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

We returned from a magical family stay at Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa in Abu Dhabi, and it truly exceeded all our expectations. We booked a two-bedroom private pool villa (Villa 2), and it was the perfect choice for our family of four – spacious, private, and utterly luxurious. The staff were exceptional – attentive, friendly, and always going the extra mile to make our stay special. Special shoutout to the butler service Barnabas for arranging a memorable desert tour during our stay and upon check out. Al Wathba strikes the perfect balance of adventure and luxury for families. We’ve already recommended it to friends and can’t wait to return. 5 stars without hesitation

This hotel truly stands out for its exceptional staff. We stayed at several hotels during our Dubai and Abu Dhabi trip, and the level of friendliness and genuine hospitality here was by far the best. From the moment we arrived—during luggage drop-off and check-in—to housekeeping, breakfast, dinner, and even the pool area, every single staff member we encountered was consistently warm, attentive, and professional. It is rare to experience such a uniformly high level of service across an entire property. The hotel itself is also impressive in terms of hardware and design. The buildings are constructed with high-quality materials, and the furnishings and decorative details throughout the property feel refined and thoughtfully selected. We stayed in a Plunge Pool Suite, which was very spacious, comfortable, and relaxing. The bedding was excellent, and overall comfort was outstanding. Although we are scheduled to check out tomorrow and move to a more upscale hotel in the Dubai Marina area, this is honestly a place where we would be happy to stay much longer. The Italian restaurant on site is on the higher end price-wise, but both the food and service are top-tier. Watching horses run freely nearby while dining was a unique and memorable experience. We had originally considered Al Maha, but due to our child’s age and travel logistics, we chose between this property and Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah. Choosing Al Wathba turned out to be an excellent decision. One small note: as expected for a desert hotel, there are occasionally insects, but this did not significantly affect our overall experience. Overall, this was an extremely satisfying stay, and we are genuinely grateful to all the staff for making it so memorable. Highly recommended.

I’ve just spent two weeks at this beautiful hotel with 15 other ladies and from the moment I arrived until the moment I left, everything was absolutely perfect. The food is incredible, the grounds are gorgeous, and the pool area is such a lovely place to relax. The rooms are super spacious and very comfortable, I slept so well throughout my stay. The staff truly made the experience exceptional. Everyone was warm, welcoming, and always happy to help. A special mention to Samakshya, who was especially lovely and incredibly helpful throughout my stay. She, along with the rest of the team, made me feel really well looked after. The hotel is slightly out of the way, so having a car is definitely useful, but it’s 100% worth the trip. I would absolutely come back and would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a peaceful and beautiful getaway.

This has to be one of my favorite resorts. It's located in the middle of a desert --- longer ride from downtown Abu Dhabi, but it feels super secluded and serene; just what I love for staycations. Price is very reasonable even during high season. I think this stay delivered the most bang for the bucks during my UAE trip. Rooms and Facilities: I loved my suite. The whole stay experience felt like living in a luxurious Mediterranean village. The layout/design of the resort is scenic and blends well with the surrounding nature. Service: Amazing service, met all my requests timely. All hotel staffs were courteous and friendly. They don't do shady things like asking you to pay in USD and charge a massive exchange fee. Activities: Plenty of activities to do such as camel rides and guided walks in the desert. Wellness: 24/7 fitness center with TechnoGym equipments. The complimentary spa facility has the most comprehensive options I have ever seen, including salt room, steam room, sauna, ice cave, hot and cold plunge pool, etc. Food: three onsite restaurants, amazing breakfast buffet. Overall superb food quality. (I had gastroenteritis coming off flight and a few other resorts during this trip. But not here.)

Stayed here for two nights for our anniversary and it was the most perfect stay 🫶🏼 From start to finish the service was 5*. Staff went above and beyond to make our experience perfect, special thanks to Jaggeth (sorry if I have the wrong spelling) who looked after us during our stay and set up a gorgeous anniversary meal for us including the best cocktails! 🍸 The hotel itself is stunning and everything we ate and drank was 10/10. 👏🏼 We would love to stay here again. And will recommend to anyone who wants a relaxing & luxurious get away! 💕 Thankyou to everyone for making our stay so special 🥰 Only recommendation I would have is that there is maybe an hour or so a day where couples could use the spa facilities together 🫶🏼

Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, was an unexpected gem. What was meant to be a business trip quickly felt like a holiday, even with the daily hour-long commute into Abu Dhabi. The atmosphere, design, hospitality, and service were all excellent. There’s something special about staying in the desert ~ calm, quiet, and a little magical. I stayed in a private villa with a pool and spacious outdoor area; everything from room cleanliness to amenities, gym, and dining was exactly what you’d expect from a Luxury Collection property. Special thanks to Kinga (Guest Services) and Jessica and Thinh at the restaurants — warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. One of the best hotel stays I’ve had. Highly recommended.

Choosing Qasr Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa was one of the best decisions we have ever made. I can confidently say this was the best family trip we’ve ever experienced. We traveled as a family of seven — my parents, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, my husband and I, and our three children. From the very beginning, starting with the room and restaurant reservations, we could feel how thoughtfully and sincerely the hotel staff cared about making this special occasion truly memorable for us. In particular, a staff member named Madu went far beyond his responsibilities and showed exceptional kindness and dedication. Without us even asking, he beautifully decorated my parents’ bed with flower petals to celebrate their anniversary, and he also arranged a special family table at the restaurant along with a celebration cake. It wasn’t about receiving something for free — it was the unexpected gesture and the genuine warmth behind it that truly touched our hearts. The activities Madu recommended, including the hotel programs and the desert safari, were absolutely outstanding. Riding camels at 7 a.m. while watching the sunrise was a magical and joyful experience. The camels were the cleanest and best cared for we have ever seen anywhere. The desert safari was incredibly good value for money — reasonably priced yet exceptional in quality. From thrilling dune bashing in a clean, well-maintained Land Cruiser driven by an experienced driver, to the shows and BBQ dinner, it was a complete and unforgettable experience that we highly recommend. As we were leaving, both adults and children in our family said the same thing — this place felt like true paradise. Special thanks to Madu for making our stay so meaningful. Our family will absolutely return, and we wholeheartedly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a truly special and unforgettable experience.

I'll be honest. Coming into this stay we had no expectations. Not for any reason other than we didn't know anyone else who had stayed and knew very little about the resort other than it was in the desert! First of all I have to make a special shout out the the staff. From the check in experience to every meal the service was IMPECCABLE. I've stayed in five star hotels all over the world and I could not fault the service it was absolutely amazing. Special mention to Yodger in the Italian restaurant who was a star to Badri who was one of the managers who seemed to anticipate our every need even before we knew we needed it. We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a desert view which I HIGHLY recommend, looking at the resort view rooms there is a big difference there. The resort is impeccable, it's clean, the pools are perfect and food is amazing. If I had to make any criticism it's that there is only two restaurants, the main buffet and the Italian. As we were only staying two nights this wasn't an issue but for longer stays might get boring. That being said every meal was amazing so perhaps that criticism is unjustified. All in all compared to other desert resorts this is incredible value. We loved our stay and will definitely be back. Appreciate receiving our EV back fully charged too! All in all 10/10.