Soak up the island way of life with the added luxury of a clean conscience at Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi, the first hotel in the Middle East recognised and awarded by The Oceanic Standard for its revolutionary plastic-free and sustainable initiatives. Our mission is to blend luxury and sustainability seamlessly, and we’re immensely proud to have been recognised with this prestigious Ocean Champion badge.

The first of its kind in the United Arab Emirates

The resort has been the first hotel in the United Arab Emirates to set up an on-site water filtration system, reducing energy usage and transport. The team believes that hotels and resorts must join in the fight to preserve our planet for future generations and recognise that going green doesn’t necessarily mean cutting out the luxuries. Becoming as sustainable as possible will not only benefit the earth, but also our collective conscience.

Recognition from The Oceanic Standard

The Oceanic Standard is an international NGO that works to verify and spotlight eco-friendly hotels the world over. Hotels that make a significant effort to reduce their environmental impact are awarded for their efforts, to encourage a positive shift in the industry. Many elements of each hotel’s practices are assessed, both on the surface and behind-the-scenes, and these include single-use plastic consumption, food waste management, sustainable food procurement and the use of non-toxic products. Here at Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island, we have taken important actions to promote environmental health and we’re delighted to be celebrated with an Ocean Champion badge.

Steps towards sustainability

During your stay, you can enjoy personal care products that are non-toxic or packaged in bulk containers or glass containers instead of single-use plastic. The resort is partnered with Trust Your Water, a Dubai-based water management company. We’ve taken steps to improve our single-plastic usage, from refillable shower amenities to swapping plastic straws for eco-friendly wheat straw alternatives. We ensure takeaway containers are made with fibre-based materials and cloth laundry bags. Other eco initiatives launched at the resort include our extensive in-house recycling scheme, greywater recycling, environmentally friendly thermostats in guest rooms and marine degradable packaging for toiletries.

On-site Marine Biologist

Here at the resort, we hope your experiences with sustainability live on after your visit. Our own Marine Biologist is always on hand to offer you educational sessions and can talk about the resort’s various eco-conscious initiatives to teach you various practices that you can hopefully take home with you and share with your friends and loved ones.

Supporting local sea-turtles and humpback dolphins

A recent study conducted by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) found that over 700 humpback dolphins live close to the coast of Abu Dhabi, making it the largest known population in the world. You can also enjoy an eco-tour through the nearby Saadiyat mangroves to view these beautiful creatures in the wild, as the humpbacks are often seen hunting in the wetland forests that border the sea. Sea turtles have long been a protected species in the Gulf, and you can find seven different species in the surrounding undisturbed beach at the resort, including the endangered Hawksbill.

Speak to the concierge at Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort and they will direct you to the best dolphin-spotting teams in Abu Dhabi, as well as when to visit hatching sea turtles.