Qasr Al Sarab Review: A Luxurious Desert Oasis
“Unbelievable sights. Indescribable feeling”
Have you always wondered what stepping into an Arabian fairy tale is like? One thousand one nights - here you come!
Welcome to the Qasr Al Sarab Hotel, a stunning and luxurious oasis in the UAE's Rub' al Khali desert known as the Empty Quarter. This unique resort offers an unforgettable experience for those who want something extraordinary. As you enter this fantastic hotel, you'll be amazed by the beautiful architecture inspired by the region's history.
Qasr Al Sarab offers many wonderful things, from elegant villas with a private pool to delicious dining experiences. Every moment spent here is like escaping to a magical place, where the desert landscape and the hotel's incredible amenities come together for an extraordinary experience. This place is where luxury and the enchanting desert charm meet. Curious to know if you should make the trip? Let’s find out together.
Rather stay somewhere in the city but still experience incredible views? Check out my review of the Address Sky View Hotel.
Here we go! Grab your magic carpet, and let’s go for a ride. Let’s determine if Qasr Al Sarab is worth it while we cover all aspects of the hotel, from the rooms to the location:
The Location
Qasr Al Sarab is located in the Rub' al Khali, better known as the Empty Quarter, the largest uninterrupted sand desert in the world. It's about a 1.5-hour drive from Abu Dhabi or roughly three hours from Dubai, so getting there takes a little planning.
That said, the drive is absolutely part of the experience. As the city disappears behind you, the landscape gradually changes until you're surrounded by nothing but endless sand dunes. By the time you arrive at the resort, it genuinely feels like you've left everything else behind.
We were staying at the Shangri-La Dubai before checking into Qasr Al Sarab and arranged a private return transfer through the resort. If I remember correctly, we paid around €300 for the round trip.
If you're staying in the UAE, I'd recommend visiting from Abu Dhabi rather than Dubai if you can, simply because the drive is much shorter. Once you arrive, though, it's easy to see why people make the journey. There really isn't another resort quite like it.
The Rooms
One of the main reasons we booked Qasr Al Sarab was the One Bedroom Anantara Pool Villa. There aren't many places where you can have your own private pool overlooking nothing but endless sand dunes, and it looked just as incredible in real life as it did in the photos.
We paid around €500 per night for our villa, which, admittedly, isn't cheap. That said, luxury hotel prices have increased significantly over the past few years. For comparison, we paid around €800 per night for a standard room at Address Sky View in Dubai, so having a 195 m² private villa with its own pool suddenly didn't feel quite as extravagant.
We spent a lot of time on the terrace, whether it was cooling off in the pool or simply sitting outside taking in the view. It's one of those hotels where the villa itself becomes the experience. Inside, the villa was incredibly spacious and beautifully designed with subtle Arabian touches. If your budget allows, I'd definitely recommend booking one of the private pool villas. For us, it was the highlight of our entire stay.
The Restaurants
Get ready for a culinary journey with multiple restaurants that promise one-of-a-kind experiences. You have the option of private dining at different enchanting locations around the hotel, where the desert landscape becomes the backdrop to your gourmet meal. For a truly unforgettable evening, choose the in-dining experience, where a skilled chef arrives at your villa to prepare a private BBQ just for you and your loved ones.
And let's not forget the Arabian feast of dreams – a lounge-style grill buffet set up with cushions in the soft desert sand, creating a truly authentic and magical ambiance. So, whether it's a romantic dinner under the stars or a gathering with friends and family, all restaurants offer a culinary adventure that perfectly complements the wonder of the desert landscape.
The Amenities & Activities
One thing that really surprised me about Qasr Al Sarab was how much there is to do. While it's much quieter than Anantara The Palm in Dubai, it certainly isn't short on activities. Whether you want to spend the day by the pool, book a treatment at the spa, or simply enjoy the incredible views of the Empty Quarter, it's easy to fill a few days here.
If you're looking for something a little more adventurous, the resort also offers dune bashing, camel trekking, sandboarding, archery, and falcon experiences. We never felt like we were running out of things to do, but at the same time, we never felt like we had to plan every hour of the day either.
That's one of the things I liked most about staying here. You can spend the entire day exploring the desert, or do absolutely nothing except sit by the pool and admire the dunes. Both somehow feel like time well spent.
If you're looking for more hotels with this kind of atmosphere, you can also browse my favorite luxury hotels for every occasion, where I've grouped the hotels I've personally stayed at based on the type of getaway they're best suited for.
The Verdict
Qasr Al Sarab is still one of the most unique hotels I've stayed at. Waking up surrounded by nothing but endless sand dunes is an experience that's difficult to compare to anywhere else, and it's one of those places I'll remember for a long time.
The service throughout our stay was excellent, the villas were incredibly spacious, and there was a great mix of activities without ever making the resort feel busy. Whether you're visiting as a couple or with your family, it's the kind of hotel where you can easily spend a few days without running out of things to do.
The only thing to keep in mind is its location. If you're planning to visit Qasr Al Sarab, I'd recommend traveling from Abu Dhabi rather than Dubai, as the drive is significantly shorter. For us, though, the location is also what makes the resort so special. Being surrounded by the Empty Quarter is an experience you simply won't find anywhere else in the UAE.
I hope this was helpful. If you have any more questions, you can always reach out here or on Instagram. I’m more than happy to answer any of your questions. Happy Travels!
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