Anantara World Islands Resort — Hotel in Dubai

Dear future guest you should have that experience! We arrived very early on the island with the boat, Mrs. Nur and her team welcomed us with fresh coconut; what a great start. Eventhough we arrived before the Check-in Time we were lucky to get the room earlier and the opportunity to have breakfast.

After a wonderful breakfast it was time to get some sun. We laid down by the pool with view to the sea and the skyline from Dubai. It was calm and we stayed there for hours. On the following days we played Tennis and other activities in a room dedicated for smaller pass time (Billiard, ping-pong, table football etc.) On our last day we thought about going to the gym, but after eating so good and so much we decided to sunbath😊.

Talking about food, on our first evening Mr. Sayyed recommended us to have a drink for Sunset and then to have Dinner in the Restaurant Qamar. What a perfect choice! Mr. Youssif took care of us and presented us to the Chef de Cuisine Mr. Mohamed Khalil. We first had something to drink, made a couple of pictures with the Sunset and then it was Dinner Time. The Cuisine is a mix of Indian and Arabic. The Mezze plate was outstanding but even better was the Lamb ouzi. On our second day when we were again at the pool with fresh coconut, we had a chat with Mr. Giacomo and Mr. Sayyed where I recommended that in the future it would be great to have ‘’ foie gras poêlé’’. It was a small feedback what could even make it better. What we didn’t imagine not even in a dream, was that a couple of hours later, they managed to make our dream become reality. On the same evening we ate foie gras poêlé! A hotel who takes feedback of their client serious on such a level is rare. Having a hotel Manager like Mr. Giacomo who speaks and asks for feedback to enhance the experience of their guests is a beautiful way to include a client in a hotel and let him be part of it. The same about breakfast, my request to have dairy free products, was taken into consideration immediately and Mr. Mohamed Khalil prepared the dishes dairy free. I personally preferred the fresh Toast with caramel, my sister loved the eggs benedict with salmon. The service on the breakfast from Mrs. Julia and Untari was phenomenal, two really attentive women who know when something might miss. On that point a huge Thank you to Mrs. Julia and Untari, to the Chef Mohamed Khalil and Youssif.

About our Room we first stayed in an Ocean View room, the room was big with a great view on the skyline. The room was taken care by Suyesh, Ajay and Dilhan and was at all times tight up and clean. On our last night we got the opportunity to change to the villa with private pool and garden. Well, each room has there advantage; having a private pool with ocean view is magical.

Mr. Ghazi organized us not only a late check-out, as well he took the time to show us around. Explaining us how things work here, what are the future projects and the vision of Anantara world island. The island tries to have as less plastic as possible, one of the first thing we realized were the room cards. They were made out of wood. A lot of small things were made in an ecological and sustainable way which shows that they understand that this is the future.

On the second evening we wanted to make some nice pictures for sunset, but my hair wasn’t on point. Luckily, Mr. Tamer was able to fix that in no time and eventually we got nice photos and memories. Thank you.

Our villa host was Mr. Sayyed, it’s hard to put into words how happy we were having him us our personal host. Nor my sister nor I experienced such a service, professionality and positive energy like Mr. Sayyed’s. It was exceptional to have a person like him taking care of us at all time. He knew what we had in mind before we even had to speak it out. His support on the island made our stay unforgettable an full of memories that we will cherish forever. There is no possible way to say thank you for all...

My family stay here was more than fabulous despite a few hiccups. There are some Pros & Cons about this location but the Pros outweighs the Cons. Once on the Island we were greeted with music and a vibrant happy staff. The room we were provided was nice and had a wonderful view. Due to some minor cosmetic concerns we had, we were delighted to be provided an alternative room with a little more amenities. The notable staff that attended to us during our stay was the more than marvelous, amazing, super fantastic Villa Host Mr. Arve. He was extremely kind and accommodating. Also, Anna was exceptional as well and assisted with resolving concerns.

Special Thanks to: Nina who was fantastic in serving us for dinner at the Indian inspired Restaurant. Her personality was top notch. Also, Nancy was phenomenal serving us for breakfast. Nancy always greeted us with a smile and great suggestions and food options.

Below is my personal opinion on the Pros & Cons of this property

Pros: -Majority of the rooms on property are Spacious -Golf Carts for travel around the island are easily accessible -Breakfast is good and offers a variety of options -Some rooms offer private pools $ which are great for personal relaxation -Beach access is readily available everywhere (Beach activities for purchase is available) -Water is easily accessible and complimentary -Staff are nice and smile most of the time -Pools on property are not deep -Exclusive vibe and island feel -Management is nice and offers personal meet & greets to some if not all guest(s) (Just a note the location manager has an amazing smile & personality and is easy on the eye)

Cons: -Unnecessarily Costly and inconvenient to travel to mainland. Times are 2 hrs apart. -Not much activities to do on the island -No daily or nightly entertainment -For English speaking travelers, it is a bit difficult to communicate with many of the staff -Food options are limited. Could use a little more variety -Some of the rooms have contemporary decors but lacks practicality -Boat transportation offers NO Air Conditioning if outside deck is filled and you must sit inside. You will sweat like crazy -Usage of the mainland property amenities is not currently allowed. At least not without charge.

In closing, the stay was great. This property in my opinion should be all-inclusive. Expect to spend some money to stay here, it is not cheap. Would I stay here again? Possibly yes, but I would probably opt to stay at the Anantara the Palm property on mainland only because it offers more for guest. I hope to return when more development has occurred and the island offers a little more to do. If nothing else I would return just to meet the amazing staff they have here.

Tips: If you get Arve as your villa host you are lucky lol

Booking with Amex Platinum will offer you some onsite incentives and later check out times.

Avoid having any activities or planned events during your stay which will require you to go on mainland. It will be costly especially for a family.

WhatsApp or a local provider is a good way to communicate with villa host or staff if you are from the US

Off Spray is a good source at night to keep the mosquitoes & flies away

Exchange currency on the mainland before coming. It makes things much easier and cheaper to get local currency and to tip staff.

Ordering water at an onsite Restaurant will come at a cost. It is best to just drink bottle water from room which is complimentary.

Staying during the week will allow more options for rooms.

The island is less vibrant and busy during the week. Thursday-Sunday is a more...

🌟 One of the Best Hotels I Have Ever Experienced – A True 10-Star Stay! 🌟

From the moment I arrived at this beautiful resort, I felt welcomed and valued.

✨ Exceptional Service & Warm Hospitality The service here is outstanding—every single staff member I met was friendly, flexible, and genuinely caring. Even though the hotel is not all-inclusive, while relaxing by the pool, I was pleasantly surprised to be served ice cream, popcorn, and fresh fruit every hour. Such thoughtful touches make a huge difference.

Management truly stands out for their personal approach. They don’t just collect feedback—they actually call you directly, listen patiently, and take your comments to heart. This level of dedication is rare and so appreciated.

🍽 Memorable Dining Experiences Breakfast was a delight, and I have to give a special mention to Chef Abhay. He personally visited each table to take feedback. When I showed him a picture of a specific style of Eggs Benedict I was craving, he prepared it exactly as shown and personally brought it to my table with so much kindness—it was perfect!

During our Beach Fair dinner, staff members Diksha and Divv and others who I forgot the name made the evening extra special. Their professionalism, friendliness, and attentive service were truly impressive.

🏨 Thoughtful Room Service The person in charge of my room service Niomal was incredibly responsive—always arriving within minutes of my call. Each time, they served with care and left a sweet handwritten note, which never failed to make me smile. I even photographed the notes and, with permission, their name tag, so I could thank them properly and upload it in my review.

💆‍♀️ Spa Perfection The massage service was beyond words. I had painful knots in my back and shoulders, and Julie, who came from Bali, gave one of the most effective treatments I have ever had—working deeply into the muscles exactly as I needed. Another therapist treated my family and was equally professional and skilled.

🌿 Activities & Unique Discoveries From the play area and paddle courts to the green zone with fruit ,trees and the bird sanctuary, there is so much to enjoy here. I was overjoyed to find a rare fruit from my home country—something that grows only in one region and almost nowhere else. The kind gardener offered me one with a warm smile, which made my day.

🌊 Resort Design & Future Hopes One of the most creative touches is the slippers provided in the room. The sole is embossed with the “Anantara” logo, so when you walk on the sand, it leaves “Anantara” footprints all over the beach—brilliant and fun!

I understand that the pool may soon be extended into an infinity pool facing the beach. I sincerely hope the tree-lined section of the current pool will remain untouched, as it gives a magical, Bali-meets-Maldives feeling that makes this resort truly unique.

💡 A Suggestion for the Future Adding a few water slides or a mini water park would make this island paradise even more exciting for both adults and children.

🙏 Heartfelt Thanks A special thanks to Mr. Roshan, who personally called to hear my feedback in detail. And to the owner—thank you for creating such a magical and memorable place for your guests.

This resort is more than just a holiday destination—it’s an experience that stays with you long after you leave. I cannot...