- Share
Oberoi Al Zorah: One of the UAE’s Best Hotels?
The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah, Deluxe Suite with Private Garden, UAE Resident Offer - Member Exclusive, AED1,336.63 per night. The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, Al Zorah Al Ittihad Road, Ajman, 45200, United Arab Emirates. +97165044888. Oberoi Al Zorah's Website.
Oberoi Al Zorah exudes tranquil luxury stay from expansive suites, long pools, good dining and an isolated location. It may be one of the UAE's best luxury resorts.
Written by Liam Collens / See other hotel reviews here.
The Highs
The Lows
The Highs
The Lows
Oberoi Al Zorah: One of the UAE’s Best Hotels?
Sitting on the terrace of the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah, a gentle breezes roll through the terrace. I overlook frangipani flowers while eating shatteringly-crisp masala dosas and slump back into my chair and exhaling. I finally succumb to the charming service and beautifully manicured grounds. I waited many years to come to the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah and it was worth it.
This was not my first Oberoi stay. I know the Oberoi chain from previous stays in Gurgaon, India where a butler (yes, you read that correctly) observed that my toothpaste was running low. He ‘took the liberty’ (his words) to replace my perilously low toothpaste with the exact same one leaving it on a towel with a handwritten note in the bathroom. I did not expect a butler during this stay at the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah but I can confirm they are available for villa guests.

The Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah is a luxury beach resort in Ajman, a Northern Emirate about an hour away from most in Dubai. This destination hotel faces stiff competition in a country peppered with luxury hotels, beach resorts and more. Nonetheless, the few people I know who stayed here speak about the Oberoi Al Zorah in breathlessly positive tones.
Our arrival is met with a flight of valet staff leapt into action opening doors and removing our luggage from the car. Efficient and elegant, answering the question: what well-dressed CIA agents would look like when given ballet training. Many ‘luxury resorts’ go wrong when failing to execute these touches. The word resort causes me to shudder violently but the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah challenges the stereotypes like my stay at LUX* Grande Gaube.

Service defines the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah partly due to their renowned hotel management school. Service is attentive without being obsequious or smothering. The small tokens matter such as the honey tasting run by pastry chef, Dhaval Dedhia. An effortless check-in where we are escorted to our room while our bags follow later. Guests are provided with a Call Button by the pool and the beach so you can order bottles of Provence rose while overlooking the Arabian Sea without rising from your chaise lounge. The floor staff discreetly relocated us when a fleet of young children landed next to us during breakfast. Mrs EatGoSee and I did not come to a luxury resort to sit with kids at breakfast. I am sure they are lovely; they are just not mine.
I should say that The Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah is child-friendly but does not stray into ‘family resort’ territory like the Rixos Bab Al Bahr up the road.
This was not my first Oberoi stay. I know the Oberoi chain from previous stays in Gurgaon, India where a butler (yes, you read that correctly) observed that my toothpaste was running low. He ‘took the liberty’ (his words) to replace my perilously low toothpaste with the exact same one leaving it on a towel with a handwritten note in the bathroom. I did not expect a butler during this stay at the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah but I can confirm they are available for villa guests.
The Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah is a luxury beach resort in Ajman, a Northern Emirate about an hour away from most in Dubai. This destination hotel faces stiff competition in a country peppered with luxury hotels, beach resorts and more. Nonetheless, the few people I know who stayed here speak about the Oberoi Al Zorah in breathlessly positive tones.
Our arrival is met with a flight of valet staff leapt into action opening doors and removing our luggage from the car. Efficient and elegant, answering the question: what well-dressed CIA agents would look like when given ballet training. Many ‘luxury resorts’ go wrong when failing to execute these touches. The word resort causes me to shudder violently but the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah challenges the stereotypes like my stay at LUX* Grande Gaube.
Service defines the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah partly due to their renowned hotel management school. Service is attentive without being obsequious or smothering. The small tokens matter such as the honey tasting run by pastry chef, Dhaval Dedhia. An effortless check-in where we are escorted to our room while our bags follow later. Guests are provided with a Call Button by the pool and the beach so you can order bottles of Provence rose while overlooking the Arabian Sea without rising from your chaise lounge. The floor staff discreetly relocated us when a fleet of young children landed next to us during breakfast. Mrs EatGoSee and I did not come to a luxury resort to sit with kids at breakfast. I am sure they are lovely; they are just not mine.
I should say that The Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah is child-friendly but does not stray into ‘family resort’ territory like the Rixos Bab Al Bahr up the road.
Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah’s Deluxe Suite with Private Garden
The stay in the Deluxe Suite is relaxing, luxurious without being ostentatious. The Deluxe Suite is a generously sized 109 square metres with a private reception that opens up into an enormous bedroom complete with an impossibly comfortable king-sized bed, sofas, bistro table and minibar. Bathed in natural light from floor to ceiling windows, the pale walls are sparsely decorated retaining a minimalist, contemporary but elegant feel. You could easily spend a week or more swanning around the Deluxe Suite in waffle robes and saffron-tinted Oberoi slippers.
Blackout curtains assured total darkness for undisturbed sleep. I never heard a sound from outside the room. This is not a hedonist beach outport. A certain clientele does not come here to party; they come to escape. This raises a point: the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah feels intensely private, secluded and personal notwithstanding its 27 sprawling and lush acres with 89 suites and villas. Sure there are the communal moments but you still feel socially distant from other visitors and the daily grind.

The bathroom is larger than my first apartment. The ash grey rain shower is generously stocked with Oberoi’s own deliciously-scented toiletries. A free-standing egg-shaped bathtub is large enough to fit a small family or soak up tension from the working week. The grey and white colour scheme is consistent with the Scandinavian minimalist look curated by Italian architect Piero Lissoni.

Deluxe suites come with a separate, smaller walk-in wardrobe area complete with a bench for luggage storage. You can expect Nespresso coffee machines, fast reliable WiFi, large screen TVs with the usual cohort of hotel channels. I am slightly disappointed that there is no iron and ironing board here but perhaps such domestic chores are too gauche or pedestrian for the usual Oberoi guest. Mrs EatGoSee noted that ladies may also be irked by the absence of plugs near mirrors making the process of blow-drying hair and carving in makeup more complicated.
The front garden offers two chaise lounges for quiet reading, sun tanning or sipping drinks from the well-stocked minibar. Room service is also available to supplement supplies.
Some may consider the rooms soulless but the theme is consistent with the overall aesthetic of the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah. One quibble is that the Deluxe Suites claim to have an Arabian Sea view; we did not have this from our room so you may want to verify this in your booking and on check-in if sea views are a ‘make or break’ factor for you.
Blackout curtains assured total darkness for undisturbed sleep. I never heard a sound from outside the room. This is not a hedonist beach outport. A certain clientele does not come here to party; they come to escape. This raises a point: the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah feels intensely private, secluded and personal notwithstanding its 27 sprawling and lush acres with 89 suites and villas. Sure there are the communal moments but you still feel socially distant from other visitors and the daily grind.
The bathroom is larger than my first apartment. The ash grey rain shower is generously stocked with Oberoi’s own deliciously-scented toiletries. A free-standing egg-shaped bathtub is large enough to fit a small family or soak up tension from the working week. The grey and white colour scheme is consistent with the Scandinavian minimalist look curated by Italian architect Piero Lissoni.
Deluxe suites come with a separate, smaller walk-in wardrobe area complete with a bench for luggage storage. You can expect Nespresso coffee machines, fast reliable WiFi, large screen TVs with the usual cohort of hotel channels. I am slightly disappointed that there is no iron and ironing board here but perhaps such domestic chores are too gauche or pedestrian for the usual Oberoi guest. Mrs EatGoSee noted that ladies may also be irked by the absence of plugs near mirrors making the process of blow-drying hair and carving in makeup more complicated.
The front garden offers two chaise lounges for quiet reading, sun tanning or sipping drinks from the well-stocked minibar. Room service is also available to supplement supplies.
Some may consider the rooms soulless but the theme is consistent with the overall aesthetic of the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah. One quibble is that the Deluxe Suites claim to have an Arabian Sea view; we did not have this from our room so you may want to verify this in your booking and on check-in if sea views are a ‘make or break’ factor for you.
The Oberoi's Beach Resort Al Zorah is one of the best hotels I have experienced in the UAE. The Oberoi Al Zorah offers a sophisticated stay for a discerning clientele.
Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah’s Food and Drink
I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the overall food quality. Usually, beach resort dining leaves me searching fervently for nearby restaurants in the hope of local cuisine. The Oberoi leaves enough international cuisine available to satisfy the masses but channels a clear narrative of celebrating Indian cuisine, consequently, staying true to its origins.
The Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah offers two main restaurants together with options for poolside or beachside grazing.
Aquario is the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah’s flagship seafood restaurant overlooking the beach and the Arabian Sea. The extensive menu of no less than 40 dishes (before getting to dessert) is broadly modern European with a lean towards Mediterranean dining. Guests can choose from popular dishes like Loch duart salmon a la Provencal, Prawns a la Basquaise or risotto frutti di mare. Non-seafood items include grilled wagyu ribeye tagliata, slow-cooked baby chicken or butternut squash spaghetti; the latter is one of six vegetarian dishes on the menu.

Aquario’s outdoor alfresco dining and ocean vistas will allure out-of-towners looking for that holiday experience of eating seafood on the beach, drinking from the extensive wine menu (oh yes, it’s licensed, ladies and gentlemen) and chucking oysters (starts at AED85 for three).
We ordered the crisp crab salad, plancha seared scallops (both starters are AED 85), bouillabaisse royale (AED165), risotto ai mescolare funghi (AED120) and the aromatic roast lamb chops (AED190). The crab salad, scallops and lamb chops stood out among these dishes demonstrating clear technical ability in the kitchen coupled with an understanding of classical cooking. The bouillabaisse is a generous portion of mixed seafood thoughtfully presented in a copper pot perched in a spiced broth pool. The dish does lack the signature fragrant waft of saffron that comes to defines bouillabaisse.


Aquario’s dessert menu balances heavy dishes traditional tiramisu (AED45) with lighter options such as the peach and lavender with roasted vine yellow peaches with lavender-scented cream and a Sicilian mandarin soup (AED50). I enjoyed the Poire a la Beaujolaise with its spiced red wine poached pears still firm and coupled with a rich mascarpone ice cream (AED50).

Aquario is a suitable hotel restaurant with high aspirations. Price-wise, the clientele will not likely blink at the prices but out-of-towners visiting the UAE may bristle a little and seek to balance with Vinesse or eating out of the hotel (although pickings are slim).

Vinesse is the all-day dining option de rigueur for beach resorts. The outdoor terrace offers the same stunning views which started out this review. Vinesse is the breakfast restaurant offering hand-made pastries including excellent almond croissants. You can expect the usual suspects with continental and Western breakfast menu items (read: pancakes and French toast). Few words strike kryptonite-like terror in me like ‘all-day dining’. However, I applaud the Oberoi for leaning into a unique proposition offering a focused South Asian breakfast menu including the masala dosas with a trio of chutneys, aloo paratha with an assertive lime pickle and uttappam lentil and rice pancakes. Breakfast is inclusive in the room rates.


Vinesse lunch menu is similarly structured with Western all-day dining options like Caesars Salads (AED70), Artisan Wagyu burgers (AED90) and a selection of pizzas. I press on with my culinary tour of South Asia with a Goan Fish Curry with rice (AED160) and the Paneer tikka masala with garlic naans (AED110). Both dishes render Mrs EatGoSee and I into a soundless stupor as we share forkfuls insisting the other ‘tries this’.


The Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah should set up a small less than 10 seater, signature restaurant; a destination restaurant. This strikes me as a gap that guests may enjoy and would further elevate the value proposition for hotel guests.
Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah’s signature feature is the oversized 75-metre pool that the Oberoi proudly claims is the longest pool in the UAE. The pool is flanked by cabanas and chaise lounges with an Aperol Spritz cart that makes me want one in my own home. The superb team will serve food and drinks from a well-curated poolside menu.

No luxury beach resort would be complete without spas, gyms and watersports which the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah ticks efficiently. Gym enthusiasts will be pleased with the bright and airy, generously spaced gym that is still open during COVID times (but disinfected with hospital-like attention). A parade of cardio machine, static weight machines and a selection of free weights are available.

The Oberoi beach features a dedicated cabana offering watersports such as kayaking, paddle boarding and jet skis available for rental.
I should add that there is a company called Quest for Adventure just behind the Oberoi towards the mangroves. It is not a part of the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah but the Oberoi’s concierge team can arrange for bookings.
The Oberoi’s Beach Resort Al Zorah is one of the best hotels I have experienced in the UAE. The Oberoi Al Zorah offers a sophisticated stay for a discerning clientele that want privacy in modern environs with tranquillity as a refuge from the world outside its manicured gardens. The rooms are serene escapes particularly at the upper end with its villas and deluxe suites. The team are charming, engaging and authentic in their want to provide guests with a great experience.

There are many hotels in the UAE so why come to the Oberoi? Some may consider Ajman, well, ‘just a bit far’ and why make the journey when there are plenty of hotels available in Abu Dhabi or Dhabi where they are likely placed. This is true but, firstly, Ajman is an hour from most places in Dubai offering access to a great stretch of beach in the Northern Emirates where, in my opinion, the beaches are a lot nicer than the ones in Dubai (no offence). There is something to be said about getting in the car weaving through the desert en route to a staycation. It feels like a holiday after a year marred by travel restrictions and everything else.

Younger guests may find the Oberoi and the rest of Ajman just a little too quiet lacking the dynamic crowd-pleasers available at Five Palm Jumeirah or, maybe, the Rixos Bab Al Bahr up the road.
The Oberoi’s unique value proposition is really quality and serenity giving you the opportunity to just get away from it all.

The Oberoi Al Zorah is not cheap. There are plenty of more economical stays available in the UAE. The Premium Rooms are a smidge cheaper and there are, periodically, discounts available for UAE residents and Oberoi One members. You can sign up for Oberoi One just before booking your stay, like I did, to avail discounts. Still, the Oberoi Al Zorah targets a certain market and will not be open for everyone. The Oberoi Al Zorah is a special occasion and not a ‘value’ proposition.

Sadly, the hotel is not pet-friendly.
The hotel provides an adapted villa and rooms for guests with disability needs. There are ramps and lifts throughout the hotel available for guests. I also saw a number of large golf buggies around the hotel shepherding guests which could be useful for people who may not want to traverse the journey from the suites to the beach etc.
The Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah offers two main restaurants together with options for poolside or beachside grazing.
Aquario is the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah’s flagship seafood restaurant overlooking the beach and the Arabian Sea. The extensive menu of no less than 40 dishes (before getting to dessert) is broadly modern European with a lean towards Mediterranean dining. Guests can choose from popular dishes like Loch duart salmon a la Provencal, Prawns a la Basquaise or risotto frutti di mare. Non-seafood items include grilled wagyu ribeye tagliata, slow-cooked baby chicken or butternut squash spaghetti; the latter is one of six vegetarian dishes on the menu.
Aquario’s outdoor alfresco dining and ocean vistas will allure out-of-towners looking for that holiday experience of eating seafood on the beach, drinking from the extensive wine menu (oh yes, it’s licensed, ladies and gentlemen) and chucking oysters (starts at AED85 for three).
We ordered the crisp crab salad, plancha seared scallops (both starters are AED 85), bouillabaisse royale (AED165), risotto ai mescolare funghi (AED120) and the aromatic roast lamb chops (AED190). The crab salad, scallops and lamb chops stood out among these dishes demonstrating clear technical ability in the kitchen coupled with an understanding of classical cooking. The bouillabaisse is a generous portion of mixed seafood thoughtfully presented in a copper pot perched in a spiced broth pool. The dish does lack the signature fragrant waft of saffron that comes to defines bouillabaisse.
Aquario’s dessert menu balances heavy dishes traditional tiramisu (AED45) with lighter options such as the peach and lavender with roasted vine yellow peaches with lavender-scented cream and a Sicilian mandarin soup (AED50). I enjoyed the Poire a la Beaujolaise with its spiced red wine poached pears still firm and coupled with a rich mascarpone ice cream (AED50).
Aquario is a suitable hotel restaurant with high aspirations. Price-wise, the clientele will not likely blink at the prices but out-of-towners visiting the UAE may bristle a little and seek to balance with Vinesse or eating out of the hotel (although pickings are slim).
Vinesse is the all-day dining option de rigueur for beach resorts. The outdoor terrace offers the same stunning views which started out this review. Vinesse is the breakfast restaurant offering hand-made pastries including excellent almond croissants. You can expect the usual suspects with continental and Western breakfast menu items (read: pancakes and French toast). Few words strike kryptonite-like terror in me like ‘all-day dining’. However, I applaud the Oberoi for leaning into a unique proposition offering a focused South Asian breakfast menu including the masala dosas with a trio of chutneys, aloo paratha with an assertive lime pickle and uttappam lentil and rice pancakes. Breakfast is inclusive in the room rates.
Vinesse lunch menu is similarly structured with Western all-day dining options like Caesars Salads (AED70), Artisan Wagyu burgers (AED90) and a selection of pizzas. I press on with my culinary tour of South Asia with a Goan Fish Curry with rice (AED160) and the Paneer tikka masala with garlic naans (AED110). Both dishes render Mrs EatGoSee and I into a soundless stupor as we share forkfuls insisting the other ‘tries this’.
The Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah should set up a small less than 10 seater, signature restaurant; a destination restaurant. This strikes me as a gap that guests may enjoy and would further elevate the value proposition for hotel guests.
Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah’s Facilities
Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah’s signature feature is the oversized 75-metre pool that the Oberoi proudly claims is the longest pool in the UAE. The pool is flanked by cabanas and chaise lounges with an Aperol Spritz cart that makes me want one in my own home. The superb team will serve food and drinks from a well-curated poolside menu.
No luxury beach resort would be complete without spas, gyms and watersports which the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah ticks efficiently. Gym enthusiasts will be pleased with the bright and airy, generously spaced gym that is still open during COVID times (but disinfected with hospital-like attention). A parade of cardio machine, static weight machines and a selection of free weights are available.
The Oberoi beach features a dedicated cabana offering watersports such as kayaking, paddle boarding and jet skis available for rental.
I should add that there is a company called Quest for Adventure just behind the Oberoi towards the mangroves. It is not a part of the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah but the Oberoi’s concierge team can arrange for bookings.
Would I Return to the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah?
The Oberoi’s Beach Resort Al Zorah is one of the best hotels I have experienced in the UAE. The Oberoi Al Zorah offers a sophisticated stay for a discerning clientele that want privacy in modern environs with tranquillity as a refuge from the world outside its manicured gardens. The rooms are serene escapes particularly at the upper end with its villas and deluxe suites. The team are charming, engaging and authentic in their want to provide guests with a great experience.
There are many hotels in the UAE so why come to the Oberoi? Some may consider Ajman, well, ‘just a bit far’ and why make the journey when there are plenty of hotels available in Abu Dhabi or Dhabi where they are likely placed. This is true but, firstly, Ajman is an hour from most places in Dubai offering access to a great stretch of beach in the Northern Emirates where, in my opinion, the beaches are a lot nicer than the ones in Dubai (no offence). There is something to be said about getting in the car weaving through the desert en route to a staycation. It feels like a holiday after a year marred by travel restrictions and everything else.
Younger guests may find the Oberoi and the rest of Ajman just a little too quiet lacking the dynamic crowd-pleasers available at Five Palm Jumeirah or, maybe, the Rixos Bab Al Bahr up the road.
The Oberoi’s unique value proposition is really quality and serenity giving you the opportunity to just get away from it all.
The Oberoi Al Zorah is not cheap. There are plenty of more economical stays available in the UAE. The Premium Rooms are a smidge cheaper and there are, periodically, discounts available for UAE residents and Oberoi One members. You can sign up for Oberoi One just before booking your stay, like I did, to avail discounts. Still, the Oberoi Al Zorah targets a certain market and will not be open for everyone. The Oberoi Al Zorah is a special occasion and not a ‘value’ proposition.
Is the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah pet-friendly?
Sadly, the hotel is not pet-friendly.
Is the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah disabled accessible?
The hotel provides an adapted villa and rooms for guests with disability needs. There are ramps and lifts throughout the hotel available for guests. I also saw a number of large golf buggies around the hotel shepherding guests which could be useful for people who may not want to traverse the journey from the suites to the beach etc.
You May Also Like
Loading...
- Dubai, Go, Luxury Resorts, United Arab Emirates