Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi

This is a beautiful luxury hotel in a remote location in the desert near Abu Dhabi. We were recommended by friends as we were looking for a midweek break for relaxation and to celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary. The level of service by the professional, friendly staff was the best we have ever experienced, particularly Asanka who looked after us attentively all week and made our stay extra special. The style of the hotel is authentic, with the luxury yo would expect from a high-end Marriott. Beautiful pool area and a nice selection of restaurants serving excellent food. We stayed in a suite with a private pool, hot tub and garden, which made the whole experience even better than expected. A fabulous experience overall, we will return

My wife & I booked a staycation on the 19th & 20th of September 2025 at the hotel. We stayed in Villa 12 with a private pool. The villa was huge, with 2 bathrooms, kitchen, lounge, dinning area and a lovely pool on the terrace. It was my second time staying at this hotel. The staff is super friendly. Everytime you would walk past any staff member anywhere on the property, they would greet you very politely. I've stayed at many different hotels around the world and often what happens is, Staff would ask you to mention their names in a review which I really don't like because if I want to mention your name, it should be because I want to and not because you asked me to and when I read reviews where people mention staff names, I can easily tell when the guests / patrons have been asked to mention their names. Saying that, not one staff member had asked me to mention their names, or to write a review, which I found rather refreshing from the normal bombardment at other venues. On my first night I went to the Bait Al Hanine restaurant. I asked the waitress what she could recommend from a "hungry guy", and she said, "try our Classic Burger" 🍔 To start off, the bun was incredible. The burger patty is freshly made for each burger. Every bite into that burger was like heaven 😋 Needless to say, I took my take eating it so I could savour every mouthful. Thanks Sapna for suggesting it 😊 The breakfast buffet is amazing, with just the right amount of variety. Even the juices are all freshly squeezed and not "fresh boxed juice". I loved the orange juice machine for freshly squeezed juice 👍🏻👍🏻 If there was anything you wanted which was maybe not on the menu, the management or staff would go out of their way to try and make it for you. I want to give a Huge shout out to the management team for constantly checking up on us to see if everything was ok. A lady by the name of Khin even made us something Special (not on the breakfast buffet menu) and it written on it was, "Thanks for staying with us". These small touches / gestures just made our stay so much more memorable. The staff always took time to stop and talk to us at our table. It felt like I really got to know some of them. It was like "Home". I don't remember all the staffs names but thanks again Khin, Sapna and Thin for going beyond what we expected. You'll definitely see me soon again 😊 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Our stay at Al Wathba was simply exceptional. The service was flawless, with staff taking care of every little detail. The private villa with its own pool was absolutely stunning, offering ultimate comfort and privacy. Every meal was delicious, and the whole experience felt like the perfect escape — a true haven of peace just outside Abu Dhabi. A hidden gem in the middle of the desert!

Al Wathba created for me an experience that I will never forget! I entered the hotel with very little petrol as I thought I might find a petrol station on the way and that didn't happen and I didn't know the hotel is quite deep inside the desert. On the day of the check out - I called reception to help me find petrol otherwise I would be stuck and I needed to be in Dubai for work. They called a taxi from the city who picked up a gallon from the petrol station and was a done deal by the team for me to only get inside the car (as they already had it in the valet) and drive away! This all happened at 6 am and even they recommended me to have breakfast in the restaurant before leaving while they fixed everything - which I did! It was amazing!! Big thanks to the team!! To Supun, Madhu & Prathap for the excellence in your job and creating experiences that will be memories forever! I can only, throughout my stay, link Al Wathba with 'happiness'. After months of this happening, I felt the need of posting until now, in which I today remembered and posted it in a LinkedIn thread about hospitality. I wish I can come back soon! Best!! Maria Florencia.

I had a truly wonderful stay at Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa in Abu Dhabi. From the moment we arrived, the experience was exceptional. Azim handled our check-in with a calm, courteous voice and remarkable kindness. Even after our checkout, his thoughtful attention made a lasting impression. Eko, who assisted us with luggage and buggy rides throughout the resort, was also incredibly friendly and helpful. We truly appreciated his support. Special thanks to David as well — he was enthusiastic and patient while teaching our child how to ride the FlowRider, making the experience all the more memorable. The sunset views were breathtaking, and the spa facilities were excellent — a perfect place to unwind and relax. While the breakfast was a bit minimal and could be improved, the dinner at the Italian restaurant was a highlight. The dishes were well-prepared with appropriate cooking times, precise plating, and ideal serving temperatures. The doneness of the meat was just right, and the quality of the ingredients really stood out. Overall, this was a fantastic stay. Every detail, from the hospitality to the dining, made our desert retreat truly special.

Unforgettable Desert Escape!||What a beautiful resort! The location in the desert is absolutely magical – waking up with those views was unforgettable. Breakfast was a solid 10+, everything fresh and delicious every single morning.||The staff were so kind and welcoming, and I especially want to thank Hakim. His warmth, attention and genuine care made our stay truly special. Thanks to him, this holiday felt complete.||I’ll definitely be back soon!

I visited Al Wathba for my birthday weekend and was simply blown away by the service, kindness, and genuineness of the staff. They certainly know how to make a girl feel special 💝|Each morning, walking into the restaurant for breakfast was like walking into a family kitchen. It felt welcoming, friendly, and had a warm atmosphere, nothing like the usual noisy and bustling conveyor of breakfast buffet that you experience at most hostels. Every staff member are on hand to assist you, and I found this out when I asked for beans, and the Head of Concierge, Hakim, brought them to me. He could have easily said it wasn't his job and he could arrange it, but instead, he took the time to arrange it personally. He was a true team member, focused on making our stay unforgettable. When he learned it was my birthday, he asked if he could send something to our room. That evening, I returned to find a bottle of beautiful organic white wine chilling along with a bowl of delicious strawberries. This was in addition to the birthday cake that greeted me in the room on our check-in.|We had personalised attention from the F&B Operations Manager, Mohameeld Bakry, and the assistant restaurant manager, Majed Hawamdeh. They even packed some granola for me to take home as they paid attention that I loved it. My French toast even came decorated with Happy Birthday from the Head Chef.|The property is beautiful, peaceful, and well maintained and has one of our favourite pools in the UAE. They add little touches like fruit sticks throughout the day, floating trays of juice and nuts in the pool. They have just thought of everything.|It was our second time to the resort, and it exceeded our expectations in all aspects. We used the spa, had evening meals, and tried room service. Al Wathba come out 5/5 in everything they do.|We look forward to returning for a 3rd stay soon and look forward to seeing Hakim, Mohamed, and Majed when we do.|This hotel comes highly, highly recommended.

A Birthday I’ll Never Forget – Pure Magic Celebrating my birthday at Al Wathba Resort & Spa, was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with warm smiles and thoughtful touches—beautiful treats waiting in my room, spa and even the restaurant set the tone for what would be a truly unforgettable stay. The level of care and attention to detail was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. The staff went above and beyond to make me feel special, surprising me multiple times throughout my stay with personalized birthday gestures that brought happy tears to my eyes. Every moment felt intentional and heartfelt—from discreet check-ins to beautifully prepared surprises that made me feel genuinely celebrated. The resort itself is a stunning oasis tucked away in the desert, offering the perfect blend of luxury, tranquility, and cultural richness. The spa is a sanctuary of peace, the dining was exceptional, and every corner of the property was curated to perfection. But what truly made this experience stand out was the incredible team—their kindness, professionalism, and sincerity made me feel not like a guest, but like family. Thank you, Al Wathba, for creating a birthday filled with beauty, warmth, and soul. I will carry these memories with me always—and I cannot wait to return.