Inside Bvlgari’s Abu Dhabi island resort: Gold facade and Priyanka Chopra glamour

It’s what I would call the pinnacle of ultra-hospitality. Together with Eagle Hills, we’re developing the Bvlgari Resort & Mansions on a natural, horseshoe-shaped private island just a few hundred metres from the Presidential Palace and the Corniche. It’s an incredibly pristine setting — but what makes it unique is its proximity to the city. You’ll be immersed in nature, surrounded by the sea, yet just minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi. It’s a true retreat — intimate, exclusive, and connected. We’re blending privacy and accessibility in a way that’s very rare.

Yes, but it’s a major project. The island is natural, so we need to create some transformation — channels to improve seawater flow, sustainable infrastructure, electricity, and water — before we even start construction. We want the environment to thrive. The idea is to make it fully functional and preserve the natural beauty while adding luxury hospitality at the highest level.

Whether it’s a necklace on Priyanka Chopra at Taormina, Italy, or a villa in Abu Dhabi, we want to create moments you’ll never forget. Our brand is about crafting emotions and memories that stay with you forever. This resort will offer a full experience — incredible villas, restaurants, spa, diving, privacy — a destination where you’ll never need to leave the island.

The resort will have 60 suites and rooms in the main building, and 30 beachside villas, each with private pools. There will be a standout five-bedroom, 1,200 sqm Bvlgari Villa, set in its own park with a private beach and a 20-meter pool. On the residential side, there will be 90 private mansions — some as large as 2,500 sqm, some with private docks for 25-meter yachts, others overlooking quiet inner coves. And of course, all of this will be done in signature Bvlgari style, blending volume, elegance, and Italian craftsmanship.

If I were a celebrity, this is where I’d want to go. Privacy is at the heart of the concept. The hotel and mansions are fully private — only accessible to guests or owners. Even the Yacht Club, which will offer beach access and dining to a select membership, is completely separated from the resort’s private areas. Celebrities and high-profile guests are looking for intimacy. This resort guarantees that, while still being minutes from the city.

The resort is being designed by Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel, who’ve designed all our hotels. The concept is “glass and gold rising from the sand” — an architectural tribute to both Roman opulence and the craftsmanship of Abu Dhabi. It’s unique. Unlike our Dubai property, this one uses different materials to reflect the local culture. The landscape, designed by LAND SRL, will be a living experience — dunes, gardens, and crafted forms inspired by both Arabian and Italian design traditions.

This will be low-rise, but everything is monumental in its own way. The villas and mansions are not only spacious but designed with soaring ceilings and powerful volumes — like Roman temples. It’s not just surface area that makes them extraordinary; it’s the feeling you get from the space and design. These will be among the largest villas we’ve ever built for a resort, with direct beach access and private pools.

We’re not here to do one or two hotels. We now have nine operating properties and four under construction — in the Maldives, Bahamas, Miami, and Bodrum. Abu Dhabi will be the fifth, taking us to 14 by 2030. Our average is just 90 keys per location, which is intentional. The new resort mirrors that — 60 suites and 30 villas. This smaller scale allows us to really connect with guests, understand their preferences, and anticipate their needs.

Exactly. Italian hospitality is about sharing — your home, your meals, your time. That intimacy can’t be replicated by training videos or PowerPoints. Many of our staff are Italian, or trained by Italians, and that culture is passed on.

Long-term, Saudi Arabia is a no-brainer. It has an amazing coastline along the Red Sea — still pristine, still protected. But it’s early days. We’re watching how the infrastructure and connectivity evolve. Right now, most flights go through Riyadh. In four or five years, we’ll have a clearer idea. We’re not in a rush — if and when we move into Saudi Arabia, we want to do it at the highest standard.

Yes, and we wanted the façade to reflect that cultural taste. Combining gold with glass creates something very contemporary, but still opulent — very much in line with what people in this region appreciate. It's elegant, not flashy. This project will be different from our Dubai property and deeply connected to Abu Dhabi's identity.

It’s not just another hotel. This is going to be a landmark — a monument that reflects everything Bvlgari stands for: timeless design, bold architecture, ultimate privacy, and a deep sense of place. When we open in 2030, this won’t just be a destination — it’ll be a global statement.