Just returned from the Rotana; a strange mix of business and holidaying people. The hotel is very much geared towards, business people with expenses. They charge for absolutley anything, milk for inroom coffee. The inroom internet is wickely expensive. If you pay you get it! The senior staff we met are very sirly, and business like. No frills or compromise. The Rosebud resturant food was just OK. This is a reported 5 star hotel, when certain luxuries are taken for granted, but not here. The service at best is intermittmant and lacking. The only pool is OK, the service dire. Not once in 10 days did we get asked if we wanted a sunlounger service drink, rather wander to the bar. Other hotels offer cool wet hand towels, sunbed towel covering service and a bit of pampering, it is our annual break after all.
There are certainly better hotels out there! Certainly very average. And all at very 5 star prices.

We have just returned from a week at the Rotana, followed by a week at Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai.

We enjoyed the week at the Rotana, and couldn't fault the hotel, although as others have said, it is uncomfortable walking through the lobby when going to and returning to the beach, when there are so many smart business people there.

The main problem with this hotel is the view of the huge building site on the island opposite, which is very close to the hotel. During the week we were there, 24 hours a day, a crane dropped a huge piece of concrete to the ground once every 50 seconds, causing the hotel to actually shake!

There is also a lot of noise when at the pool, from the hotels airconditioning system, constantly droning in the background.

So, even though the hotel is lovely, until the building on the island is finished in a couple of years time, I wouldn't recommend visiting, and then when the building is finished, that is all you will see, hotels, towers and apartment blocks.

ı stayed in beach rotana in abu dabi last year with a close friend of mine and we reallllyyyy enjoyed the hotel ..
ı mean the staff is really great ,they treat customers as if they know us for a long time...that is sooo professional and even ı received this as a feedback in my job:))and ı wrote a mail to the management after ı returned back to my home in order to thank to the staff..

also we really enjoyed the food and drinks in trader's restoran in the hotel...
ı really would like to be there again...

My husband and i have just returned from the Rotana and i felt that i had to write a review,as tripadvisor and its members were so helpful before we went!
The hotel was fabulous!!The rooms(we booked a premier)were outstanding!Huge walk-in shower,bath.very comfy bed and lots of space.Mini-bar items were overpriced,but we went to the co-op in the mall.very cheap(6 cans of coke and 2 bottles of water under a pound!)
The hotel is a city centre hotel,therefore there are a lot of business people staying there,along side the holiday makers.This can feel slightly strange in the reception area at first but so long as you put on a t-shirt when returning from the pool,its fine.
The food is outstanding,both at the buffet and the restaurants.Try the steak at breakfast(!!).
We ate at pregos-lovely,Indigo-beautiful,if you enjoy indian food and the fish restaurant Finz..Now that was superb!!My husband is still raving about it and is adamant its the best meal he's ever had!!

we drank mostly at the German bar in hotel.Great beer and a nice atmosphere.But do try The Captains Arms at the nearby Le Meridian hotel.A lot less formal.Basically a traditional British pub!
The pool area at Rotana was great,although when we went it was 50 degrees!!!The pool was chilled though!!
Went to dubai for the day.A private taxi would have been £80 but our rep advised us to hire a car with driver for the day(8 hours)for £110.Well worth it.He took us where we wanted,and gave invaluble information.If you want longer than 8 hours its an extra £5 per hr.
To sum up,its the nicest hotel i've visited and i wouldn't hesitate to recommend it!
ENJOY x
Kathryn Nottingham England