Desert Oasis Resort Escapes from Dubai & Abu Dhabi

My most recent stay was during a 10-day larger family trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi over Christmas. After five days of thrilling ziplines, fast cars, cityscape photo tour and a carry-on overflowing with spices and Dubai chocolate, I was ready for some relaxation as we climbed into a van that would be transporting us away from the city of the future and into the neverending dunes of the surrounding desert and the heart of Emirati culture.

Since we would be visiting Abu Dhabi at the end of our trip I chose to stay at the Qasar Al Sarab by Anantara, a three-hour drive from Dubai and 90 minutes from Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (heli-transport also available), situated in the vast Empty Quarter Desert portion of Abu Dhabi known for its unique red tinged sand and towering dunes. For those looking for similar resort experiences closer to Dubai, there’s the fantastic tented-villa resort of Al Maha, perfect for adults-only trips and the newest gem around the same area, the Bab Al Shams which combines contemporary interiors within a traditional Arabian themed exterior. Both of these resorts offer similar desert experiences, sumptuous spas and refreshing pools.

Our drive from Dubai ended up going by relatively quickly and about an hour outside of passing Abu Dhabi, the flat desert gave way to larger and larger dunes until you couldn’t quite tell the direction of the road any longer. Our first clue we were getting close to the resort was when we spotted a line of camels slowly and leisurely making their way across the crest of a nearby dune. Soon we turned into the resort entrance and although we still couldn’t see any buildings, we spotted the resort’s bedouin camp, then horses and finally the dunes gave way to a palm-lined entrance and the lush oasis of Qasar al Sarab opened before us… it was quite an arrival impression!

Exiting our vehicle, we were met by our butler Shubham who had reached out days prior to help with reservations for all the resort activities and spa treatments and we were guided into the library and served welcome refreshments while completing our check-in paperwork. Next, we were transferred to our rooms. We had opted for a two-bedroom villa and we loved the split floor plan layout which was very comfortable for a family of four with a spacious living, dining and office area that opened up to our terrace and private pool. Honestly, I could have spent the entire stay in the villa and been very happy. The grounds of the resort are beautiful and serene and I was surprised that despite the busy season and the hotel being at capacity, it never felt crowded and I went for strolls around the property and only passed a few others. They also do an excellent job spreading our activities and accommodating everyone so that nothing feels too full or too much of a wait.

Over the course of our three-day/two-night stay we participated in many desert activities such as falconry, ATV rides through the desert and visiting the heritage village within the resort grounds where they house animals and have structures to show the historical desert life. My favorite was the sunset falconry show. Hosted in the resort’s bedouin camp, we had a chance to see the former hunting birds up close and learn about their training and autonomy - they’re all wild birds that the trainers work with and usually after some time, the birds decide when it's time to leave and will simply fly away. We also learned about the strict animal welfare rules of the UAE and how these birds and animals are very important to the heritage of the Emirati. I was impressed by how well they were cared for. My teen and pre-teen kids loved the dunes, they spent hours climbing up and sliding down right outside the walls of our villa. They also enjoyed the desert ATV rides and the track older kids/teens could drive on. The crowning jewel of this stay for me was the pampering from the spa. I opted for the hammam experience and this was unique from other hammams I’ve visited as the entire treatment was completely private including the sauna and thermal pool. Others in our party opted for different massage treatments and all had an incredible experience. The other special thing the resort offers are desert photoshoots. We opted for a golden hour family session and they turned out exquisite and so very well worth it. They also offer flying dress shoots which would make for great engagement photos or for a fun influencer-like look.

For meals, you will be spending all your time on the resort and there are several restaurants to choose from including private dining experiences for special occasions (we saw a proposal set-up one evening where the resort had arranged a camp-style private dinner and then created a flaming heart fire in the sand-so romantic!) For our Christmas dinner, the resort had a special outdoor Arabian bbq with cozy family-style meals and seating and the last night we dined at the resort's steakhouse, Suhail, which was everyone’s favorite meal of our entire trip. The breakfast buffet was huge and included a made-to-order menu, the quality was not sacrificed for quantity as often in buffets - everything was delicious and we’re still trying to re-create their specialty bruleed french toast.

Jenna's tip: Arrange your dining reservations around sunset, all the restaurants offer beautiful views and al fresco seating and there’s a magical quality to experiencing the orange and gold sunset fade and the feeling of the inky dark descend around you.

Overall, the escape to this desert oasis of a resort was the perfect complement to a broader Dubai and Abu Dhabi trip. My only regret is that I think three nights vs two would have been perfect. The other thing to mention is how much the entire staff really make the experience. We experienced high service levels throughout our entire UAE trip but the team here is really a notch above and there is a warm joyful quality, as everyone we spoke with shared how much they enjoyed working at the property.

I would recommend this resort for couples, families and groups. Not for a solo traveler looking for a lot of social connections. The other thing to mention is that these resorts are quite remote and guests will be spending entire time on property including for all dining.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our United Arab Emirates page.