Al Wathba, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa
By Shereen Shabnam
Heading to Abu Dhabi always meant going there using the same route E11 route but recently I took a detour in the Ferrari F8 Tributo to spend a night at Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa, located deep within the expansive landscape of Abu Dhabi.
With a design reminiscent of a historic desert village, it is an intimate retreat suffused with natural beauty, unique tranquillity, and rare experiences. Inspired by local architecture and the destination’s rich history, the resort’s guest rooms and villas feature traditional Arabesque flourishes, mashrabiya detailing, and Bedouin accessories.
We liked the understated interiors and neutral tones selected to be in harmony with the desert landscape that wraps around this extraordinary hideaway. The villas come with spacious indulgence, private plunge pools and a patio that boasts unlimited views of the surrounding Arabian Desert.
The resort has several dining venues with a range of unique epicurean experiences, and we loved Al Mabeet and its authentic Emirati cuisine as well as Hayaakom, a Bedouin inspired lounge that serves afternoon tea and sandwiches. You can never go wrong with Italian cuisine and Terra Secca is a trattoria-style, classic Italian restaurant that offers guests a theatrical view of the kitchen and chefs.
Within a picturesque garden, the hotel’s spa is seen as the pinnacle of the entire hotel experience. Guests at Al Wathba can enjoy a range of health and wellness rituals in a contemporary setting, whilst harnessing age-old techniques. I normally spend my mornings at Shangri La Dubai so having a the similar relaxation area with a sauna, steam room and plunge pools made me feel totally at home.
Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa offers cultural immersion opportunities to discover the rich heritage and history of the region with fossil Dunes nearby and the option to explore the surrounding desert on horseback for an understanding of the Emirati passion for all things equine.
Other attractions close by includes the camel racetrack and skilled falconers offering private shows of the UAE’s national bird. Al Wathba is also home to diverse flora and fauna, including 4,000 greater flamingos that call the Al Wathba Wetlands home. Guests can take a guided tour of the sabkhas, or sand flats, and dunes, for an insight into their inhabitants and bird migration patterns as well as discover the medicinal uses of local plants by Bedouin tribes.
Thanks to the awesome team at Cosmopole Consultancy, we are kept updated on the new experiences and offers at the Resort and look forward to more wonderful adventures out in the desert surrounding the Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa.
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