A look at Nation Riviera Beach Club on Abu Dhabi Corniche

The Nation Riviera Beach Club is open for business. We check out the exclusive new venue at the Abu Dhabi Corniche that comes with its very own private tunnel.

A handout photo of Nation Riviera Beach Club Debuts at The St Regis Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Nation Riviera Beach Club

It has been the subject of much discussion over the past few months – what is that fenced, sandy-white structure being built on a prime location on the Abu Dhabi Corniche?

As it turns out, it is the Nation Riviera Beach Club, which opened to the public yesterday. Run by St Regis Abu Dhabi (located across the road), it offers a private, luxurious beach and fitness experience away from the bustle of the capital’s busy waterfront.

With yearly memberships beginning from Dh17,000 for one person, Dh22,000 for a couple and Dh27,000 for a family with one child (Dh1,500 per additional child), it may cost you a pretty penny, but here are a few reasons to consider breaking the budget.

The underground tunnel

Crossing the busy Corniche road is simply not the St Regis way. Hotel residents get free entry to the club and can access it through a private underground tunnel. In a shrewd piece of marketing, guests walk through the hotel’s spa facilities and outdoor restaurant Azura on the third floor, before reaching lifts descending to the tunnel. This underground walkway is elegantly done up in white marble and has chandeliers, and ends at another set of lifts that take you up to the beach club.

Train like a Spartan

That’s the mantra of the beach club’s gym facility, which is also open to the public and boasts a range of equipment and amenities, including steam and sauna rooms. Ask for the signature Spartan Workout: sessions are Dh50 each and a package of 10 sessions costs Dh450. Gym staff can also help you plan a personally tailored diet.

The pools and beach

After signing in at the lobby, visitors will encounter a 12-by-35 metre pool (temperature-controlled, of course). There is also a Jacuzzi area and a pool bar, with staff on call to deliver your orders if you are sunbathing in any one of the pool’s 12 cabanas and loathe to move. The main drawcard, however, is the 200m stretch of private beach with dedicated sports facilities, including beach volley ball.

Beach yoga at sunrise and sunset

Yoga classes are big in the UAE, and enthusiasts can now choose to stretch their stuff at what is one of the capital’s most serene locations – on a private beach at dawn and dusk. Sessions cost Dh50 each, while a package of 10 sessions costs Dh450.

Shurouq and ghuroub

The Arabic words mean “east” and “west” and refer to the two immaculately manicured lawns flanking the club, which are ideal for product launches, photo shoots and intimate beach weddings.

The restaurants

There are plenty of tasty options available at Cabana, the club’s signature outdoor restaurant, where the tables are strategically placed for the best views over the water. Must-try dishes include fish tacos (Dh65), which come with marinated red cabbage, cucumber, avocado and coriander, and the classic fish and chips (Dh75), served with caramelised lemon and tarter sauce and a side of green salad, hand-cut fries or sweet potato fries.

The beach club will soon be home to Asia de Cuba, an Asian-Latin American culinary hot spot that will open towards the end of the year. Designed by the renowned restaurateur Jeffery Chodorow, the restaurant has branches in London and Miami.

• Day passes are available for Dh300 on weekdays and public holidays and Dh400 on weekends. Visit www.nationrivierabeachclub.com for nire details