QASR AL SARAB DESERT RESORT BY ANANTARA

A true oasis of luxury in Abu Dhabi’s Empty Quarter...

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara is an unashamedly palatial oasis, a true ‘sand castle’ overlooked on all sides by towering dunes. It’s known as a luxury retreat for the international travel market’s seclusion seekers, offering premium pampering, walkabout wellness journeys, bedouin-inspired experiences and royal court-level service. But we wanted to check in, and check out just how well it functions as a staycation setting for families.

The journey to Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara is an incantation, it’s part of the resort’s spell, contributing in no small part to the experiential sense of exclusivity and secluded allure. It’s two hours from Downtown Abu Dhabi (and three hours from Dubai), along desert roads that chase an ocean of rising and crashing sand through the Empty Quarter. On your journey, way beyond the clawing shadows of skyscrapers you’ll cross over the latitudinal parallel marking the Tropic of Cancer.

UAE desert hotels represent some of the most spectacular ‘getting-away-from-it-all’ vacation opportunities available anywhere in the world. They’re a rare breed, in scenery and in the level of juxtaposition between home and holiday. And Qasr Al Sarab is perhaps the truest archetype of these sorts of resort.

This desert chateau holds 140 rooms, 14 suites and 53 pool villas (we stayed in the latter). The design themes from the hotel’s communal areas continue into the private quarters, with exquisite finishes and a romantic reverence for the bedouin lifestyle. Large private plunge pools sit in the rear of the villa and offer panoramic views of the surrounding desertscape.

Relaxation is the chief mantra at casa Qasr. And whatever that means to you. There’s plenty on offer at the spa, beyond the usual treatments and massages, a traditional Moroccan hammam with marble beds for example; an ice room; Biologique Recherchetrained therapists; desert yoga sessions; sunset meditation and more. There is a huge (supervised) kid’s club, a teen’s club, gym, padel courts and swimming pools. Desert specific activities include sandsurfing, camel riding, nature trekking, star gazing, dune buggying, archery, falconry and saluki shows, fat biking, horse riding and an alfresco cinema.

Following a comprehensive menu glow up at the hands of a locally based cheffing legend, the recently relaunched Al Falaj by Dina Macki is now serving regionally inspired aromatic awe on majlis style seating, under the stars.

Pro tip: There’s a page of special offers on the anantara.com with discounted room rates for GCC residents, bonus added extras and some attractive package inclusions. But even just going off the standard rates, you can pick up villas from around Dhs4,000, suites from Dhs3,200 and rooms from less than Dhs2,000. This isn’t shoestring budget territory, but when you compare it to similar properties, it genuinely does translate into fantastic value.