IT’S A dazzling day in the Rub’ al-Khali – also known as the Empty Quarter. Famed for being the largest continuous desert in the world and where Dune, Star Wars, Mission Impossible and many other Hollywood hits have been filmed, the Rub’ al-Khali’s undulating landscape is intensely mesmerising.
I’ve arrived at Anantara Qasr Al Sarab – a desert resort nestled away in the Arabian Peninsula. Boasting 140 rooms, 14 suites, and 53 pool villas, the hotel is a luxurious destination for families, couples, and solo travellers alike.
Anantara Qasr Al Sarab
As I make my way to the hotel lobby, the staff eagerly offer me a fresh juice drink to revitalise the senses after a two-hour drive from Zayed International Airport. The hotel’s castle-like exterior echoes its opulent decor. From lanterns lining every pathway to the decorative rugs adorning the floors, Qasr Al Sarab carefully intertwines Arabian design with contemporary style.
After check-in, I’m promptly whisked away via golf buggy to my accommodation for the next two nights – one of the hotel’s pool villas. Offering complete privacy and peace, the villa overlooks a sweeping vista of impressive dunes and features its own private plunge pool and sundeck, outdoor shower, and relaxing lounge area.
Anantara Qasr Al Sarab
A dip in the pool is a must for combatting the desert heat. Fortunately, the hotel has a variety to choose from. For those wanting to enjoy a calming swim, the adults-only infinity pool is ideal. Meanwhile, the oasis-style family-friendly pool lies at the centre of the resort, surrounded by palms and buzzing with life.
Running adjacent to the family-friendly swimming pool is Naseem – the hotel’s pool bar. It’s easy to build up an appetite after frolicking in the water, and Naseem’s selection of culinary delights is difficult to resist. Sharing plates, frozen slushies, fresh fruit cocktails, and sweet treats are all on the menu. However, if more lunch options are needed, Qasr Al Sarab’s Ghadeer is an excellent choice.
Anantara Qasr Al Sarab
Anantara Qasr Al Sarab
Located just next to Naseem, Ghadeer is one of the hotel’s sparkling dining venues. Specialising in globally inspired signature dishes, Ghadeer’s menu standouts include the seafood cioppino, Levantine mezze platter, and the Devil chocolate cake.
Anantara Qasr Al Sarab
Similarly, the hotel’s spa is a 5-minute walk – or two-minute buggy drive – away. To uncover the healing powers of the desert, I indulge in a 60-minute Desert Fusion Massage and feel all my tension and stress melt away.
The spa is certainly one of the resort’s biggest attractions. Guests can choose from a plethora of massages, body treatments, sound bath meditations, facials, and more while visiting the wellness hotspot. Facilities include two heated jacuzzis, two steam rooms, an ice room, a sauna, and five gorgeous treatment rooms.
Anantara Qasr Al Sarab
As I leave the spa with a glass of ginger and star anise juice in one hand and a home-grown date from Qasr Al Sarab’s Ezba in the other, I’m feeling physically and mentally energised.
The Ezba is similar to a farm however, traditionally, it is much more rooted in Emirati tradition. With an Emirati eye, an Ezba is a place where plants and animals are nurtured, and the next generation is taught how to look after the land.
Chene, my guide for the day, invites me on a tour of the Ezba, showcasing the hotel’s various greenhouses and pastures. As one of the hotel’s sustainability initiatives, the Ezba collects all the food waste from Qasr Al Sarab and converts it into compost for its plants.
From my visit to the Ezba, it’s evident that the hotel prioritises fresh, organic ingredients. Vibrant fruit and vegetables are grown in various allotments and are often gazed upon by the hotel’s greedy-eyed camels and gazelles.
The Ezba not only provides food for the hotel but also permits many unique leisure activities. Horse riding, falcon and saluki shows, night-time discovery walks, and camel trekking are available, thanks to the hotel being in the largest conservation area in the UAE.
Anantara Qasr Al Sarab
For those wanting to make the most of their desert escape, there are additional activities at hand, such as stargazing, desert drives, archery, and tennis. It comes as no surprise that stargazing is a particularly popular activity. When one is in the middle of the desert, the non-existent light pollution allows crystal-clear cosmos visibility.
Guests can also marvel at the stars while enjoying a meal at Al Falaj. Specialising in Bedouin-style dining, the venue is a romantic, intimate space for an al fresco gastronomic adventure. Alternatively, the hotel’s rooftop steakhouse, Suhail, also offers expansive views of the desert skies.
Anantara Qasr Al Sarab
As I drive away from the hotel feeling rejuvenated and light, the blanket of desert dunes slowly hides my view of Qasr Al Sarab, enveloping the resort in a mystical mirage of allure.
by Sophie Richardson
Rates at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara start from AED 995 (£208) in a Deluxe Balcony Room with breakfast. To book visit www.anantara.com/qasr-al-sarab-abu-dhabi