Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara

Yes, it is a strong family choice within the UAE. The resort sits on Sir Bani Yas Island, which offers wildlife drives and nature activities that work well for older children and teenagers specifically. Families with toddlers get beach and pool access, but the island's wildlife programming is where the property earns its place over a standard beach hotel. If your priority is a water park or dense kids' club, Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort is a closer fit.

Beach-facing rooms and villas are the booking case here — the whole point of Desert Islands is the natural setting, so an interior or garden-facing room undercuts the value proposition. Request a villa if travelling as a couple or small family; the added space and direct outdoor access justify the premium given the island's landscape. Standard rooms are adequate but miss what makes this property different from a mainland UAE resort.

Dining at Desert Islands is resort-contained by necessity: you are on an island with limited outside options, so the on-site restaurants carry more weight than at a city hotel. Anantara's brand standard across UAE properties runs to multiple restaurant concepts and in-villa dining. That said, set your expectations as captive-resort dining rather than destination dining — it is solid, not a reason to book in itself. For serious food, Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers or Conrad Dubai are better bases.

The spa is one of the stronger justifications for booking, since Anantara's spa programming across its UAE properties is among the more developed in the brand tier. Pool access on an island setting delivers more than a comparable city hotel pool — the surrounding environment does real work. If spa is your primary reason to visit, this stacks up well against Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, though the Waldorf's mountain backdrop offers a different atmosphere.

The location is both the appeal and the commitment. Desert Islands sits on Sir Bani Yas Island off the Al Dhafra coast of Abu Dhabi, roughly 240 kilometres from Dubai. You reach it via a short ferry crossing from the mainland. That isolation is intentional — it is what makes the wildlife and nature experience possible — but it means you are not dipping into city restaurants or attractions. If you want access to Abu Dhabi's urban attractions alongside a resort stay, Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers is the practical alternative.

Against Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah and The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach, Desert Islands trades proximity to Dubai for genuine island isolation and wildlife access — those two RAK properties are more convenient for weekend escapes. Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort is closer to Dubai and offers a similar branded luxury feel without the nature programming. Desert Islands is the right call if wildlife and seclusion are the actual goal; it is the wrong call if you want a resort that doubles as a city break.

No, not as a primary business base. The island location means limited connectivity to Abu Dhabi or Dubai city centres, making client meetings or office visits logistically difficult. It works as a corporate retreat or team offsite where the isolation is a feature, not a problem. For actual business travel with meeting schedules, Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers or Conrad Dubai are far more practical choices.