St Regis Saadiyat Island

Palm trees, white sand and cobalt skies come as standard at the St Regis, one of Abu Dhabi’s most exclusive hotels, which oozes an ultra-luxurious vibe in a breezy-unstuffy way. This is a dictionary-definition fly and flop (or fly and tee-off), with a superb, mosaic-tiled spa, six restaurants and gorgeous, palm-dotted grounds.

Saadiyat also boasts the Arabian Gulf’s first beachfront course, designed by Gary Player, with greens rippling out beside the glittering sea. Book an early tee-time to avoid the worst of the heat, and spend afternoons at Saadiyat’s air-conditioned big draws; Ferrari World, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.