Amara: Lebanese Hospitality Finds a Playful Home on Yas Island
Lebanese warmth, without the formality
Amara sits inside The WB Abu Dhabi, but its personality is deliberately its own. The restaurant describes itself through the idea of celebrating “the Lebanese way”, and that translates into a dining room built around generosity, sharing and a long table rather than a quick hotel meal. Contemporary presentation keeps the mood polished, while the food remains recognisably Lebanese: cold and hot mezze, freshly baked breads, salads, grilled meats and seafood, followed by sweets that lean into familiar flavours and textures.
The menu is strongest when several dishes land together. Batata-style potatoes, moutabal, halloumi and seafood-led mezze can lead into mixed grills or sea bass, creating the kind of progression that suits a group better than an overly choreographed tasting menu. Amara has also made breakfast part of its identity, with generous sharing trays that bring together foul, falafel, labneh, eggs, manakish and warm breads. It is an approach that feels particularly well suited to Yas Island, where families, hotel guests and local diners often want a table that can stretch comfortably across generations.
From breakfast to a later Yas Island mood
The restaurant changes character across the day. Breakfast is relaxed and family-friendly, helped by a children’s play area, while evenings add shisha and live music to the equation. That day-to-night versatility is important: Amara is not trying to compete with The WB’s themed attractions, but to offer an adult, sociable Lebanese counterpoint within the same destination.
Its food has also earned local recognition. At the What’s On Abu Dhabi Awards 2026, Amara was Highly Commended in the Favourite Fine Dining Middle Eastern Restaurant category. That accolade makes sense in context. The cooking is approachable rather than ceremonious, yet there is enough refinement in the ingredients, plating and service style to move the restaurant beyond a casual mezze stop.
Why it belongs on the Yas dining map
For Simply Abu Dhabi, Amara’s appeal lies in the balance: it can handle a leisurely breakfast, a family lunch, a long Lebanese dinner or a later evening with music and shisha without losing its central identity. The setting inside The WB makes it convenient; the hospitality gives it a reason to visit even when the hotel itself is not the destination.
Practical details
Location: The WB Abu Dhabi, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Cuisine: Contemporary Lebanese
Email address: info@amara-arabia.ae
Telephone: +971 50 777 0543