Al Wathba Resort, Abu Dhabi: Luxury Desert Retreat?

We packed our bags and dashed out to Al Wathba. A recently opened hotel within an easy 90-minute drive from Dubai Marina (as a landmark).

This hotel is a mellowed departure from the high glamour, opulent hotels I know in Dubai. A long turquoise, infinite pool punctuated with child-sized terracotta vases stretches out towards the desert like an oasis. It is flanked by a quartet of private, curtained cabanas and copious chaise lounges protected under giant eggshell-coloured umbrellas. The pool area is richly perfumed by nearby frangipani trees that bend and sway as warm desert breeze rolls through.

This low rise development in Al Wathba Abu Dhabi channels a Bedouin village design with arabesque accents throughout. The pale walls weave around the compound creating a labyrinth that reveals restaurants, open spaces, falcon rooms, activity centres and its Talise Spa. The colour fades gently into the surroundings unobtrusive and almost invisible when driving towards the expansive, secluded development at its 90 rooms and 13 private villas.

Our room, I mean, villa: yup, we were upgraded

Humblebrag: we received a complimentary upgrade from our Arabian Deluxe Room to the two-bedroom en-suite, at 150sq metres.

The online price tells me this villa is AED8228 (EUR2040, US$2240, £1816) — that’s a lot of coin for a weekend stay, but is more manageable if shared with another couple. It is twice the price of the Arabian Deluxe Room on a per-person basis; other suites do also come with a private pool (at an additional charge).

The king-sized bed is one of the most comfortable hotels bed I have ever had the pleasure of sleeping in. I folded into an impossibly creamy duvet each night after a day of tanning by the pool like a slow-cooked meat wrapped into a soft bao.

Yet the understated nuances revealed themselves over time: discreet USB plugins, the widescreen TV doubles as an information guide replacing busy archaic manuals, subtle wall-mounted touchscreen controls: there are a lot of mod-cons and tech here without it staring you in the face. It is a well-considered room, warm and calm.

The bedroom is plush and – maybe even a little homely – but the same warm attention to detail feels a tad absent in a living room/sitting area. This space does not have the same ornate or small touches and attention to detail. This space started to feel more like a perfunctory hotel space and less like a luxurious, near AED10,000 villa. The pillows and soft furnishings feel a little cheap and almost an afterthought.

I get it, you did not likely come to Al Wathba to hang out in the living room but, with this much coin (admittedly coin I did not actually spend for a free upgrade), I would feel a tad short-changed. This is a small but noticeable cumulative absence of aesthetic touches especially in comparison to some other hotels within this price bracket. We all know that I also love a boutique hotel so I am more sensitive to these smaller touches and their absence is deafening. The price tag is an aggravating factor. This was a free and significant upgrade for me so, luckily, I did not suffer.

The bathroom is cavernous, tranquil and inviting with free-standing bathtubs and a separate rain shower room. You can expect the usual hairdryer, plush soft towels, mini-bar and Nespresso machines.