The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert

12 Best Hotels and Resorts in Africa and the Middle East, According to Our Editors | Condé Nast Traveler

"Just an hour’s drive north of Dubai, the Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert Resort, is a dreamy escape where gazelles and Arabian oryx traverse the sands. The resort’s 109 sleek suites and romantic tented villas have long drawn guests with its mix of wildlife spotting, desert adventures, and luxe accommodations, but eight new signature two-bedroom villas take the property to another level. Whenever I stay, I never get over seeing white oryx plodding up the dunes, bee-eaters swooping low over the watering holes, and early morning mist evaporating into peachy desert skies. There are bikes to ride, ATV wildlife safaris in the dunes, and desert trails to explore on horseback, but you could just as easily retreat to the spa for a massage on a bed of warm quartz sand. The real beauty of staying here is the serenity and the opportunity to be embraced by a gentle side of the desert and to live alongside the creatures that make it home. From $460. —Nicola Chilton" - CNT Editors