Bab Al Shams, A Rare Finds Desert Resort, Dubai Reviews: Everything Guests Say

It is one of our favourite places and we've been going back for years especially since they reopened as a Rare Finds hotel and the decor is brighter and more elegant and the restaurants and grounds have been re-done.

Everything, everything, everything!! it was such an amazing place with the best people and service that you can ask, kids club, food , kids attraction, quiet , luxury, pampering..... best food ever!

We have been celebrating our anniversary here for the past 10 years and they provided chocolates, fruit and cake which made it even more special.

I don’t normally spend this kind of money on a resort, but I stayed two night at the resort and really enjoyed myself.

Firstly, the overall design of the property was breathtaking, with a traditional Arabic style that seamlessly blended in with the natural surroundings.

It is rare, but I really could not see any room for improvement ... keep going! :) we will be back

The details in the service are missing, it hadn’t quite got the finer aspects but it is full of charm

There are many activities to do and in the evening there are shows accompanied by Arabic meals, quite successful.

The amenities, the pool landscape, and especially the nightly changing themed buffets with a great show are magical.

Everything! Really literally everything! The accommodation is beautiful, the pools are very unique. It is very aesthetically pleasing.

Despite the efforts of the maintenance staff, pigeons have invaded some balconies that get dirty very quickly.

A very photogenic resort that transports you out of Dubai and in the middle of the desert

Desha was fantastic and gave us a complimentary upgrade as we were celebrating our wedding anniversary.

The prices are absolutely reasonable and not overpriced for a 5-star resort, especially compared to Dubai.

We were sad to leave today and will definitely be returning to this hotel again.

A perfect family stay, very relaxing and more than pleasant: the "best of the best"!!!

Overall we are very impresssd with hotel authentic style, good service, clean rooms, nice restaurants

Very nice property coming out of several months of renovations sitting in the early desert.

Amazing property!! We loved everything about it! Was unique, grand and yet so homely.

We stayed at Bab Al Shams for 3 nights - it was just perfect.

It was clean and nice since it had just been remodeled and reopened recently.

Thank you for upgrading our room and treating us with a birthday cake!

Everything was very high-quality, lovingly, and tastefully decorated down to the last detail.

A very beautiful hotel where a lightness of living prevails, with careful decoration.

Even with the crazy heat, we could have stayed a couple more days.

I also work in the luxury hospitality sector and often travel to explore hotels and restaurants and the welcome I have found here and in the UAE is different from our European welcome, I don't know why but I feel it more and I will treasure what I have been given emotionally to do the same in my work with my clients.

They were two fantastic days that I will always carry in my heart and that I recommend to everyone to experience, a special resort in the style of One Thousand and One Nights as I like it and that makes you travel a bit like the fairytale of Aladdin and Jasmine.

Exquisite decoration, attention to detail, organised, lovely and attentive staff (one day stay and they knew our kids names and be super interactive), and accommodating management (allowed our kids to stay in same room and had lots of little spoils for my birthday!)

The rooms with balconies have a problem: the small roof made of thin tree trunks does protect somewhat from the sun, but the pigeons and other birds use it as a perch and their droppings land on the balcony furniture and cushions.

The kids playground is a lovely addition and overall the resort has a fresh updated look, which was much needed but with the same traditional architecture and vibes that make it rather unique in comparison to other resorts in Dubai.

My stay was unforgettable starting with the welcome we got from a Staff person I think from the emirates whose name I cannot remember and whom I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart for making my stay special and for changing our room from garden view to desert view that I had not been able to book.

The reception staff was friendly but didn't particularly understand my concern or say anything - or try to resolve anything - even when I showed him that in my booking the word bathtub is specifically mentioned.

I asked for my money back or being able to stay another night for them to cover since they ruined my whole night, but they didn’t agree to neither suggestions.

I must highlight the excellence of Chef Ahmed Ibrahim and his team, whose delicious and finely prepared cuisine demonstrates genuine culinary expertise in the hotel's restaurants.

Staff / nurse took care of us, but this was still an unpleasant experience, that I sincerely hope it will be investigated and fixed.

We heard 'time for a briefing' mentioned several times as we waited 30 minutes for the long check-in process to be completed.

All stuff except front desk were super friendly, helpful and welcoming (I didn't encounter a single smile on fd people's faces).

Special thanks kidz klub personnel and particularly to baby seater (from Philippines) who was looking after our son ( Matvei).

All the staff were kind, friendly, and pleasant, which made me appreciate that it really is a five-star hotel.

The hotel staff is very friendly (thank you very much to Jimmy for your attention at the pool)

I even emailed the hotel during my stay to explain my concerns and nobody responded and still haven’t

Many thanks to all the staff at Bab Al Shams, for their kindness, friendliness, professionalism and hospitality.

We especially appreciated Warren and Uzman from the service, but everyone else also served us devotedly.

...the staff informed us that it was too many guest and table was for 6 ppl.

Thanks for the efforts of restaurant manager Mr. Watany and Mr. Yasser and Mr. Subash.

The staff at the pool bar and lifeguards at the pool were great and efficient.

Khind in the rooftop bar was wonderful so attentive and caring - true hospitality!

On the other hand, the entire staff is more than helpful and always attentive.

The kids club is nice and the staff are adorable, my kids loved them.

The kids club (we particularly thank Lynet who was exceptional with our son).

At times had issues getting through to Guest services on the phone.

Nothing bothersome, but I would have liked to see them more relaxed.

Lastly, Masud made our departure just as pleasant as our arrival.

All the employees are very smiley and pleasant to interact with.

The staff were all amazing and there to help with anything.

We offered a photocopy as a temporary solution and suggested we will retrieve the physical ID later in the evening after iftar so we do not waste another 1h30min driving there and back, but the manager insisted we would not be allowed into the hotel and gave us no option but to drive another 45min each way, especially inconsiderate after I explained we were fasting and tired.

Also on one of the evenings although we had the 'do not disturb' sign on, housekeeping knocked on our door after we've gone to bed to offer water which I thought was a bit strange as they'd replenished it while doing the turn down - so not entirely sure what that was all about especially at a late time.

I was worried that I might have misunderstood the details of my accommodation plan since I'm not good at English, so I went to the front desk staff to reconfirm my reservation. They explained, "You don't have to pay for the meal at the restaurant. You just need to sign." I was finally relieved at that point.

When I presented my Emirates ID (which is valid identification in the UAE) the receptionist initially insisted I present my passport despite this not being required when using an EID in the UAE; it should not be the client's responsibility to educate the staff on the legalities of what identification is and isn't acceptable.

I ordered some preparation before i come , but they didn’t do it , when i came I ordered again, and when I come back to the room they still didn’t not do it , even when I called and asked again

They did an 'upgrade' and placed me in the room that is on the first floor, I had difficulties going up and down the stairs in the heat of 42 degrees, as I was with my 10-month-old baby and the stroller, I think they should have kept me in the ground floor room.

We had a junior suite for an extra charge, which was supposedly the best - unfortunately, we could hardly talk on the balcony in the evening when the kids were asleep because the noise from the shows in the restaurant was so loud.

When checking in I mentioned that that was what I was looking forward to- when the gentleman was telling me some other things about the room I mentioned "As long as I have a bathtub because I'm really looking forward to that".

One gets more bottles of water than ever needed and that is great - on top of that the hotel opts for glass over plastic bottles in the rooms which is very positive.

We celebrated birthday and were so blessed with a lot of attention: the best room with terrace and dessert view, special set up, delicious cake and treats!

There wasn’t a bath (to be honest, there wasn’t one shown in the room images, but I expected a luxury hotel to provide one).

When we returned to our room on the special day, we were greeted by a beautifully decorated room and a scrumptious birthday cake.

The rooms are great, the only thing is there aren't any hooks in the bathroom or rails to hang your bath towels.

Additionally, the room lacked full toiletries, which was unexpected for a five-star hotel, and we had to request them separately.

Third time staying in this hotel and third time they gave me the same room with disabled access.....but why???

Cozy, relaxing room, designed for relaxation even if not spectacular as one would expect given the high price

Our particular room had a modified bathroom which we did not like. it was designed for wheelchair uses.

We didn’t know we could swap the pillows because we didn’t read the guide at check in.

The only small problem was that the door of one of the room cupboards didn’t work properly.

The room service could be improved a bit.. we had to request some stuff several times.

I had to book two rooms.. rather than having access to a family room.

The bed and pillows were so uncomfortable that we didn’t sleep through the night.

The room was clean, comfortable and had everything needed for a weekend break.

Coffee machine in the room needs a note on how to use it.

An architectural delight with sumptuous touches that create a sense of escape.

Also no space in the fridge to bring anything even for babies.

Our room was impeccably maintained, with a meticulous attention to detail.

So me & my husband slept in separate bed l.

Special mention to the beds, they are super comfortable!

The rooms are clean with elegant and calm designs

The hotel is the most fantastic and relaxing hotel.

I’d expected something spacious - it was not.

The rooms are spacious and really well appointed.

The refurb to the rooms is great

The room was stunning and almost faultless.

The hotel currently offers 3 restaurants, one is Arabic, the Al Hadheerah with live music, breakfast, lunch and dinner are offered as a buffet in Zala, and the Anwã on the rooftop terrace has a wonderful view of the desert and sunset, is only open in the evening and serves fine Asian cuisine.

... but why are there sunshades and advertising cushions in the colors of the orange cocktail? In an establishment of this quality, it's a bit disappointing that the most beautiful part of the outdoor terrace of the main restaurant is systematically reserved for one group.

After she said that it’s only for large groups (and we were a couple only) , even though also only two people were seated there and she said that they are waiting for the rest (till end of the evening no one has joined them.)

4- Food was disappointing in both restaurants for that price (only the peppery beef was succulent). Even the mochi were not as good as in most brunch place of Dubai... Could you not do some home base sorbet?

A la carte dining is not that easy as the offered dinner restaurants only provide a buffet and the small menu in the Sala did not offer much.

I was really impressed by the overall ambience and atmosphere, classy and family oriented - again huge difference now and back in 2018 visit ..

Thanks to Dana for recommending the dinner show, it was very, very good, a sumptuous setting and an incredible performance, we recommend it.

There is also the Al Hadeerah restaurant where we had a great evening and enjoyed various entertainment, their buffet is varied.

We tried out the different restaurant options al hadeerah was the best it had Amazing entertainment and buffet food perfect.

We had dinner one evening at Anwa (pad Thai with shrimp is a must-try!) on the beautiful rooftop.

I would like to give a special thanks to the employee Surinderjit who served us in the restaurant.

The bar, the dinner at the roof top ending to the breakfast the next day which is superb…

I think that for the standard of the facilities, the hotel needs to improve their evening buffet.

It would have been nice to have some a la carte options to choose from as well.

We did not book half-board but dined at the restaurants there, which I can highly recommend.

We found dinner at Zala disappointing and greatly overpriced for the quality and portion sizes,

The "show" at one of the restaurant was a bit of a let down.

The quality of food in all areas (pool and restaurants) was very good indeed,

The restaurants offer a varied selection of delicious Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine.

Very limited food option, they had mostly closed all their restaurants

The adjacent restaurant Al Hadheerah is extremely loud in the evening.

The menu was fine but I think it could improve

So no evening entertainment since the outdoor restaurant is closed.

I like the restaurant Zala as well for the food.

The food was good but could have been nicer.

Anwa restaurant was a big hit - super tasty.

The food at Anwar and Ninive was fantastic.

There often seemed to be confusion with orders.

The pool bar menu food wasn't the best.

Glass of wine 1dl —> 25 Euros

I found that the staff at the pool bar was too slow; I had to wait for 30 minutes to get food for the kids, which can be frustrating when you're trying to enjoy a relaxing afternoon by the pool.

A shame that during the renovations you did not put different colors for the steps in the pool - it is known that we dont realize that there are steps in the pool and one cannot really see them.

Around the adults pool, which was admittedly the only pool we frequented, there were little midgies that bit us quite severely even though we moved from different sun loungers to escape them (to no avail it would seem).

There were lizards and spiders in the room and in the pool but we think it is because the resort is in the middle of the desert maybe that could be the reason.

Even the pretty pool bar, which is actually very nice because you can enjoy a drink while sitting in the pool, grossed us out because the pigeons have nested in the bar.

There is an adult pool with the swim up bar, a kids/ family pool that is shallow and then a general infinity pool that looks out over the desert.

On top of that, the overall vibe has changed — I even saw men walking around in underwear instead of proper beachwear, which cheapened the ambiance further.

In addition to this by changing the pool bar to adults only encouraged drunken behaviour from some individuals which nearly led to a brawl in the pool.

The resort offers a great selection of pools, separate areas for kids, adults, and mixed-use—as well as plenty of activities for those seeking a bit of adventure.

He even offered a later check out time for us much to my children’s delight because that meant they could swim longer at the pool.

We also felt that all three pools were quite close together so the adult pool would still have kids fairly closeby.

The pool area is enormous, with lots of very comfortable loungers as well as two bars and very helpful staff.

The music by the pool was far too loud and we could actually hear it in our room also.

Sun umbrellas under Aperol brand are awful and ruined the entire idea of Middle East fairy tale.

They also provide coolers with water and popsicles free of charge, which is a nice touch.

We had our flight at 11 PM so we spent the day by the pool

A pool with enough depth to swim or to rest and read a book.

The pool with the bar supposed to be for adults only not opposite .

The main pool was closed which means the other 2 pools were crowded.

I especially liked the pool that we can also enjoy swimming freely in.

It was a true destination hotel with a great child safe pool

The only really bothersome thing was the constant noise at the pool.

Adult pool could be more separated and private from the others.

Super big Swimming Pools for adults only and for families.

The room and the pool area exceeded our expectations.

Pool size with reasonable depth is very small.

There is too many steps in the pool

Generally swimming area can be nicer arranged.

We also really liked the pool area.

So plenty of space for everyone.

However, when I went to the same open kitchen at 10:45, I asked the chef to make me an omelet, he also told me that he is closing soon and he pointed at another guy in front of me and said he's making the last meal for that guy.

I wanted to order a matcha latte and was told it was chargeable - we regularly do staycations across Dubai and I have never been told I have to pay extra for a matcha before when breakfast is included.

My partner went to ask the open kitchen to cook him an omelette at 10:25, they said they can't because they are closing and they were making the last order for the gentleman before my partner.

I was a bit disappointed at breakfast when me and my friend wanted a table and the staff informed us that it was too many guest and table was for 6 ppl.

We were told that we cannot sit outside because they were closing soon, but they managed to get the girls (looks richer) who came behind us an outdoor table.

Anees impressed me the most when I casually mentioned that I loved Masala Chai and sadly it wasn’t on the menu and he offered to make one for me.

The breakfast and the dinner I had at Bab Al Shams, for me, were the best ones by far, both for quality and for variety of the food.

Breakfast was great, would have been good to have oat milk as an option, they had coconut milk, almond milk and soy milk but not oat milk.

Anees (breakfast), Surinderjit (breakfast) and Manoj (dinner) from Zala restaurant provided great service to us and made our dining experience as a family an enjoyable one.

I booked with half board, Everything is good, but the breakfast and dinner are no good, not lots of choice, almost the same every time.

...it was the most comfortable spot at that moment as it was no sun in the table, near to garden and had a couch.

The breakfast and general dining restaurant was not that great to be fair when weighed against the cost of staying / eating there.

Maybe the breakfast food need ro improve ... texture, ingredient and flavour somewhat a slight miss coming from such prestine property and operator.

However, when we arrived at 10:25, the restaurant told us that cooking will close soon in 5 min.

The breakfast area is very beautifully designed and is not too loud even with children around.

The server service at breakfast was excellent and the croissants were excellent...compliments to the chef.

Amazing service, breakfast, overall food - especially the sushi - and spa facilities!

The breakfast was super extensive, everything you could possibly want was there!

The food in the buffet was excellent and breakfast spot on

Breakfast is so delicious with a good variety for any taste.

Good selection on buffet for breakfast..western Indian and Arab.

The toaster at breakfast, like most needs to toast.

Breakfast was simply a 10 out of 10

The offered juices are industrial, what a shame...

Breakfast was not as exceptional as anticipated.

I felt the breakfast wasn’t as exciting.

The staff, the beautiful location, the breakfast

The breakfast was also very good!

Lots of options. everything is fresh.

For the buffet, food is normal.

The only thing that went wrong was us taking a wrong turn before the resort and ending up outside a palace, which added to the fun adventure, but more signage a few kilometers away would be helpful.

Location can barely be called a desert, there is no dunes and a lot of greenery arround, limited option for food during the day and activities being offered are not special at all and very high price.

The weather in July and August is VERY hot...this is fine in areas with air conditioning, but made the outdoor dining option a little more challenging as even at night it was well over 30 degrees.

Finally, we had other expectations for being in the desert which we had expected to be deeper in the dunes and not just of one of the main roads seeing some trucks afar.

The location of the hotel was different from what I had imagined for a desert, but everything, including the room, was kept clean, and all the staff were calm and pleasant.

Dubai revealed a new side to me; whereas before it was the coastline, promenades, and restaurants, which became a bit boring... now it's the desert, sand dunes, sunrises, and sunsets.

At lunch the children play with the iPad, the sound on full, the clientele has no respect for others (parents calling their children continuously without caring about those around them)

But the transportation is a bit inconvenient; you need to call a car yourself. I suggest the hotel set up a shuttle bus to different points to pick up guests.

Very far from the center of Dubai but at the same time not particularly in the middle of the desert, which appears a bit 'fake', artificially created for tourists

Hotel is about an hour away from the downtown area so we rented a car which was more convenient to travel to and from.

You can request a taxi at the front desk but it can take some time, so request it ahead of time.

The setting, staff and spiritual connection to the desert are something you can’t truly appreciate until you spend time there.

If you got a tired of hurly-burly of city life, it is a great place to stay.

I'm curious how the surrounding landscape will change in 3 years due to the new airport.

The location is very nice for tourists, it's close to Abu Dhabi and to Dubai.

Super relaxing and a true feeling of Arabia just a short distance from Dubai

We did a 4x4 outing in the desert with Ismail and it was amazing.

The place is such magical so immersive and connects u with the nature

A great place to unwind, and a short journey from Dubai city centre.

Nevertheless, it is worth it for the atmosphere and the services offered.

We live in Dubai and love this location as a desert get-away.

Staff / food / location …. It is just wonderful !

Brilliant getaway spot if you want a relaxing and quiet time.

The location is lovely and the hotel is beautifully designed.

A stop in the desert between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

We were blown away by the stunning desert setting

All ok , in the middle of the desert

Relaxing few days in beautiful surroundings, excellent service

Gorgeous location but disappointed with the room.

A beautiful location in the desert

Very few activities proposed, they had closed some restaurants ( Japanese), the second day they had accepted so many people / families / kids (who obviously weren’t paying guests ..) the « experience » around the pool was more like a zoo than a retreat.

3- Samsung TV are switched on by default. It's not timing out hence having some light all night. My friend went to bed before me hence I could not just try random button on the TV to switch it off

I have one of the villas and you clearly don’t have enough either golf carts or staff to drive the carts as the wait each time from the villas is far too long compared to other 5 star resorts.

2- shower taps is so badly done you need a PhD to take your shower... 3 taps for a shower... No indication.... Common is that a summer camp or a 5 star hotel

It is all about the details: refreshing dates welcome drink, mini cooler by the pool to water cold, the beach bag available in the room, the buggy ride to go to the restaurant.

So we could see some construction work going on, and the path was a bit like a maze, which was a little scary because some dark areas did not have lights on.

There were a number of wasp-like insects that seemed to be nesting outside our patio door so we were unable to use the outdoor patio area which looked very sweet.

Lots of people posing and taking pictures, some ladies in inappropriate attire outside of the swimming pool area that would make me worry about what my children see.

In a perfectly coordinated concept of colors, plants, lounge chairs, and pools by an excellent architecture team, that fits in my opinion like ketchup on 3-star food.

Getting changed for the pool wasn't so convenient in a small bathroom, i think better changing room facilities need to be done for such a nice hotel.

It was also very nice that the service at the pool was attentive and referred parents with small children to the other larger pool.

1- while I'm genius level 2 I paid more than some of my friends first booking on booking. I felt cheated by booking.com

I was able to relax for a whole day at the hotel, and in the evening, I could ride a camel for free.

Kids club could be improved with activities and real attractiveness and engagement by the staff so kids enjoy going there

I’ve been to a lot of 5 star resorts and none of them compare to the prices of this.

There are several restaurants but during this summer period only 2 are open which is a shame.

Had to call a few times to get the sofa bed made up for my daughter.

The yoga class on the grass was a nice way to start the day.

There are no sports fields and the proposed activities are a bit cliché.

Their camel riding at 4.30 pm each day is a must and free.

The interior and the buildings are super beautiful and very clean everywhere.

Without your own car, you depend on the facilities of this accommodation.

The resort has all the details figured out from arrival to departure.

It smelt gorgeous from the moment we stepped into the lobby.

The alcohol options in the mini bar are very expensive.

Mountain/sand bikes as well as camel riding and falcon show

Unique, clean and offered a variety of experiences throughout

We have everything at our disposal in the hotel

The rooms and the facilities are very stylish.

Lots to do for the kids too

I believe that some of the above issues could have been prevented if the hotel sent a pre-arrival email - to remind you what you need for check-in and to confirm on the check-in/check-out times - as that way we would have had more time to enjoy the hotel and wouldn't have felt so rushed.

We didn't get any sort of confirmation / pre-arrival email from Bab Al Shams and our confirmation email from Booking.com said that check-out was at 10:30 - so we had to rush breakfast and didn't really have any time to see/use the rest of the hotel facilities

On the way in, they brought my suitcase to the room, but for the return, I had to carry it myself to the entrance, so it would have been good to have guidance about the location of the elevator beforehand.

There was no explanation about the activities offered during check-in, which was a bit unclear. It would be better if there was a brief explanation about whether reservations are needed and what paid plans are available.

However, we arrived at 2pm. (1 hour earlier than checkin) we were told we will be called when our room would be ready. no body called. eventually we got access to the room at 5pm.

It is not a big problem but it means that your bank will charge you a fee for each transaction, and you need to think of carrying around a card or cash in the hotel.

We arrived very early and we’re not offered to have breakfast unless we would pay for it as this breakfast was not included in our stay, only the ones starting the day after our arrival.

In the evening, I enjoyed activities like riding camels and having a falcon on my arm, and afterwards, I was able to see the sunset over the desert, so an early check-in is recommended.

When we checked out, we told the front desk that we were not leaving instantly but will leave the luggage at luggage storage and just walk around the hotel to take some photos.

Weak check-in service, check-in was delayed and before releasing our room they lamented that we had made the reservation through booking.com, informing us that it would have been cheaper through their own site.

What I didn't like is that Booking did not take my dates correctly, so I had to pay again upon arriving at the establishment - I am waiting for a refund from Booking.

A young lady at the reception during my checkout gave me false information about the ATM machine and did not process my payment correctly; she had to do it in two transactions.

On check in, we were not informed about the complimentary activity with camels and falcon and we missed it, we came to know from the pool attendant on our day of departure.

When we checked out they asked to pay for water wish could have communicated earlier or not to place them at night stand or place the water the ones which were free.

We asked to postpone our entry for the next day and it seemed to have a miss connection with Booking.com and the hotel because we arrived and they didn’t have it.

I arrived at the airport early in the morning, so I got to the hotel by the morning, and after a short wait, they allowed me to check into my room.

I then return to the reception to tell them to keep the deposit in euros and return it to me at my departure after my husband has settled the check-out.

The only issue we had was that at 9:45 we had someone come and knock at our door advising that they were coming to check the mini bar.

Worst check in experience, with a staff member from reception literally joking in our faces making us loose time and providing us with all wrong information.

The lack of private desks meant everyone was lined up next to each other, and I struggled to hear the staff during the process.

In the end, I didn't have to pay for the meal, but the atmosphere became uncomfortable, and I felt very anxious and uneasy.

They had a lot of people and our room was not ready we had to wait in the lobby but nothing dramatic.

We did mention this on check out and they put together a lovely gift bag for us to leave with.

Our check out was 12pm so was a little surprised by this as we were just getting up.

Work by reception is not well organised, long queues for checking in and checking out guests.

It was very busy, check in staff didn’t tell us about the resort guide.

Room was not ready for a family with a baby even at 5pm

The front desk said they will take care of it.

This left us with an unpleasant aftertaste at departure, unfortunately.

They were very flexible with check-in and check-out.

The spa… really not worth the money, the treatments are disappointing we booked a 90 minute message for 2 people.. we were super excited for it but they are so not professional.

The spa is not covered by a male everyday so we could not use it for that reason due to culture which was annoying for that kind of high level

During our visit the spa was not fully open so did not offer a full range of treatments, but I'm sure that will be rectified very soon (Sep 2023).

The music needs to be more relaxing in the spa during a massage, the only negative in our stay which highlights how amazing this hotel is.

This is a truly restorative resort - beautiful spa where you can rest at the pool and watch wild camels roaming in the distance.

We had a massage at the spa, which was amazing (but sadly didn't have time to try the rest of the spa facilities)

I was a little surprised that the spa entrance was not included with the room (at least once during the stay).

Very expensive spa but the 1 to 1 yoga class was very much one of the highlights of my stay

The spa was particularly impressive, with a wide range of treatments available to help you relax and unwind.

However the horse riding was truly excellent..up the endurance riding track and then safari.with gazelle, oryx, flamingo.

The new spa is really lovely to take some time to relax in the steamroom and sauna.

The massage experience was one of the best we’ve ever had — incredibly relaxing and rejuvenating.

Booked the "old" SPA (the new was just about to open and had very unpleasant treatment.

Carol was amazing! I left feeling younger and taller, as well as more relaxed.

I dont find it reasonable to pay 800 AED for a 1 hour massage.

The Spa is currently under renovation so the temporary Spa is small and limited.

Had an amazing experience at the SPA, and the therapist Carol was delightful.

Amazing service, breakfast, overall food - especially the sushi - and spa facilities!

We booked massages from the Spa, which was then done in our villa.

A number of experiences were on offer, most of which I indulged in.

The spa / massage was OK but overvalued, so were the meals.

You need to ask for both the personnel, which is a hassle.

Will not be ever doing a Hammam again nor will recommend it.

The soap was smelly, therapist was distracted & did a superficial job.

At the Spa there was no complimentary water or extra towels.

However the facilities of the spa are great!

We visited the new spa which was amazing.

These included camel and horse riding, the spa

The spa is amazing but slightly overpriced.

This was no value for money.

There are no taxis around so you'll most likely need to get the resort to call one for you which takes about an hour to arrive and you will get charged double (no meter) compared to when you first arrived because they need to travel from the city to the resort apparently (not the resort's fault).

The transfer was expensive at AED 170, but the ride in the 6-seater Mercedes was exceptional, and although the road had many curves, I didn't feel nauseous (on the return trip, I took a regular taxi to the city and got motion sickness).

I used the free one-way taxi arranged by Booking.com, and the driver sent regular updates about the meeting point on the day, so I was able to meet without any worries.

The only negative point would be that it's far away from the city, so you will have to order a taxi in advance, to get back to the city.

The car was in the front if the hotel and for all this time no one came to tell me that the car is front of the hotel.

What was also very nice was the one hour trip into the desert, although the price was 120 euros per person here as well.

If you drive to the place, leave the car outside of the reception and they will help you to park it.

If your staying and plan to go to the city you might want to think about renting a car with GPS.

I didn’t know it so I directly drove to the parking lot in the basement and found no way up😂

Additionally, it was very good that the driver was safe and careful even though many people were speeding.

Hotel did not respond to enquiry on private transport arrangement beforehand despite checking few times.

After i payed Aed 1,500 for 1 nigh and 50 Aed fir one Red Bull?

The guide Umar who took us was very attentive to our family.

Hoe you can handover the cat to your guest in this condition?

We loved the 4x4 Jeep safari tour in the desert.

The last drop was my car which was extremely dirty.

We attend desert driving tour for 1 hr 9am-10am.

Everything organized directly by the excursion desk

The gym with the large windows offers a view of the Arabian Desert.

Really good gym too in a beautiful spa and hammam building.

I hope the facility of gym will be bigger and better.

And Hector for the great isometric training session!

Gym and pool are amazing.

The gym well equipped also.

We also tried the gym

The gym is excellent.

The Gym/spa are outstanding!!