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Set amidst the vast Arabian dunes Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi, which is part of the Marriott Bonvoy umbrella of hotels, offers guests a blend of modern luxury and traditional Emirati heritage within an immersive desert experience. Designed for those seeking seclusion, relaxation, and adventure, the resort invites travelers to indulge in its world-class spa, opulent accommodations, and thrilling desert activities.
Location
Located under an hour’s drive from Abu Dhabi’s bustling city center and around 40 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa provides a desert retreat in the dunes. The vast, unspoiled dunes surrounding the resort create a natural barrier from the outside world, allowing guests to embrace the tranquil setting.
Despite its remoteness, the resort remains within close proximity to significant landmarks such as the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve. The hotel’s location, despite its remoteness, enables visitors to experience both the vibrant culture of Abu Dhabi and the enchanting solitude of the desert.
Style & Character
As you arrive, you are greeted by waving palms and sandy dunes surrounding an impressive Arabic archway. Much like a castle in the desert, this vast doorway houses an enormous wooden door, and a driveway travels under the arch and into the oasis-like gardens beyond.
Plush fabrics, rich wooden accents, and traditional artwork that reflects the desert’s culture and spirit adorn the resort’s interiors. The foyer is a beautiful, creamy room with a massively high ceiling. It houses a black wrought-iron chandelier, a central pond surrounded by a cushioned seat, and many sections, including the reception desk, separated by curtain partitions and large black lamps.
The architectural design pays homage to classical Arabian dwellings, with earth-toned facades, intricate Arabesque patterns, and handcrafted furnishings that echo the region’s heritage. Hotel rooms are set in a two-story village beyond the reception area, which also leads to the pool. Little pathways with pretty lighting make a fun maze.
Service & Facilities
The resort’s facilities include a 2,200-m² Saray Spa, which offers a comprehensive wellness experience inspired by ancient Middle Eastern rituals. Guests can unwind in the traditional Turkish hammam, salt rooms, snow cave, or luxurious treatment suites.
The infinity pool overlooks the golden dunes, providing a stunning, relaxing backdrop. Palm trees, rust-colored pots, and loungers line this vast pool, which has beautiful but slightly formal. Guests can enjoy the sunset from the pool area and then sit around fires as the stars come out.
The 24-hour fitness center caters to those who wish to maintain their workout routine. For adventure enthusiasts, the resort offers a variety of desert activities, including horseback riding, camel treks, archery, and four-wheel drive desert excursions.
Within the hotel, there’s wave surfing, badminton, archery, and yoga classes. A stable for horses and camels can be found on one side of the hotel, and there’s a kids’ club for families.
Guests can immerse themselves in the thrill of camel racing at the nearby tracks or explore the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, renowned for its vibrant flamingo population and stunning natural scenery. Additionally, Al Wathba’s secluded location, far from city lights, makes it a perfect destination for stargazing.
Rooms
Al Wathba’s 99 rooms, suites, and villas are sanctuaries of comfort and style, embodying the essence of Arabian luxury. Each space is designed with earthy color palettes, Arabesque accessories, and traditional artwork that reflect the serene desert landscape.
The Superior Rooms, at 45 m², provide an intimate yet indulgent stay, while the larger suites, such as the 260 m² Two-Bedroom Suite with a private plunge pool, elevate the experience to a new level of opulence.
We particularly like the one-bedroom suite, which has its own shaded plunge pool, sandpit garden, and views out across the dunes. Green bushes grow up the fences, which provides a nice contrast to the garden’s sandy floor. The interior of this suite has a large bed, a sitting area with more than one sofa arranged around a coffee table, and sandy coloured decor. The bathroom and sand-coloured bath are joined to the main bedroom with an intricate Arab-style screen that can be opened or closed depending on your mood.
For those seeking ultimate privacy, the resort’s villas offer an exclusive escape. These residences feature spacious terraces, temperature-controlled plunge pools, and elegant interiors that evoke the grandeur of a desert palace. The Royal Compound, a secluded collection of interconnected villas with private access, caters to groups or families looking for an intimate and luxurious retreat.
Regardless of the accommodation choice, every guestroom and suite boasts spectacular views of the courtyard, pool, or undulating dunes.
Food & Drink
The resort houses six exceptional restaurants and lounges, each offering a distinctive gastronomic experience. Bait Al Hanine, the all-day dining venue, serves a delightful mix of international and Levantine cuisine in a warm, inviting setting. Terra Secca, an upscale trattoria, brings the flavors of Italy to the desert, with a menu crafted from the finest ingredients and served in a rustic yet stylish ambiance.
For those seeking an atmospheric rooftop experience, Al Mesayan provides breathtaking sunset views alongside Asian-fusion delicacies and expertly crafted cocktails. Panache, the poolside bar and restaurant, offers a more casual dining option with refreshing beverages and light snacks.
Meanwhile, the exclusive Al Mabeet Desert Camp invites guests to embrace authentic Bedouin traditions with Emirati-inspired dishes in a magical desert setting. With a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients and impeccable presentation, Al Wathba ensures that every meal is a memorable occasion.
Most of the restaurants have wonderful alfresco terrace areas with comfortable seating shaded by pergolas and awnings. There is also a bar set within the pool with bar stools underwater so that you can have a cocktail without leaving the water.
Breakfast is a highlight here and is complimentary if you book via our luxury travel concierge. The setting is magical: on a terrace with comfy seats and tables surrounding a central square fountain. Palms, pergolas, and the surrounding buildings shade this area, which is perfect in the desert heat. Birds tweet in the trees, providing a natural soundtrack to your dining experience.
The breakfast buffet is excellent, with dishes of goodies protected from flies by wicker baskets. As you would expect, there’s loads of fruit, cut and whole, cereal, yoghurts, pastries, waffles, eggs of your choice, salads, hot dishes including bacon and sausages, oatmeal, noodles, curry, baked beans, vegetables. Juices and health juice shots and teas and coffees are also provided.
Conclusion
Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi, is an immersive experience that captures the spirit of the Arabian desert. With its blend of traditional charm, luxurious accommodations, and world-class facilities, the resort offers a perfect balance of relaxation, adventure, and cultural enrichment.
Whether indulging in the opulence of the spa, embarking on thrilling desert excursions, or savoring gourmet cuisine under the stars, this is a unique resort and provides a completely different experience from the beach front hotels in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. As an added bonus, you can earn and burn your Marriott Bonvoy points here too.
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Image(s) courtesy of Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa.
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