![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QXNJWCNP5DYOOV4SSZB4PEHN7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=64f0ede9b65dea6b6710d57bf3fbd38d8de04f921149c96c8945776771ed1585&width=400&height=225)
Sheraton Abu Dhabi as it looked in 2016. The hotel is no longer on the shore but a small beach remains. Courtesy: Sheraton Abu Dhabi.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7NC3P3YF4TCWEAJNI36ZHHMZ44.jpg?smart=true&auth=5cf082b9eb66addc4555e16240ca2dc5eb41fda1cebde23ed62d4abce0b0bea7&width=400&height=225)
Sheraton Abu Dhabi opened in 1979 and here is how it looked in the early 1980s. To the left is open sea while construction continues all around. Courtesy: Sheraton Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6CXXVLTE3HZSQWZZ4E63EPZ3PY.jpg?smart=true&auth=002dcc7d63b5bae62b12c29262ebcd0500bb48a6363cdacaf29c89bdebb2f8d9&width=400&height=225)
Some of Sheraton Abu Dhabi's long-serving employees. From left: Mustafa Almulla, a chef; Doj Puri, restaurant and bar manager; Hussein Tailoun, risk assessment; and Robert Yap, laundry manager. Khushnum Bhandari for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ETK44XMYNHZROE4SP3JAWGTRVY.jpg?smart=true&auth=613672d4bb1d5a91d38d34d7d3bef2e57f6a017e6ca02bb0a2ed2bf0b1445f29&width=400&height=225)
Sheraton Abu Dhabi opened on December 10, 1979. A sign outside the hotel on the Corniche celebrates that date forty years on. Khushnum Bhandari for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V7NBUOZGOWUKFIZDC3GPOQLLUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3eeb7519314ea4b66a9712fd6da0dbc6fd29b2d8c662022334439b0b6c677718&width=400&height=225)
Khalid Anib, chief executive of Abu Dhabi National Hotels, which owns the property. Sheraton Abu Dhabi is a heritage hotel and the group is privileged to own them, he said. Satish Kumar for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HDJSOIA6UMEWPC55ASJP73NPCI.jpg?smart=true&auth=794be2ef32a03ca78b22fe8e545e8e9990f54a1aeb9e8a4362cd0729fbac68f8&width=400&height=225)
The hotel with its old name - Abu Dhabi Sheraton - emblazoned on the building at some point in the 1980s. Courtesy: Sheraton Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/67AFDLGVVEVTIIYD2FN4WFEEYM.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa8c5dc31af0bb33efd81931915286ea1f7602172ba49782ad9042bc51f04901&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi's shoreline in 1991. The Sheraton is out of view at the end of the Corniche. Barry Iverson / The Life Images Collection / Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QXNJWCNP5DYOOV4SSZB4PEHN7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=64f0ede9b65dea6b6710d57bf3fbd38d8de04f921149c96c8945776771ed1585&width=400&height=225)
Sheraton Abu Dhabi as it looked in 2016. The hotel is no longer on the shore but a small beach remains. Courtesy: Sheraton Abu Dhabi.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7NC3P3YF4TCWEAJNI36ZHHMZ44.jpg?smart=true&auth=5cf082b9eb66addc4555e16240ca2dc5eb41fda1cebde23ed62d4abce0b0bea7&width=400&height=225)
Sheraton Abu Dhabi opened in 1979 and here is how it looked in the early 1980s. To the left is open sea while construction continues all around. Courtesy: Sheraton Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6CXXVLTE3HZSQWZZ4E63EPZ3PY.jpg?smart=true&auth=002dcc7d63b5bae62b12c29262ebcd0500bb48a6363cdacaf29c89bdebb2f8d9&width=400&height=225)
Some of Sheraton Abu Dhabi's long-serving employees. From left: Mustafa Almulla, a chef; Doj Puri, restaurant and bar manager; Hussein Tailoun, risk assessment; and Robert Yap, laundry manager. Khushnum Bhandari for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ETK44XMYNHZROE4SP3JAWGTRVY.jpg?smart=true&auth=613672d4bb1d5a91d38d34d7d3bef2e57f6a017e6ca02bb0a2ed2bf0b1445f29&width=400&height=225)
Sheraton Abu Dhabi opened on December 10, 1979. A sign outside the hotel on the Corniche celebrates that date forty years on. Khushnum Bhandari for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V7NBUOZGOWUKFIZDC3GPOQLLUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3eeb7519314ea4b66a9712fd6da0dbc6fd29b2d8c662022334439b0b6c677718&width=400&height=225)
Khalid Anib, chief executive of Abu Dhabi National Hotels, which owns the property. Sheraton Abu Dhabi is a heritage hotel and the group is privileged to own them, he said. Satish Kumar for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HDJSOIA6UMEWPC55ASJP73NPCI.jpg?smart=true&auth=794be2ef32a03ca78b22fe8e545e8e9990f54a1aeb9e8a4362cd0729fbac68f8&width=400&height=225)
The hotel with its old name - Abu Dhabi Sheraton - emblazoned on the building at some point in the 1980s. Courtesy: Sheraton Abu Dhabi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/67AFDLGVVEVTIIYD2FN4WFEEYM.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa8c5dc31af0bb33efd81931915286ea1f7602172ba49782ad9042bc51f04901&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi's shoreline in 1991. The Sheraton is out of view at the end of the Corniche. Barry Iverson / The Life Images Collection / Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QXNJWCNP5DYOOV4SSZB4PEHN7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=64f0ede9b65dea6b6710d57bf3fbd38d8de04f921149c96c8945776771ed1585&width=400&height=225)
Sheraton Abu Dhabi as it looked in 2016. The hotel is no longer on the shore but a small beach remains. Courtesy: Sheraton Abu Dhabi.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi: new era beckons for 40-year-old landmark
One of the capital's most famous hotels is set for a major renovation
![John Dennehy](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F6672bef4-f371-4546-90ba-13ad5ded9082.png?smart=true&auth=f1d711e1371a4276112f01656e091484625201f90342530a0b42086db97abdf2&width=70&height=70)
John Dennehy
12 December, 2019
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