Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara — Hotel in Al Mirayr

So, let's talk about Qasr Al Sarab and what it is. What is it? Well, it's a fancy resort town deep among the sand dunes of the desert mad to look and feel like an old castle or fort from older times. It has an oasis feel with lots of fountains, and irrigation canals (called falaj I believe), palm trees, bushes, flowers, and frugal desert grasses that give it a wonderful green feel amongst the sand. There are private villas, balcony rooms, and ground level rooms all available. I can't overstate the feel of being in a lush pocket of green civilization and comparative luxury compared to the barren sands nearby. It lends itself to excellent photos everywhere you go, particularly at sunrise and sunset. At night the stars are all the easier see being far from the ambirent light of major cities. Perhaps the crown jewel of the water and greenery feel is centered around the pool, which has many different wings a bit like a four leaf clover, some shallow and splash areas for kids, a walk up pool bar for beverages, and lots of shaded pool chairs for those looking to relax. (Spaces every other one for covid 19 precautions, of course).

The next thing that stands out is the very high level of service available from the staff. They are exceedingly available to help, from greeting you when you arrive to check in, for a meal, wish to relax by the pool, or need to hail a golf style buggy for a lift to somewhere else in the resort. They strongly encourage you to pick up any room phone and dial 0 for any sort of assistance, from scheduling a meal reservation, room service, hailing a ride, or anything else they can help with.

Our room was lovely, with a rustic feel from an older time, a balcony overlooking the fountains and water channels and dunes, and an absolutely decadently-sized bathtub for the deep desert. Wifi was quick and easy for a little internet, but we spent plenty of time outdoors. As above, the pool is a very strong candidate for passing a number of relaxing hours given its lovely feel, but they also have a page full of activities one can try. I seem to recall archery, sunrise and desert hikes, dune bashing options, horseback riding, and some others all being options.

Multiple restaurants provide some good dining options. Our breakfast happened to be included with our package, and my understanding was this has become a common arrangement. Breakfast was a multiple room buffet style arrangement with a grill for fresh eggs, pancakes and waffles. There is a steakhouse style restaurant and a Mediterranean style one as well. Plus, room service is happy to deliver a feast eight to your room, I believe that was even available 24 hours. Food prices were what some might consider a fair bit higher than say downtown Abu Dhabi, but that seems understandable given the logistic challenges of bringing fine dining to the deep desert. I would rate the quality as reasonably good, with some room for them to break through and hit the absolutely delicious elite level. I've heard the resort steakhouse rises to that tier of flavor, but can't report from personal experience this visit since a misunderstanding with the staff led us to confuse the day it was open with the day it wasn't this time around. Perhaps next visit we'll see if the claims from other guests I met speaking of it being on par with Abu Dhabi's finest steaks indeed hold true.

All told, I highly recommend a visit to this resort for anyone who wants to get the experience of a watery luxury oasis in the desert. It was a wonderful, unique experience, and one without the travel restrictions involved with airports and flying these days. All the staff were of course wearing masks and all the venues are socially distanced, but since it is within the emirate of Abu Dhabi a little over two hours from the city, there were no border checks or need to quarantine unlike flying these days. I suspect it will be a popular destination with people who want to get away without getting away for however long it takes to bring the pandemic situation back under control, and a lovely...

Qasr Al Sarab or The Mirage Fort as translated really is a mirage on the dunes! From being set right in front of a massive dune (which changes shape every day) to the traditional Arabian style architecture the location in itself was worthy of enough praise.

Coming from Dubai after 3 relatively quiet and dull hours on the road we hit upon the Empty Quarter. I cannot put into words the sheer beauty of the dunes and in all honesty that 10 minutes or so we did from the main road to the resort made up for the boring 3 or so hours we spent upto that point.

We were given a warm greeting (by both staff and the weather 😂) on our arrival and immediately escorted to a waiting area whilst our cars and luggage were taken care of. About 10 minutes of getting the checkin sorted plus a booking for the desert safari and we were ready to go to our allocated villa. Around then we met our personal Butler Mr Farhan. He was there throughout the whole stay to answer to our every need from calling a buggy to reserving tables at the restaurant. Something I will say about the staff at Anantara (this goes for all Anantara) is that they do not treat you as a customer like most other places. They treat you like a part of their family and it shines through in every conversation you have with them. I noticed this at their Sir Bani Yas Island property and the same stands true here as well!

Our villa was a 3 bedroom villa with a pool, living/dining room, office room and a small pantry. Being 7 adults it was very easy to be able to have some private space without having to walk from room to room. We spent a good amount of time just sitting and absorbing the views of the desert from our living/dining room.

The food was as always top notch. Ghadeer which was next to the pool was where we ate lunch on our second day and dinner on our first. A fine example of quality over quantity where the menu was rater small but what was offered was top notch. Their Ghadeer burger was a highlight for me personally if a bit messy to eat. The breakfast was also excellent and the staff were helpful as always.

The desert safari was the highlight of the trip. Our guides (I cannot remember their names sadly) deserve the praise for not only answering our every question and helping with those that felt nausea from the constant moving around. At the end we stopped for a quick bite to eat and what our guide described as 'Starbucks americano' (It was Arabic coffee). Oddly enough that one joke did help with easing from the nausea slightly.

To me the biggest surprise was when we got into our cars to drive back home. Not only did they cool the cars down for us so we didn't feel hot but they offered to get the cars ready for us as we reached the reception. Sadly my phone acted up and we had to wait for the cars to come but that was on my end and the staff still did an excellent job regardless

I was asked on check in by the manager (I'm sorry for not being good at remembering names) on whether I would prefer Qasr Al Sarab to their property in Sir Bani Yas. I wasn't sure of what to say but what I do know is this:

Both are unique in their own way. Both have their quirks and stories that show in the design and architecture of the resort. Both treat you like family from the moment you step foot into the resort. Would I choose one over the other? Not a chance.

In all fairness the only negative was that we went in Summer when the ambient was well above 42~45 degrees. A winter visit is most certainly on the...

From the moment you leave the highway, and you traverse the winding road to Qsar Al Sarab you know instantly you have arrived at someplace special. The expanse of the Rub’ A Khali desert greets your eyes with the endless magnitude and vastness. The kaleidoscope’s sand dune colors of beige, browns, reds, and grays dotted with green foliage. Then it appears. The oasis in the desert. Qsar Al Sarab by Anantara beckons you to stay. A beautiful fortress of pure luxury awaits.

Greeted at the entrance by Eslam we were whisked away into the beautiful spacious lobby. The resort is majestic. Filled with courtyards, fountains, and desert foliage. Qsar Al Sarab is truly one of the most unique places we have stayed in our lives. The swimming pool and infinity pool are refreshing in the desert heat. Lounge chairs and umbrellas are readily available. The outdoor staff was outstanding. Very attentive to all your needs. From a visual standpoint the resort exceeds its five-star rating. Absolutely Stunning!

We were transported to our Two Bedroom Anantara Family Pool Villa in a “buggy” golf cart. Our villa was spacious, comfortable, and the view was breathtaking. The relaxed sofas and chairs allowed prime viewing to the wall of windows overlooking the desert and our private pool. The beds were comfy and provided restful nights sleep.

Qsar Al Sarab dining is a gastronomic adventure! Al Waha is the international breakfast buffet. Every morning we were greeted by Mary. Mary has the best smile on the planet! The buffet is expansive. I think every country’s cuisine is represented. Our server Javo was exceptional and always had a fresh cup of Americano Coffee waiting. We had the wonderful opportunity to meet Executive Pastry Chef Dee. He was so friendly, we had incredible conversations. Chef Dee always delivered fresh Madeleines to our table. Thank you Chef.

Fine dining at Suhail with the best views of the sunset. Relax on the outdoor patio with a cocktail or glass of wine. The Australian Wagyu was delicious. Wine selection was excellent. Our server Dulan was attentive and professional. Ghadeer was also a foodie powerhouse of international cuisine. As I am married to an amateur chef and a robust foodie, the Octopus and Greek Salad were our favorites. Once again excellent service by the staff.

The last evening of our 4-night stay Driss Bajtit, Executive Assistant Manager F&B invited our group to gaze at the sunset from the outdoor patio at Suhail. As we sipped champagne watching the sunset, Mr. Bajtit introduced us to General Manager Jean-Paul Dantil. Warmly greeted by Mr. Dantil we all shared engaging stories and entertaining conversations. It was obviously apparent the resorts professionalism, hospitality and customer service start from the top down. Thank you, Mr. Dantil.

We were transported into the desert for our private Desert Barbecue. Greeted by Assistant Restaurant Manager, Julius Gomes we dined under the stars. The dramatic stretch of the Rub’ Al Khali as a jaw-dropping backdrop. We feasted on savory barbecue prepared by our personal chef. The experience was amazing, the food was delectable. I would highly recommend this experience.

Qsar Al Sarab by Anantara is a memorable adventure. Truly a unique experience. The resort, scenery, desert and especially the staff created an unforgettable stop on our journey. We all had a fabulous time. Thank you, Judy & Ron,...