THE RITZ-CARLTON RAS AL KHAIMAH, AL HAMRA BEACH

Book in for a luxurious and tropical beach escape – no plane ticket required

Few places in the UAE really offer supreme privacy quite like The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach. Made up of 32 exclusive private villas with private pools, the boutique hotel offers an exclusive escape 90 minutes from Dubai.

Close to Al Marjan Island, Al Hamra Beach feels very secluded, yet is conveniently located only a short five-minute drive away from shops and amenities. The drive from Dubai flies by, and the arrival experience begins with a five-minute boat ride to the welcome jetty. Technically the hotel isn’t on an island, but this clever tactic sure makes it feel that way.

Villas are lined up along a winding path, surrounded by high white walls and an abundance of lush greenery to create a completely private setting. The beach is vast and peaceful, and guests can enjoy a range of water sports, including kayaking. The resort is long, so if your room is at the far end, you’ll need to call the buggy to get to the restaurant or lobby.

The villas are inspired by Bedouin tents – if Bedouins had impeccable taste and were partial to chic monochrome furniture. We stayed in an Al Shamal Ocean View Villa, which has a large four poster bed complete with sheer white curtains, facing a black and white leather storage unit from where a flat screen

TV rises out. There’s a large bay window with a spacious reading nook, and a tray set up on arrival for us to DIY our own cocktails. Every inch of the space oozes with luxury and all details have been considered to make guests feel at home.

Al Hamra Beach is the type of resort where you really escape from the world, so expect to spend the majority of your stay in your villa. It comes with a private pool, outdoor shower, and bathtub, as well as a long path leading towards the beach, and a sundeck at the end to watch the sunset. The pool is perfectly chilled and reaches a depth of 1.3 metres so you can properly submerge and relax, before making your way to the cabana for a spot of sunbathing. An Instagrammable floating breakfast was served not long after sunrise, on a wicker tray that balances on the water with a selection of exotic fruits, eggs, coffee, pancakes, French toast and more.

The resort has just the one restaurant, Shore House, a nautical themed all-day diner serving a variety of international dishes. Well-presented and tasty, the food is clearly an important focus for the team, ensuring that the menu includes something for everyone, from pasta and risotto to steak and seafood.

A night in the Al Bahar Tented Villa during June starts from Dhs1,680, including breakfast, beach access and private pool.

The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Hamra Beach, Vienna Street, Ras Al Khaimah. Tel: (0)7 204 8888. ritzcarlton.com