Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort
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Our Opinion of Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort
Arriving at Qasr Al Sarab feels like driving into another world. Two hours south of Abu Dhabi, the road gives way to the Empty Quarter, the largest continuous sand desert on earth, and the resort rises from the dunes like a fortified palace. The architecture is deliberately theatrical: towering ochre walls, archways and turrets that echo the old Arabian forts of the region, set against a horizon of sculpted dunes stretching as far as the eye can see.
Inside, the scale softens into something genuinely comfortable. The 205 rooms and suites are generously proportioned, and the private villas come with dedicated butlers, making them the right choice for anyone who wants a more sequestered, personal experience. The freeform pool is the social heart of the resort during the day, and guests also have access to a spa, tennis courts and a fitness centre. Five restaurants offer a good spread of cuisines, from Arabic mezze to broader international options. The main caveat is the location itself: Qasr Al Sarab is a destination rather than a base, and guests should plan to settle in and decompress rather than explore the wider emirate.
This suits couples looking for something genuinely removed from the world, as well as anyone craving a desert experience with proper comfort behind it. Families can be accommodated, but the prevailing mood leans towards adults enjoying the stillness.
If a stay in the Arabian desert is something you have been considering, Qasr Al Sarab delivers it with considerable polish. The remoteness is the point, and the resort earns it.
Inside, the scale softens into something genuinely comfortable. The 205 rooms and suites are generously proportioned, and the private villas come with dedicated butlers, making them the right choice for anyone who wants a more sequestered, personal experience. The freeform pool is the social heart of the resort during the day, and guests also have access to a spa, tennis courts and a fitness centre. Five restaurants offer a good spread of cuisines, from Arabic mezze to broader international options. The main caveat is the location itself: Qasr Al Sarab is a destination rather than a base, and guests should plan to settle in and decompress rather than explore the wider emirate.
This suits couples looking for something genuinely removed from the world, as well as anyone craving a desert experience with proper comfort behind it. Families can be accommodated, but the prevailing mood leans towards adults enjoying the stillness.
If a stay in the Arabian desert is something you have been considering, Qasr Al Sarab delivers it with considerable polish. The remoteness is the point, and the resort earns it.
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort Summary
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara is set among the flame-coloured dunes of the Rub' Al Khali, the largest uninterrupted sand desert in the world. Opened in 2009 and renovated throughout in 2019, the resort rises from the desert, a drive of around two and a half hours from Abu Dhabi International Airport.
The pool villas offer more space and privacy, ranging from the One Bedroom Anantara Pool Villa (195 square metres) to the Three Bedroom Anantara Family Pool Villa (375 square metres), each with its own plunge pool and the services of a personal villa host.
The Royal Pavilion Villas sit away from the main resort, while the Al Sarab Villa (853 square metres) and the four-bedroom Sahra Villa (489 square metres) are the largest and most exclusive, with butler service.
Private dining experiences include desert barbecues, in-villa dining, Camp Nujum and Designer Dining by Anantara.
A full programme of desert experiences includes camel trekking, dune bashing, desert drives and walks, archery, fat biking, seated sand boarding, desert yoga, stargazing and night discovery drives, with horse riding and falcon and Saluki displays available during the cooler months from
October to May.
Accommodation
The resort has over 200 rooms and suites, all with desert views, Arabian-inspired interiors and bathrooms with an oversized bathtub and rain shower. Room categories run from the Deluxe Balcony, Deluxe Garden and Deluxe Terrace Rooms (45 to 50 square metres) to the One Bedroom Anantara Suite (106 square metres) and the Two Bedroom Family Suite (178 square metres).The pool villas offer more space and privacy, ranging from the One Bedroom Anantara Pool Villa (195 square metres) to the Three Bedroom Anantara Family Pool Villa (375 square metres), each with its own plunge pool and the services of a personal villa host.
The Royal Pavilion Villas sit away from the main resort, while the Al Sarab Villa (853 square metres) and the four-bedroom Sahra Villa (489 square metres) are the largest and most exclusive, with butler service.
Dining
Al Waha
Arabic for 'The Oasis', serving a semi à la carte breakfast with Middle Eastern and international flavours throughout the dayGhadeer
Light meals and pizza from the oven by the pool during the day, becoming a livelier dinner spot in the evening with globally inspired signature dishes.Amanie
A Mediterranean-inspired restaurant beside the infinity pool, reserved for adults, that moves from lunch through to an aperitivo hour and a relaxed, sophisticated evening.Suhail
Rooftop lounge and grill specialising in meat dishes, with a dry-aging fridge, a Josper oven and views over the wadi below.Al Falaj
Al fresco Levantine dining under the stars by the dunes, available only during cooler months.Al Liwan
The iconic lobby lounge, serving specialty brews and teas, light lunches, a mint tea in the afternoon or shisha on the terrace at sunsetPrivate dining experiences include desert barbecues, in-villa dining, Camp Nujum and Designer Dining by Anantara.
Facilities & Activities
Wellness and recreation centre on the Anantara Spa, with seven treatment suites, a Moroccan hammam, two steam rooms, a sauna, an ice room and a range of desert-inspired rituals, including the desert ice bath and Rub' Al Khali healing sand therapy. There is also a freeform swimming pool, an adults-only infinity pool, tennis and padel courts, a fitness centre, a library and a kids' club.A full programme of desert experiences includes camel trekking, dune bashing, desert drives and walks, archery, fat biking, seated sand boarding, desert yoga, stargazing and night discovery drives, with horse riding and falcon and Saluki displays available during the cooler months from
October to May.
