Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara

the experience was amazing, the private buffet with the atmosphere was surreal and the night sky was gorgeous. vijth room dining also provided incredible service, the rooms were also gorgeous. the trip is completely worth the value.

I’m almost embarrassed to write this because it sounds OTT and like I got paid to do it, but this may genuinely be one of the greatest hotels in the world. I’ve been very lucky to travel widely and experience some extraordinary places, and Qasr is right up there. Not in a flashy, shouty way — but in a deeply considered, quietly astonishing one. We landed in AD, picked up our car, and drove out into the desert — about two and a half hours, and honestly an easy drive once you’re out of the city. Long stretches of arrow-straight road, then suddenly winding tracks through the dunes, and then you see it: the hotel appearing in the middle distance, set against this vast, cinematic desert backdrop. Yes, it’s man-made, but it’s done with such sensitivity that it feels intentional, not imposed. The UAE can sometimes veer into tacky territory — this absolutely does not. Whoever designed this should win awards. It’s luxurious without showing off, subtle without being dull, accessible and comfortable yet still very special. Check-in was beautifully handled. You’re taken care of from start to finish, personally escorted and oriented, rather than processed. Sasha, who looked after us, gave us her WhatsApp number and genuinely meant it — we messaged with a follow-up question later and she was warm, friendly, and responsive. That tone carries through the whole stay. Our room was the desert-view terrace room, and it was stunning. Immaculately maintained, extremely comfortable bed, generous space, and a pillow menu (I was particularly grateful for the foam option). The room gets properly dark at night, which I loved. But what really struck me was the quiet. Complete silence. No neighbours, no corridor noise, no sense of other people at all. Sitting out on the terrace, looking at the dunes, you feel genuinely secluded. Sustainability here feels thoughtful rather than performative. Beautiful reusable water bottles, glass containers throughout, and I don’t recall seeing much plastic at all. It was refreshing to see such care taken in a luxury setting. Now for the real highlight: the desert experiences. We booked the family drive — you head out in a Toyota 4x4 with a guide into the dunes — and our guide, Waris, was exceptional. Truly exceptional. He’s been doing this for 14 years and it shows. He knew exactly where to go, how to read the landscape, and — more importantly — how to read us. He struck a perfect balance between calm, serene exploration and moments of adrenaline, gently checking in, intuitively sensing when to push a little and when to pull back. Empathic, smart, deeply professional. If you come here, request him if you can. We also did stargazing. Because we visited during a near-full moon, visibility was limited (that’s just science, not their fault), but Levi did a wonderful job filling the time with fascinating stories — ancient and modern astronomy — and showed us what we could see through the telescope. If I came again specifically for stargazing, I’d choose a darker moon phase, but even so, being out in the desert at night was magical. A practical note: do not underestimate how cold the desert gets. People were freezing. Bring thermals, socks, hats, gloves — everything. You can always take layers off, but you don’t want to be a popsicle. Breakfast was a joy. Sitting out on the terrace, dunes stretching endlessly in front of you, with genuinely delicious food. Lunch and dinner were equally strong. We ate at Suhail and had an incredible steak, with excellent service from Alex, whose dry, deadpan humour we loved. All the restaurants are beautifully designed, each with a distinct personality. One small quibble: because they all face the desert, sound carries, and at times you can hear overlapping music from different spaces, which slightly disrupts the ambience. Some sound engineering or volume management would really elevate this. Housekeeping was the one area that felt slightly less polished than the rest. Mostly very good, but one day our room wasn’t cleaned until around 5pm, and the standard wasn’t quite on par with the rest of the hotel — nothing major, just noticeable in a place where everything else is so refined. The infinity pool is gorgeous — and heated. Properly heated. I loved this. The atmosphere is calm and relaxed, never busy or rowdy. This is not a high-energy party hotel or hen-do destination, and thank goodness for that. It’s a place for people who want to slow down, notice things, and rest. At times, the whole place feels cinematic. There are moments where you half expect a film crew to appear. If you’ve seen Dune, you’ll know exactly what I mean. They filmed it here!! Sunrises and sunsets here are extraordinary. Yes, it’s expensive — but it felt entirely worth it. Rare. Considered. Deeply restful. I would happily come back, and honestly, I hope I do. This is the kind of place where your nervous system finally gets the message that it’s safe to switch off.

If you're looking for a unique stay with beautiful natural sights and landscape, this is the spot. We traveled as a family with a 20 month old, and this was a great escape with a variety of activities she could participate in (hotel farmhouse with different animals), great kids club, kids pool. Staff are extremely kind and friendly and make your stay completely hassle-free.

One of the best experiences of my life, this place is so special, I strongly recommend this resort, the walk on the dunes, the light, the service, the relax on the pool watching the full desert is outstanding.

Unique concept , stoning location with top service standards Excellent food, heated pools, quality of spa , gym, excursion Place for families but also for adults as have great adults only zone