu Dhabi town in 1963, with the Beach Hotel at the top. Photo: David Riley
A closer look at Abu Dhabi in 1963. The Beach Hotel is in the middle of the red circle. Photo: David Riley
The hotel would close in the mid-1970s with larger plans in place for the area. Photo: BP Archive
The crossing into Abu Dhabi island in the early 1960s. Al Maqta Tower is on the left and the customs post is ahead. Photo: David Riley
What we now know as Abu Dhabi Corniche, at some point between 1962 and 1964. There was no port then, meaning larger ships anchored offshore, and smaller vessels brought goods to land. The island was also then prone to tidal flooding. Photo: David Riley
Abu Dhabi Corniche in the early 1960s, with the Beach Hotel circled left. Photo: David Riley.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi was built close to where Beach Hotel once stood. Photo: Sheraton Abu Dhabi
Hilton hotel in Abu Dhabi, circa 1975. The hotel is undergoing a refurbishment and will reopen as a Radisson. Courtesy Alain Saint Hillaire