The St. Regis brand is officially up and running in the Middle East with this week’s opening of the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort.

The location offers plenty of nature. On Saadiyat Island, dolphins can be spotted in the surf and hawksbill turtles find refuge in the dunes by the beach. All the rooms and suites feature ocean views, as does the airy lobby. Yet the center of Abu Dhabi is only 10 minutes away by car.

Among the restaurants is Sontaya, with Southeast Asian fare served in glass-walled pavilions set amid interconnected ponds, and a classic grill venue inspired by the original St. Regis in New York.

The resort features the region’s first Iridium Spa, where Thai and Balinese treatments are given in 12 rooms and three spa suites with private terraces and pools.